How to get Massachusetts divorce records
In Massachusetts, get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court.1 RVRS does not hold divorce records; it can only give the probate court and docket number.2 Each certified copy costs $201. You can order by mail or in person.
On this page
Ways to order
| How | Cost per copy | Processing time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| By mail: Probate and Family Court where the case was filed | $201 | – | Money order and check1 |
| By mail (divorce information only) | No fee for the search ($03) | – | – |
| In person | $201 | – | Money order and check1 |
By mail: Probate and Family Court where the case was filed
By mail (divorce information only)
- Run by
- Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (divorce information only)3
- Fees
- Search fee $03
- Mail to
- Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS), 150 Mt. Vernon St, 1st floor, Dorchester, MA 021254
Good to know
- Requires a postage-paid self-addressed envelope3
In person
What Massachusetts divorce records cost
Types of copies
| Copy | Accepted for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of divorce absolute1 | – | $201 |
| Certified copy of a judgment of divorce nisi1 | – | $201 |
| Certified copy of a divorce separation agreement1 | – | $201 |
| Divorce information (year, docket number and county probate court) from RVRS3 | Locating the court record; a Letter of No Divorce can support correcting marital status on a death or marriage record3 | $03 |
What the application asks for
Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.1
- Docket number
- Type of case
- First and last names of the parties
- City/town where the divorce was filed
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:6
- 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
- 1952 to near present (RVRS divorce index only)3
- Older records
- County Probate and Family Court3
Special situations
Questions people ask
How much is a certified Massachusetts divorce record?
Each certified copy costs $20.1
Who do I make the check or money order payable to?
Write it exactly as the office prints it: Commonwealth of Massachusetts.1
Where are older Massachusetts divorce records kept?
County Probate and Family Court.3
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.
- Get a copy of your divorce recordMassachusetts Probate and Family Court
- Request divorce informationMassachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
- Application for Divorce Information (DOCX)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
- Application for Vital Record (mail order form, DOCX)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
- Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (location)Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
- Where to Write for Vital Records: Application GuidelinesCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015