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How to get divorce records

A divorce leaves two kinds of record: the full decree, kept by the court that granted the divorce, and in many states a short divorce certificate or verification from the state vital records office. The federal government does not issue certificates.1 In the table below, a first copy costs from $52 in Florida to $303 in New York City.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. The steps
  2. Divorce records in every state and territory
  3. Ordering online
  4. Certificate or decree?
  5. Sources

The steps

  1. Find the right office. For the full decree, it is the clerk of the court that granted the divorce. For a state divorce certificate or verification, it is the state vital records office, where the state issues one. The office finder answers this for a state, record and year.
  2. Check that you may order. Most states limit certified copies to the person on the record, close family and legal representatives; each state page lists who qualifies, in the state's own words.
  3. Get your ID ready. States ask for a government photo ID, and many list alternatives if you have none. A mail order usually needs a copy of the ID.
  4. Choose how to order. Online (through the state or the vendor it names), by mail, in person or at a local office. Fees and times differ by channel; the table compares them.
  5. Pay the exact fee. Write the payee exactly as the state prints it. Many states keep the fee as a search fee if no record is found.

The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics lists what a request should include:4

  • 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

Divorce records in every state and territory

Tap a state for the full guide: who can order, ID, every fee, forms and the office address. Tap a source number to read the state's own words. A dash means the state does not publish that figure on the pages we use.

AlabamaAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics5$156$66At a local office: Same day6Vendor: VitalChek Network5
AlaskaAlaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Records Section7$308$258–Vendor: VitalChek9
ArizonaClerk of the Superior Court in the county where the event occurred10––––
ArkansasArkansas Department of Health, Vital Records11$1011$1012In person: Same day11State-run: ADH's 'Vital Records' online service at ar.gov/vitalrecords13
CaliforniaSuperior Court in the county where the divorce took place14$1815$1815At a local office: 7 to 10 business days16–
ColoradoClerk of the District Court in the county where the dissolution was decreed; CDPHE issues a certified verification only17$2518$2018By mail: 21 to 25 business days17Vendor: VitalChek19
ConnecticutConnecticut Superior Court, Judicial District Clerk's Office20$2521$2521––
DelawareOfficial office––––
District of ColumbiaDC Superior Court, Family Court, Domestic Relations Branch22––At a local office: 5 to 10 business days23–
FloridaFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics2$52$42By mail: 3 to 5 business days2Vendor: VitalChek2
GeorgiaClerk of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted24–––State-run: Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority25
HawaiiLegal Documents Branch of the court that granted the divorce26$127 for the first page and $0.5027 for each further page–In person: Same day27State-run: eCourt Kōkua28
IdahoIdaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics for divorce certificates; county court for decrees29$1630$1630Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.: 3 to 5 weeks31Vendor: VitalChek Network32
IllinoisCircuit court clerk of the county where the dissolution was granted33––At a local office: 2 to 10 days34–
IndianaClerk of the circuit court in the county where the divorce was granted35––––
IowaClerk of the district court in the county where the case was filed36$5037 a document to certify, plus the copy charge––State-run: Iowa Judicial Branch38
KansasOfficial office––––
KentuckyOfficial office––––
LouisianaClerk of Court of the parish where the divorce was granted39––––
MaineMaine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine CDC, Division of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics40$1541$641In person: Same day41Vendor: VitalChek41
MarylandClerk of the Circuit Court that granted the decree (decree copies); MDH Division of Vital Records issues Verification of Divorce only42–––Vendor: VitalChek Network43
MassachusettsMassachusetts Probate and Family Court44$2044$2044––
MichiganOfficial office––––
MinnesotaDistrict court in the county that granted the divorce45$1446$1446In person: Same day47State-run: MN Court Records Online47
MississippiChancery Clerk of the county where the divorce was granted48––––
MissouriCircuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted (decree); DHSS Bureau of Vital Records49$1550$1551Online through VitalChek: 5 to 7 business days52Vendor: VitalChek53
MontanaOfficial office––––
NebraskaOfficial office––––
NevadaClerk of the district court in the county where the divorce was granted54––At a local office: Up to 2 weeks55–
New HampshireNew Hampshire Department of State, Division of Vital Records Administration56$1557$1057In person: Same day58Vendor: VitalChek58
New JerseySuperior Court of New Jersey Records Center59$1060–––
New MexicoClerk of the district court where the divorce was granted61$0.3562 a page plus $1.5062 a document to certify–––
New YorkNew York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section63$303$3063–Vendor: VitalChek Network63
New York CityNew York State Department of Health, Vital Records3$303$303–Vendor: VitalChek3
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Vital Records (NC Office of Vital Records, NCOVR), NC DHHS Division of Public Health64$2465$1565By mail: Up to 4 months66Vendor: VitalChek67
North DakotaCounty clerk (Clerk of Court) or recorder in the county where the divorce was decreed68––––
OhioClerk of Court of Common Pleas in the county where the divorce was granted69––––
OklahomaCourt clerk of the district court of the county where the divorce was granted70$171 for the first page–––
OregonOfficial office––––
PennsylvaniaProthonotary of the county where the divorce was filed72––––
Rhode IslandOfficial office––––
South CarolinaOfficial office––––
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Health, Vital Records Office73$1574$1575–Vendor: VitalChek Network76
TennesseeTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records77$1578$1578In person: Same day79Vendor: VitalChek80
TexasDistrict clerk of the county where the divorce was granted81–––State-run: Texas.gov82
UtahUtah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics83$2584$1084In person: Same day85State-run: Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics own online ordering system on secure.utah.gov86
VermontVermont Department of Health, Vital Records Office (2024-present); VSARA for older records87$1087$1088Online: 5 to 7 business days89State-run: Vermont.gov89
VirginiaVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records90$1591$1591In person: Same day92State-run: Virginia Department of Health92
WashingtonWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics93$2594$2594Online through VitalChek: 3 to 7 business days95Vendor: VitalChek96
West VirginiaClerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted97$198 a page–––
WisconsinOfficial office––––
WyomingOfficial office––––
American SamoaOfficial office––––
GuamSuperior Court of Guam, Records Section99$4100 a page––State-run: Superior Court of Guam Records Section100
Northern Mariana IslandsOfficial office––––
Puerto RicoOfficial office––––
U.S. Virgin IslandsOfficial office––––

Ordering online

The state's own online ordering (sometimes run for the state by a contractor): Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Guam.

Online only through a vendor the state names: Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, New York City, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington. The vendor adds its own processing fee; each state page lists it.

Commercial sites that are not named by the state can only send in the same application for you, for an extra fee. Our guide to VitalChek and other ordering services explains the difference.

Certificate or decree?

To change your name, remarry abroad or divide property, an agency usually wants the certified decree from the court. To prove that a divorce happened, a state certificate or verification is often enough. Our guide Divorce certificate vs divorce decree explains the difference.

Sources

Each fee, time and office in the table links to its official source; tap a number to read the exact words.

  1. CDC National Center for Health Statistics pagecdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htmCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated August 15, 2022
  2. Divorce certificatesFlorida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
  3. Divorce Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  4. Where to Write for Vital Records: Application GuidelinesCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015
  5. ADPH Center for Health Statistics, Vital Records home pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated February 3, 2026
  6. Divorce-certificates pageAlabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated August 21, 2025
  7. Health Analytics and Vital RecordsAlaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Recordsdated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  8. Divorce form (PDF)Alaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Recordsdated April 1, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  9. Vital Records OrdersAlaska Department of Health, Health Analytics and Vital Recordsdated October 24, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  10. ADHS Vital Records: Marriage & Divorce RecordsArizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  11. Order divorce recordsArkansas Department of Health
  12. Application DV Vital Records (PDF)Arkansas Department of Healthdated August 1, 2011
  13. Order death recordsArkansas Department of Health
  14. Obtaining Copies of Divorce RecordsCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated January 6, 2026
  15. Vital Records FeesCalifornia Department of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated January 29, 2026
  16. Family LawSuperior Court of California, County of Tulare
  17. Application for Certified Verification of Dissolution, REV. 12/2025Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated December 1, 2025
  18. Fee schedule, effective 1/1/2026Colorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated January 1, 2026
  19. Order certificate nowColorado Department of Public Health and Environmentdated July 27, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  20. FAQs about Court RecordsConnecticut Judicial Branchdated October 15, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  21. Court FeesConnecticut Judicial Branchdated September 21, 2023read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  22. DC Superior Court Family Court - Domestic Relations BranchDistrict of Columbia Courtsdated February 11, 2026
  23. U.S. District Court for DC, Court Records (divorces 1902-1956)U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  24. Request Vital RecordsState of Georgia (georgia.gov)dated June 1, 2026
  25. Notary & ApostillesGeorgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority
  26. Contact information for obtaining divorce records from the Hawaii court systemHawaii State Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoringdated January 30, 2026
  27. Schedule of Fees and Costs (1C-P-856)Hawaii State Judiciarydated September 1, 2025
  28. Search court recordsHawaii State Judiciary
  29. About Marriage and Divorce RecordsIdaho Department of Health and Welfare
  30. Section 160208Idaho Administrative Code
  31. Processing Times and FeesIdaho Department of Health and Welfare
  32. Ordering a Marriage and Divorce CertficiateIdaho Department of Health and Welfare
  33. Dissolution marriage recordsIllinois Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Records
  34. Archives departmentClerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
  35. Indiana State Library: Genealogy FAQIndiana State Library
  36. Vital RecordsState Historical Society of Iowa
  37. Civil Court FeesIowa Judicial Branch
  38. Public Records RequestsIowa Judicial Branch
  39. Louisiana Department of Health pageLouisiana Department of Health, Center for Vital Records and Statistics
  40. Vital Records (DRVS home)Maine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
  41. Request DocumentsMaine DHHS, Maine CDC, Data, Research and Vital Statistics (DRVS)
  42. Divorce VerificationMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  43. Request Marriage CertificatesMaryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration
  44. Get a copy of your divorce recordMassachusetts Probate and Family Court
  45. Minnesota Department of Health pageMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 31, 2026
  46. Copy requestMinnesota Judicial Branchdated June 29, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  47. Ways to request copiesMinnesota Judicial Branchdated June 10, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  48. Skip directly to site contentCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated April 23, 2026
  49. Order a Copy of a Vital Record | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  50. Notice of Fees | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  51. Application for Missouri Vital Record - Marriage/Divorce/Single Status (MO 580-2995, 3-2021)Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated March 1, 2021
  52. Frequently Asked Questions | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  53. Consumer Alert - Ordering a Vital Record Online | Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesMissouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Vital Records
  54. Marriage and Divorce RecordsNevada DPBH Office of Vital Recordsdated June 30, 2026
  55. Records Search and ViewingEighth Judicial District Court (Clark County) Clerk of the Courtdated March 22, 2022
  56. Request for CertificatesNew Hampshire Secretary of State, Division of Vital Records Administrationdated September 14, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  57. VR201 Application for a Certified Copy of a Vital Record (Rev. 7/2025)New Hampshire Secretary of State, Division of Vital Records Administrationdated July 1, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  58. New Hampshire Secretary of State pageNew Hampshire Secretary of State, Division of Vital Records Administrationdated October 4, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  59. Department of HealthNew Jersey Department of Healthdated August 21, 2017
  60. How do I obtain a copy of a "Final Judgment of Divorce"?New Jersey Courtsdated March 5, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  61. NMDOH Vital Records homeNew Mexico Department of Health
  62. Second Judicial District Court Case Records RequestNew Mexico Second Judicial District Court (Bernalillo County)dated June 9, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  63. Doh 4378 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2011
  64. NC Vital Records home pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 23, 2026
  65. NC Vital Records fees pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 13, 2026
  66. NC Divorce Certificate App (PDF)NC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Records (application form PDF hosted on vitalchek.com, linked from vitalrecords.nc.gov/order.htm)dated February 1, 2025
  67. NC Vital Records order pageNC DHHS Division of Public Health, Vital Recordsdated July 23, 2026
  68. Certified Copies of Divorce RecordsND HHS Vital Records
  69. CDC National Center for Health Statistics pagecdc.gov/nchs/w2w/ohio.htmCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated August 18, 2026
  70. Birth and death certificatesOklahoma State Department of Health, Vital Records
  71. Oklahoma Statutes 28 O.S. 31 Fees of court clerks, compiled PDF excerptOklahoma Legislaturedated November 1, 2004
  72. Marriage recordsPennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, State Archives
  73. Vital recordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  74. Vital records feesSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated January 9, 2025
  75. South Dakota Vital Records Request (application)South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  76. Order Vital RecordsSouth Dakota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated September 14, 2026
  77. Vital Records at the Library and ArchivesTennessee State Library and Archives
  78. Tennessee Department of Health: FeesTennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  79. How long will it take?Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated June 23, 2026
  80. How do I get my certificate? (In Person, Local County Health Department, Mail, or Online)Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  81. Marriage and Divorce FAQsTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  82. Texas Department of State Health Services pageTexas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Section
  83. Order a Vital Record CertificateUtah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics
  84. Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026)Utah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statisticsdated July 1, 2026
  85. Get a copy of a certificateUtah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics
  86. Utah Vital Records online ordering (secure.utah.gov)Utah DHHS Office of Vital Records and Statistics
  87. Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Marriage or Divorce or Civil Union Dissolution…Vermont Department of Healthdated June 1, 2026
  88. 18 V.S.A. chapter 101 (Vital Records), full chapterVermont General Assemblydated May 9, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  89. Vital Records Request Service (secure.vermont.gov), a service of the Vermont Department of HealthVermont Department of Health
  90. Office of Vital Records (home)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
  91. Online Application for a Vital RecordVirginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 5, 2026
  92. OVR Online - How it Works (Application for Certification of a Vital Record)Virginia Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
  93. Vital Records | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  94. Marriage and Divorce Certificate Order Form (DOH 422-104, November 2025)Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated November 1, 2025
  95. Ordering a Vital Record | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  96. Certificates and Informational Copies FAQ | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  97. Where to Write for Vital Records - West VirginiaCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  98. W. Va. Code §59-1-11 Fees to be charged by clerk of circuit courtWest Virginia Legislature
  99. Request Records & Clearances | Judiciary of GuamJudiciary of Guam, Superior Court of Guam
  100. Records and File Retrieval Request Form (updated 7-22-2026)Judiciary of Guam, Superior Court of Guamdated July 22, 2026