{"id":2795,"date":"2024-08-16T18:21:15","date_gmt":"2024-08-16T18:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/?p=2795"},"modified":"2024-08-16T18:21:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T18:21:15","slug":"how-to-find-out-if-someone-is-divorced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/relationships\/how-to-find-out-if-someone-is-divorced\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Out if Someone Is Divorced: Your Full Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Divorce records are considered public information, but the level of ease with which you can access them depends on the type of divorce document you want. Getting a divorce certificate is much easier than obtaining the full divorce decree, which contains more detailed information about the settlement and agreements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are multiple ways to find out if someone is divorced. These ways can include using a reverse people lookup tool like Unmask to checking online databases or visiting your local courthouse. Many states have websites where you can search for divorce records by name.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we are going to explain how to find out if someone is divorced and the difference between a divorce certificate and a divorce decree so you know exactly what to look for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the Difference Between a Divorce Certificate and a Divorce Decree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A divorce certificate is a vital document that provides basic information about the divorce, specifically the names of the parties involved and the date and location of the divorce. You need this document if you want to change your name or prove your status when remarrying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To get more detailed information about a divorce, such as the terms of child custody, division of property, or alimony, you&#8217;ll need a document called \u201cdivorce decree.\u201d It\u2019s a court document that outlines the specific agreements and conditions of the divorce settlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both types of documents are public records, which means it\u2019s possible for you to get access to both of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, a divorce certificate is much easier to obtain than a divorce decree. As you might have already guessed, this is because the latter contains a lot of sensitive information about the parties involved in the divorce, such as financial details, child custody arrangements, and spousal support agreements.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you weren\u2019t directly involved in the case, then you might not be given access to the divorce decree. A divorce certificate, on the other hand, can be accessed by anyone. You may need to know the name of at least one of the persons involved in the divorce, though. Courts may allow you to view a divorce decree in some states, but it\u2019s very unlikely they\u2019ll give you a copy of it if you&#8217;re not directly involved in the divorce or don&#8217;t have a valid reason, like being a lawyer for one of the parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most people, a divorce certificate should be enough as the information that it provides is usually all that is needed for legal or personal purposes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Find Out if Someone Is Divorced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out if someone is divorced, we recommend using <a href=\"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\">PublicRecord\u2019s reverse people lookup tool<\/a>. This free people search engine gives you access to tons of information about people, and all you have to do is type their name on the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It compiles everything into a report, which includes details like the person\u2019s divorce records, criminal records, education history, and social media handles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you type someone\u2019s name into the tool, it searches through multiple public databases to find information about the person.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might not always be able to find a person\u2019s divorce records this way, though, especially if they\u2019ve had them sealed. Sealed records are not accessible to the public and require special permission to view. They can only be viewed by the court and other people who have been authorized to access them (such as lawyers or the people who were involved in the divorce).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it\u2019s still a good idea to start your search with PublicRecord\u2019s reverse people lookup tool because it\u2019s free, and it takes less than a minute for it to generate a report that information about the person\u2019s divorce records. You may also end up finding other useful details that will help make your search easier, such as their <a href=\"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/background-check\/how-to-find-someones-name-by-phone-number-for-free\/\">phone number<\/a> or their email address.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to find out if someone is divorced is to go to the courthouse where the divorce was finalized and request access to the records. Every state has a different procedure for accessing and viewing divorce records so it may be a good idea to get in touch with the office that maintains vital records in your state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below, we have explained how you can get divorce records in some states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Minnesota<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Minnesota, divorce records aren&#8217;t kept centrally at the state level. To get them, you&#8217;ll need to reach out to the court administrator in the county where the divorce was finalized. They usually charge a $10 fee for a copy of the records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wisconsin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Wisconsin, you can request access to someone\u2019s divorce records through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitalchek.com\/wistorefront\/customer\/wi\/wiHome.xhtml\">VitalChek website<\/a>. To get them by mail, you\u2019ll have to fill out an application form and send it to this address:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wisconsin Vital Records Office<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PO Box 309<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Madison, WI 53701<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also have to send some copies of your identification. Here are some forms of identification the Office of Vital Records in Wisconsin accepts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Your driver\u2019s license<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>US government-issued photo ID<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>US or foreign passport<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tribal or military ID<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have any of the above, then you\u2019ll have to submit copies of two of these items:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Bank\/earnings statement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Current, dated, signed lease<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Health insurance card<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utility bill or traffic ticket<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vehicle registration\/title<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll also have to pay a fee of $20 per copy. Once you\u2019ve submitted everything and they\u2019ve received your application, it\u2019ll take the vital records office about 10 days to complete your order.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">California<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In California, you have to contact the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was finalized. You\u2019ll be required to pay a fee of $14. Note that you\u2019ll only receive a \u201cCertificate of Record,\u201d which includes details such as the names of the parties, the filing date, and the case number. This document is not a certified copy of a divorce decree and does not indicate whether the divorce was finalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Washington<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To get divorce records in Washington, you\u2019ll have to fill out an application form with some basic information: the names of at least one person on the marriage record, the approximate date of the marriage (month, day, year), and the county where the divorce was finalized. You\u2019ll also have to submit a valid form of ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, you\u2019ll have to pay a fee of $25 (per certificate) to the Department of Health. If you order the records online, then you\u2019ll have to pay a nonrefundable fee of $45.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you request the records online or over the phone, you should receive them in about 5-7 business days. If you choose to request them by mail, it will take approximately 6-8 weeks for the vital records office to process and ship the copies to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Idaho<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Idaho also processes applications through VitalChek, but you\u2019ll have to provide proof that you have a legitimate reason to request the records if you\u2019re not related to the people named on the certificate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll need to pay a fee of $16 (with additional charges applicable if you&#8217;re applying through VitalChek). If you want to apply by mail, you\u2019ll have to submit an application to the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records. You\u2019ll have to attach a copy of your driver\u2019s license that shows the expiration date and your signature, as well as a signed check or money order for the certificate fee with your application. Mail these documents to the following address:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PO Box 83720<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Boise, ID 83720-0036<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also check online databases, which are maintained at the county level. Almost every county in the US has an official site where you should be able to search for a person\u2019s divorce records. Keep in mind, though, that not every county updates its site regularly, so there\u2019s no guarantee that you\u2019ll be able to find what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quickly Find Anyone\u2019s Divorce Records<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The quickest way to find someone\u2019s divorce records is to use PublicRecord\u2019s reverse people lookup tool. If you don\u2019t find their certificate there, then it\u2019s very likely that it hasn\u2019t been digitized yet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to check with your local government offices that maintain vital records to see if they have physical copies that can be accessed in person or through a formal request process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll have to pay a one-time application fee, which typically ranges from $5-$25 (can be more if you\u2019re using VitalChek to submit your application). Requesting by mail is cheaper than submitting your application online, but it&#8217;s slower due to processing and mail delivery times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to find out if someone is divorced urgently, then just use the people search tool for quick results.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Divorce records are considered public information, but the level of ease with which you can access them depends on the type of divorce document you want. Getting a divorce certificate is much easier than obtaining the full divorce decree, which contains more detailed information about the settlement and agreements. There are multiple ways to find [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1661],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[753,718,548,851],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2795"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2795"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2795\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2798,"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2795\/revisions\/2798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2795"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/publicrecord.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=2795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}