Divorce records have been made public records via the Freedom of
Information Act of 1966. Because they are public records they fall
under the jurisdiction of the state and are maintained by repositories
of the state.
City and county courthouses, from where the records are uploaded, are
normally maintained by city and county repositories. A majority of
these documents and their information can be found online.
Divorce Records Online
Because divorce records are rather private, most states have imposed a
degree of restriction on their use and accessibility. Nevertheless they
are still deemed public records, which allows anyone to access anyone
else's public divorce records. This can only happen if the proper
procedures are followed and complied by.
Divorce Record Usage
Public divorce records can be searched for many reasons. One of these
reasons includes finding past information on a future relative, in-law,
or spouse. Some search through concern for friends. There are official
uses for search divorce records also.
These include cases of remarriage after a past divorce. This kind of
search is done to confirm that the divorce was properly completed as
well as to acquire the document for the application of a current
marriage license. Some cases of this also require the production of a
certified copy of the Divorce Certificate.
There are other uses of divorce records. These include the location of
biological parents from adopted children - which can be done the other
way around too - genealogy research, and establishment of identity and
inheritance status in specific matters and claims.
Some choose to use public record divorce records for wrongful uses,
which can include blackmail, campaign smearing, and ransom bargains.
Obtaining Public Divorce Records
Obtaining public divorce records can happen in many different ways. A
record may be received upon request via mail, fax, telephone, or
personal walk-in. Even as these are the ways used most commonly in the
past, the new most commonly used way of obtaining divorce records is
via the Internet. This is because the Internet is the fastest way where
records may be downloaded electronically.
Records can be obtained in two ways: paid or free-of-charge. The paid
version of most records is often the best way to approach. Even as it
involves money, formal and official purposes often require quality over
speed. The purchased records are often in the best condition possible.
Records that are obtained over the Internet are fast but, at times, are
not able to be used in official and formal uses, such as court
proceedings.
What Can be Learned from Divorce
Records?
The information found in divorce records can be valuable and can also
vary from record to records. Some records may state that a person was
divorced on the grounds of violence or abuse, while another may say a
person was divorced on the grounds of infidelity. Some records open the
knowledge of a person's past, such as drug abuse, alcohol usage, and
rehabilitations.
Divorce records also give the information of children involved, child
custody, reason for divorce, time and location of the marriage and
divorce, as well as alimony, settlements, filing number, restraining
orders, asset division, and final decree.