California Divorce Records Lookup

Retrieving public information from government departments is usually not only time-consuming but also bogged with procedures, requirements and waiting time. Requesting Divorce Records in California from their Office of Vital Records of California is a good example. Although it’s technically possible to obtain Free Divorce Records directly from the office, the odds are long. For some reason, the available records there are decades from current and far from complete.

As of 2007, day-to-day functions of the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) have been reorganized under two separate departments: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Certificate and Licenses is one of units under the latter. Among other functions, it maintains a central registry of California Divorces, Marriages, Birth and Death records at its Vital Records Office. This is one of the public services offered by the department.

California is one of the four states which do not keep track of the number of divorces within the state. The other three are Colorado, Indiana and Louisiana. In regard to providing divorce records, the Office of Vital Records in Sacramento, California can only issue a Certificate of Record – and only for divorces that occurred between 1962 and June 1984. More detailed information on Free Online Divorce Records can only be obtained at the actual county offices where the divorces were filed and granted.

For all practical purposes, a Certificate of Record on divorce is only a gateway document at best. The information that is presented on it consists of just the names of the divorcing couple, the county at which the divorce is filed and the assigned court case number. It does not even indicate if the subject divorce was ever finalized in the courts. On top of it, the waiting period could stretch up to 3 years although the quoted average processing time is 6 months and a fee of $13 is charged.

The main document in Free Online Divorce Records is the divorce decree. Information from end to end of the divorce process can be found in the divorce decree although the decree is mainly for officially stating the court ruling in the settlement of assets, alimony and child support, custody and visitation matters if any. In California, all divorces will be issued with a California Divorce Decree by the County Superior Court when the divorce is granted. These decrees can be requested again in the future but they are only available at the very county office where the divorce took place.

Divorce Records Texas are also known as Records of Marriage Dissolution. Marriage and divorce records invariably appear side by side in a search whether the search is primarily for one or the other. They are often merged as Marriage and Divorce Records, in both government and commercial databases. Many states require a certified copy of Divorce Records detailing the proper dissolution of previous marriages when divorcees apply for Marriage License to re-marry. California is one such state.

California population is 36 million strong. Given that some County Divorce Records date back hundred over years, it’s reasonable to speculate that there are millions of Divorce Records in California. Scouring divorce records county by county is obviously not practical. Luckily, there are plenty of commercial Divorce Records Search providers around nowadays. Unlike government agencies, their databases are generally cross-linked and they also have access to proprietary sources.

Be savvy in searching your Divorce Records California. We can help you with information and tips. Visit us at Free Divorce Records Online.