Divorce records are documentation following divorce proceedings, which normally include the name of the husband and wife, date of the marriage and the date of the divorce. Other information that may also be included in divorce documents are the date of birth of both the spouses, the addresses of the spouses and the names and ages of their children. The reason for the divorce and the property they both own can also be seen in divorce documents.
People obtain divorce records primarily for genealogical purposes, such as tracing family history and determining how property was divided between spouses and later on transferred to the children. Another reason why people access divorce documents is to determine if someone is legally divorced.
Divorce Records - Are You Ready to Know What You May Find Out?
Many say that divorce records can serve as a good measure of the character of an individual especially since these records indicate the final divorce decree and the circumstances surrounding the situation. If there are any issues of domestic violence or child abuse, these will be clearly stated in the divorce documents. Likewise, if there were any disputes regarding properties between the spouses, restraining orders and any other settlement issues, these will also be seen in the divorce records.
Where to Get Divorce Records
Since divorces are settled in court, divorce documents are obtained through the county court in which the proceedings took place. At the same time, divorce documents are also kept on the state level, which serves as a central repository for all the divorce records from each county.
At this time, not all counties and states have digitized their divorce documents and due to limited manpower and resources, it often takes about two to nine business days or as long as three weeks before requests are processed. With this process, requests have to be placed either in person or by mail before the divorce records are released.
Once divorce documents are online, the processing time will become more efficient, allowing anyone to view these public records as long as they have Internet access. Another advantage of conducting a search for divorce records online is that even with minimal information you will be able to obtain a lead for the full data on the divorce. For instance, you can use a current and ex spouse search beforehand to identify the names and addresses of the spouses which will in turn, bring you to the correct county in which you can request for the divorce documents.
There are two kinds of divorce records that you can request for - certified and uncertified copies. Uncertified copies are primarily used for research purposes only and cannot be submitted as legal document, such as for remarriage. A certified copy, on the other hand, will bear the seal and signature of the registrar and will only be issued to parties involved in the divorce or someone who was authorized by one of the involved parties to request for a copy. In special cases, divorce documents can be granted to an individual who can show that he or she needs a copy of these records to protect a personal right.
Every divorce that occurs needs to be recorded with the vital records office and this information is available to the general public as a divorce record. A personal copy of the divorce record is a divorce certificate that can be used by the individual as a legal document in all matters concerning the divorce.
Divorce records are maintained by the vital records department or in the health statistics department. Any person wishing to access these records may do so by placing a request with the concerned department holding the information. They can also obtain copies of the records which are uncertified copies if you are not one of the concerned parties in the divorce. Only concerned parties in the divorce can obtain a certified copy of the divorce certificate.
The divorce record contains vital information about the divorce such as date on which the divorce was finalized and why the divorce occurred. It also has other pertinent information such as names of the couple, the date when their marriage took place, the location where the marriage happened, the date of birth and the names of the children, if any, etc. It may also list other information such as the divorce settlements, the payment of alimony or maintenance, if any.
The Uses of Divorce Records
The divorce record is an important proof of information that the divorce has taken place. This is useful for the individual parties involved in the divorce to prove the divorce and can be of utility in many areas.
These records can help the individual ensure that the divorce has legally occurred. In many cases of uncontested divorces, the respondent party may not be aware of the settlement of the divorce. A divorce record helps in proving that the divorce has been finalized in the Court of Law.
When a person intends to marry again after a divorce, the divorce certificates should be provided to legally allow the person to remarry. It also helps resolve issues arising in the care of children born out of the marriage where divorce has taken place. A woman intending to change her name that carries the surname of the ex-husband can do so by providing these records.
Another important use of divorce records is searching the names of the current partners on websites that allow search of these records. This is useful in knowing more about the previous history of the person.
If the person has been involved in a divorce, it helps in knowing whether the divorce was finalized and what were the terms of the settlement. It also helps to know the reasons behind the divorce and can avoid many a future unpleasant scenarios by knowing if the partner was involved in problems like child abuse or had a history of domestic violence.
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