How to Get a Copy of Your Divorce Decree or Certificate

Yes, you can almost always get a copy of your own divorce. Where you go depends on which document you need. A divorce decree (the full judge-signed order with all the terms) comes from the court clerk in the county where the divorce was finalized. A divorce certificate (a short vital record proving the divorce happened) usually comes from a state vital records office. Many requests can be made online, by mail, or in person.

Decree vs. certificate: which one do you actually need?

These are two different documents, and asking for the wrong one is the most common reason people get stuck.

• Divorce decree (also called the judgment of divorce or dissolution). This is the complete court order signed by the judge. It contains the legal terms: property division, custody, support, and any name change. You need the decree when an agency wants proof of the terms of your divorce — for example, to change a beneficiary, refinance, enforce support, or show a court order. The decree is a court record, so it comes from the courthouse, not the health department.
• Divorce certificate. This is a short vital-records document that simply confirms a divorce occurred — typically your names, and the date and place of the divorce. It does not list the terms. It is often what you need to remarry, to change your name back, or for some immigration and Social Security purposes. Certificates come from a state vital records office (sometimes called the bureau of vital statistics or department of health).

Not every state issues a divorce certificate. In some states the central vital records office keeps divorce records and can issue a certificate; in others it does not, and the only official document is the decree from the county court. If you are unsure, start with the court that granted your divorce — that office can always produce a certified copy of the decree.

Can I get a copy of my divorce online?

Often, yes — but "online" usually means an online order form, with the certified paper copy mailed to you. A few points to know:

• State vital records offices commonly accept online orders for divorce certificates through their own websites or through an authorized third-party processor (the most widely used is VitalChek, which many official agencies link to). Expect an extra processing fee for online or phone orders.
• Court clerks increasingly offer online case lookup and document ordering. Some let you download non-certified copies of filings; others require you to request a certified copy and pay per page.
• Be cautious with search results. Many sites that advertise "divorce records online" are private brokers, not government offices. They charge more, and they cannot issue a certified copy that an agency will accept. Look for a .gov address or a link from the official court or health-department site.

Time-sensitive: if you need the document for a deadline (a remarriage license, a closing, a benefits application), check the office's stated turnaround before you choose a method. Mailed requests can take weeks; in-person or expedited online orders are usually faster.

Certified vs. informational copies

When you order, you will usually be asked whether you want a certified copy or an informational/plain copy.

• A certified copy carries an official seal or stamp and is the version other agencies, courts, and lenders will accept as legal proof. If you are remarrying, changing your name, or submitting to any government agency, get the certified version.
• An informational or non-certified copy is fine for your own files or reference but is typically marked as not valid for official use.

Order at least one certified copy, and consider ordering two if you know you will need to submit it somewhere that keeps the original.

What you can do: step by step

1. Decide which document you need. Need the terms (custody, support, property) or a court order? Get the decree. Just need to prove the divorce happened (remarriage, name change)? A certificate may be enough — confirm what the requesting agency will accept.
2. Find out where it was granted. You need the county/court and the approximate date of the divorce. The decree is held by the clerk of that specific court.
3. For a decree, contact that court clerk. Search the county court's website for "records request" or "certified copy." Be ready with the case number if you have it, the full names of both spouses (including any former names), and the year. If you don't have the case number, the clerk can usually search by name and date.
4. For a certificate, contact the state vital records office. Search "[your state] vital records divorce." Confirm whether that state issues divorce certificates and for which years — some only hold records from a certain year forward.
5. Choose certified, and pick a delivery method. Online or in person is fastest; mail is slowest. Note any expedite option and extra fee.
6. Gather your ID and payment. Most offices require a government-issued photo ID and a fee per copy. Mail requests often need a signed, sometimes notarized, request form.
7. Keep proof of your order (confirmation number or mailing receipt) in case you need to follow up.

What you'll usually need to provide

• Full names of both spouses at the time of the divorce, including maiden or former names.
• The date or year of the divorce and the county/court (or city) where it was finalized.
• The case or docket number if you have it (speeds up court requests).
• A government-issued photo ID, and sometimes proof that you are a party to the case or otherwise eligible.
• The fee, which varies by office and by the number of copies.

Special situations

I don't know where or when we divorced

If you genuinely don't know the county, start with the state vital records office — in states that keep central divorce records, a statewide search can point you to the county and date, which you can then use to order the decree from the right court.

The divorce was in another state

Records stay where the case was filed. You request from the court or vital records office in the state where the divorce was granted, not your current state. Most offices accept out-of-state mail and online orders.

The divorce was decades ago

Older records still exist but may be archived. Very old court records are sometimes held by a state archive rather than the original courthouse. The court clerk can tell you where files for that era are stored.

The record is sealed

Some divorce files are sealed or restricted (for example, to protect a victim of abuse or sensitive financial information). If a file is sealed, you may need to be a party to the case, show ID, or in some cases ask the court to release it. The clerk can explain that court's rules.

I need it for remarriage or a name change

Confirm exactly what the marriage-license office or DMV will accept — some require the full certified decree, others accept a certified certificate. Asking first avoids ordering the wrong document twice.

Military divorces and benefits

If your divorce involved division of military retired pay, the certified decree is the document the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and other agencies will ask for. (Federal law, the Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act, lets state courts divide “disposable retired pay” under state property law — it does not create an automatic 50/50 split, so what your decree actually awards is what controls.) Keep extra certified copies if benefits or direct payment are involved.

How much does it cost and how long does it take?

Fees and timing are set by each state and court and change over time, so check the specific office's current schedule. As a general guide: certified copies typically cost a modest per-copy fee, online and phone orders add a processing surcharge, and mailed requests take the longest — often several weeks — while in-person or expedited online orders are faster. If you are on a deadline, call and confirm turnaround before you choose.

Bottom line

You have a right to a copy of your own divorce. For the full order and its terms, go to the court clerk where it was granted and ask for a certified copy of the decree. To simply prove the divorce happened, ask the state vital records office whether it issues a certificate. Order the certified version, use official .gov sources or their authorized processor, and confirm the requesting agency's exact requirement before you pay.

This article is general information, not legal advice; rules and fees vary by state and court, so confirm details with the relevant court clerk or vital records office.