By Ben Kingsley


Like any other States in the US, divorce in California is considered as public records. This means that the records are available for the public and anyone can request for the records. There are however two types of divorce records available for request - authorized and informational copy and it is best to determine if one is eligible for which type of record.

Authorized copies and informational ones are the same as they contain the same details including the registrants, the date the divorce was filed and the county where the divorce was granted. The difference is that informational copies cannot be used as valid documents and are issued for information purposes only. Authorized copies on the other hand are legal documents and can serve as supporting documents especially if one is requesting for child support or spousal support. Authorized copies are available only for the spouse or domestic partners, an adoption agency, parents of the divorced couples and their kids. A statement stating that the informational copy is not a valid document is printed below the divorce report.

For those who want to obtain divorce records, they can visit the State's Vital Records or CDPH vital records division. The Office cannot issue a certified copy of the divorce; however, they can issue a Certificate of Record which contains information such as the parties named in the divorce proceeding, case number and the county where the record is filed. The certificate does not include any information pertaining to the result of the proceeding. Records available include divorces from 1962 up until June 1984.

For those individuals who only require some information, they can request for a Certificate of Record from CDPH. A downloadable guide or pamphlet is available from the CDPH site, which contains a systematic guide as well as a request form that one needs to fill up and send to the Vital Records office. All fees are non-refundable and in case no records are shown, a Certificate of No Public Records is issued. The Office accepts only checks and money order only. Processing can exceed 6 months depending on the volume of requests received.

Those who are interested in getting a certified copy of the divorce can also contact the California Superior Court. Fees vary depending on the county or state from which one will request the information. In Alameda County, divorce records search costs about $15 for searches done for more than 15 minutes. Certified copies cost about $15; other fees may apply depending on the request of the person. The Superior Court of Alameda does not entertain public records search through phone; however, one can search the court records in person without a fee and through mail for additional fees. For more information and easier transaction process, one can also opt to avail of online public search from commercial public search sites.




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