Not a government site. We do not sell certificates. About us

VitalRecordsByState
Menu

How to get California divorce records

In California, get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the Superior Court in the county where the divorce took place.1 CDPH holds only a face-sheet Certificate of Record for 1962 through June 1984, not the decree.1 Each certified copy costs $182. You can order by mail or at a local office.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What California divorce records cost
  3. How long it takes
  4. Who can order California divorce records
  5. What the application asks for
  6. Decree or certificate
  7. Forms
  8. Years held and older records
  9. Special situations
  10. Warnings from the office
  11. Questions people ask
  12. Sources

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
By mail$182–Check and money order2
At a local office$0.503 a page plus $404 a document to certify
+ one extra charge		7 to 10 business days4Check and money order4

Not offered: in person and online.5

By mail

Run by
California Department of Public Health, Vital Records (CDPH-VR)6
Fees
  • Per copy $182
Expedited service
Not offered5
Payment
Check and money order2
Mail to
California Department of Public Health, Vital Records - MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
7
Appointment
Not required1

Good to know

  • Sent First Class only, with no tracking unless you supply a prepaid envelope.5
  • No cancellation or refund once accepted.9

Open the application or mail instructions8

At a local office

Run by
Superior Court clerk in the county that granted the divorce1
Fees
  • Per page $0.503
  • Certification, per document $404
  • Search fee $153
Processing time
7 to 10 business days4
Payment
Check and money order4

Good to know

  • Give the case number, or full names of both parties and approximate filing year.4

Find a local office4

What California divorce records cost

First certified copy
$182
Each additional copy
$182
Fees in effect since
Jan. 1, 20262

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Certificate of Record1Shows only the names, filing date, county and case number; it is not the decree.10$182
Certified copy of the divorce decree (judgment)11––

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you orderProcessing time
At a local office7 to 10 business days4

Who can order California divorce records

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

  • Anyone: Complete Part 1 and Part 2. In Part 1, provide as much information as possible to help identify the record.8

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.8

  • Names of both persons (first, middle, current last, last at birth)
  • Date of divorce (or approximate date)
  • County of divorce

Decree or certificate

The decree, the court's judgment with the terms of the divorce, comes from the clerk of the court that granted it. Divorce certificate vs decree explains which one an agency usually wants.

Asking the court clerk

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics lists what a request for a divorce record should include:12

  • Full names of husband and wife
  • Date of divorce or annulment
  • Place of divorce or annulment
  • Type of final decree
  • Purpose for which copy is needed
  • Relationship to persons whose record is requested
  • Day time telephone number with area code

Clerks charge their own copy and certification fees, and some offer an exemplified copy, a more formal certification used for out-of-state and foreign purposes.

Forms

Years held and older records

Years held
1962 to June 1984 (held by CDPH-VR)1
Older records
Superior Court in the county where the divorce took place1

Special situations

If no record is found
CDPH cannot provide anything outside its years.8 Details

Warnings from the office

  • CDPH itself sends people to the court first.8

Questions people ask

How much is a certified California divorce record?

Each certified copy costs $18.2

How long does it take to get California divorce records?

At a local office: 7 to 10 business days.4

Where are older California divorce records kept?

Superior Court in the county where the divorce took place.1

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Obtaining Copies of Divorce RecordsCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated January 6, 2026
  2. Vital Records FeesCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated January 29, 2026
  3. GOV Section 70627California Legislature, Legislative Informationdated January 1, 2006
  4. Family LawSuperior Court of California, County of Tulare
  5. Vital Records FAQsCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated October 22, 2025
  6. Third Party VendorsCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
  7. Contact CDPH Vital RecordsCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated February 27, 2026
  8. VS 113-B (01/2026) application, divorceCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2026
  9. CDPH Vital Records homeCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated August 14, 2026
  10. Where to Write: CaliforniaCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated May 16, 2022
  11. County Registrar and Recorder DirectoryCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated November 20, 2025
  12. Where to Write for Vital Records: Application GuidelinesCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015