# How to Lookup Divorce Records A divorce record, also referred to as a marriage certificate, is part of the legal category of public records. Used by the state for legal, civil registration dates, divorce records assist the state in protecting every person's civil rights, by legally acknowledging their union. When someone applies for legal or naturalization to the United States, the immigration authorities usually check the couple's marriage records first. These records can include the original signed paper or an official notarized version. Divorce certificates are sometimes issued after the application has been thoroughly investigated by the courts. In order to get access to [divorce records](https://thekolemangroupscreen.com/marriage-and-divorce-records) in churches or church courts, you may need to get a court order. Depending on your location and the seriousness of your request, this could be something that you do not want to consider. As stated, most church courts require a signed application. In certain instances, such as with cemetery records, a simple phone call might be all that is required. In addition, most church courts require that you provide proof of your identity, as well as your date of birth and social security number. It is also possible that you will need a court order to obtain divorce records in courthouses. In these instances, a certified seal will be required. Certified seals are issued by the clerk of court after the completion of a standard inquiry and sealing. A seal will be displayed on the appropriate side of any divorce records you request. Certified seals are usually a temporary design that is assigned when the case was concluded and the file is closed. There are some exceptions to obtaining divorce records from the county court. In certain circumstances, county courts may hold certain records confidential, depending on the law in your area. In addition, the clerk of court may not release divorce records if the applicant cannot verify their identity. Many people try to avoid the hassles of getting a divorce record through the county court, but this often proves to be unnecessary. The process for getting a divorce record from a state or federal court is often much faster and easier than from a county court. Divorce records are considered public record by all states in the United States. Some states do not have laws that allow for the retrieval of such documents. The process of retrieving a record from a state or federal court is the same as for any other public record search. If you need to access divorce records from another jurisdiction, you will usually have to first secure permission from the person you are seeking to obtain the information from. Some states do not require a showing of proof of identity, although it is usually required that you show proof of residency in that jurisdiction. You should also bear in mind that some courts will require an affidavit of identity for any divorce records you require, even if they are public record. If you are researching your family tree, one of the best ways to do so is to obtain divorce records from family tree sites across the country. These sites allow you to search their databases for free or for a fee depending on how detailed you want to get. Free searches generally only pull up general information on past marriages, divorces, or birth and death certificates. If you need to dig really deep, paying a fee might be a better option for you as these databases typically have more information available. When looking at divorce certificates, you will most likely be interested in a few things. First, it will be useful for you to know the couple's names and date of birth. Second, it will give you the location of where the divorce took place along with the state the divorce was finalized. Lastly, it will provide you with copies of the final divorce decrees. Divorce records can be retrieved from a number of places. The easiest way for you to obtain these records is from the county where the divorce took place. For example, if you got divorced in Fulton County, Georgia, you can get the records from the county courthouse there. You can also search through the courts in your state to find a website that provides access to these types of records. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://background-check.gitbook.io/background-check/how-to-lookup-divorce-records.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. 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