mercredi 22 janvier 2014

California Free Divorce Records

By Ben Kingsley


Like any other States in the US, divorce in California is considered as public records. This means that the records are available for the public and anyone can request for the records. There are however two types of divorce records available for request - authorized and informational copy and it is best to determine if one is eligible for which type of record.

Authorized copies of divorce decrees contain the registrants, the date the case was filed as well as the county where the divorce was filed. Authorized copies can be used as supporting documents for those who need spousal support or child benefit(s). Those who are eligible to obtain an authorized copy include the registrant themselves, their kids, siblings or parents, their domestic partners, adoption agency (in case of adoptions), law enforcers as well as those individuals who are authorized to act on behalf of the parties. What sets the information copy apart from authorized copies is that informational copies cannot be used as a supporting document and is given for information purposes only.

Once one determines that he or she is eligible for the said copies, it is time to check where the copies can be obtained. The California Department of Public Health or CDPH Vital Records division does not issue certified copies; they can only issue Certificate of Record. All certified copies are available from the County Superior Court where the divorce was granted. Certificates of Records contain information such as the parties involved in the divorce, the county as well as the case number. The Certificate of Record does not contain any information on whether the divorce was finalized or not. The Vital Records division also has divorce records on hand that were filed from 1962 up to June 1984.

To request for a Certificate of Record, download the pamphlet available from the CDPH site. Follow the instruction guide and complete the requirements needed. Fees vary and are non-refundable. The Office will issue a certificate of No Public Records if there are no records found. Payments for the copy should be included with the request. Payments can be made via money order or checks that are drawn from a US bank. Money orders issued by the USPS are also accepted. Processing time can exceed six months depending on the request volume.

For those who need a certified copy of the divorce decree, they can go to the California Superior court or the County's superior court to request for the record. It is important to check the fee schedule as each county has different fees. Divorce records search in Alameda County for example is available from the Superior Court of Alameda. Each record search costs about $15 for searches conducted longer than 15 minutes. Divorce records cost about $15 and some administrative or handling charges may apply. For those who are on a budget, they can visit the records division and do the search themselves free. The Court does not accept any phone request though they accept walk in and mail request. For those who want to get their certified copies without having to wait, they can also avail of public search sites that provide the information free or for a fee. One can easily get hold of the information they want without having to go to the county superior court to search for the records.




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