Free Divorce Records Search: Can You Search for Copies of Public Divorce Records for Free?

It is possible to find free divorce records if you are looking for records from a long time ago. Until the 19th century, divorce was almost unheard of. If in fact you are seeking divorce records that you know date back this far, you may be able to find them using sites like Ancestry and RootsWeb.

Or, you can check your local library to see if they have a local history room. Many libraries do have such a room where vital records from centuries past are kept. Another place to look is your city or county government building. Of course, if you are seeking modern divorce records you will need to pay a fee.

There are various reasons why you may need to find divorce records. One reason is that you are getting remarried and need to provide a certified copy of your previous divorce records in order to get a marriage license. Or, you may be seeking divorce records for someone else.

Divorce records are public and available to anyone who pays the applicable fee. How much it will cost to obtain these records depends on the state in which you live. For example, it costs $10 in New York City to get divorce records. In California, the cost is $13. Certain states have varying costs when it comes to their public records.

The Internet can be a very helpful resource when you are searching for vital records. For example, the website of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) offers plenty of information about obtaining birth and death certificates as well as marriage and divorce records from all the states. You can find out where to write for information and how much the records are going to cost you. Another option is to use web sites like SearchSystems or Akiba. These sites can often help you obtain the records you need quickly and easily, for a fee of course. Usually these fees may be a bit more than your Vital Records Department will charge but for the convenience of doing business online it is often worth it.

The final option if others are not viable is to obtain the services of a private investigator. Private eyes can usually get their hands on all sorts of records not available in other avenues. This option is the most expensive, but will save you time and the process is guaranteed success or no money is exchanged.