If you’re asking yourself, “Are divorce decrees public record?” You’ve come to the right place. The short answer is no, but what’s contained in the records may be available depending on the state and the case.
The good news? In this guide, we answer this question, help you learn more about divorce decrees, and cover how to find information about them.
What is a Divorce Decree?
The divorce process is a long one, which is why there are many documents and records to account for. That said, the divorce decree is what ends this process. This is the document that the judge signs to state that a marriage is over.
It outlines the final terms agreed upon by the courts, and you’ll find that it contains information about the spouses, their families, and asset allocation. Overall, this is the document that proves someone’s marriage has come to an end.
What Does a Divorce Decree Contain?
A divorce decree contains a lot of information about the end of a marriage. It summarizes the events and outcomes of the trial, which makes it easy to find the information you need in one place.
In a divorce decree, you can find the following information:
- How property, debt, and assets were split.
- Who receives custody of any children.
- Any alimony or child support payments that are due.
- Name changes that are done by spouses.
Depending on the divorce, you may find some or all of this information when exploring divorce decrees.
What’s the Difference Between a Divorce Certificate and a Divorce Decree?
These are the documents that people tend to mix up the most. Fortunately, the difference isn’t all that complicated.
Divorce decrees prove that a marriage is over and the impact of the divorce. A divorce certificate, on the other hand, is a document that’s useful for name changes on licenses, passports, and other documents.
Are Divorce Decrees Public Record?
Whether or not a divorce decree is public record depends on state law. For example, New York seals these documents and conceals private and personal information about the divorced parties. However, you can still determine that someone is divorced, and some information about that divorce is available to the public.
For this reason, you may be better off finding a divorce certificate, and you may only find limited divorce records from divorce decrees.
How to Find Divorce Records Online
Now, you may not be able to find every little detail from a divorce decree, but that doesn’t mean you’ll come up empty-handed. You shouldn’t have any issues finding divorce records if you leverage the right tools. We cover the best options below.
UnMask
The best way to find divorce records is to leverage UnMask. When you run a search with their public record lookup, you’ll have no issue learning about someone’s divorce.
If a divorce decree is public, you’ll find information about it within the comprehensive full report. What’s more, you’ll also find information about divorce certificates, marriage records, and detailed information about court cases.
UnMask is often the best option because the tool combs through billions of public records until a match is found.
County Offices
When you want to find divorce records, they need to be filed with the state, so state offices are a good place to look. You’ll want to check the county clerk’s office or other county offices; make sure you visit the office in the county where the court case occurred.
When it comes to county offices, you usually have a few ways to search. You can find information online, send in a mail request, or try your luck going in person. Ultimately, it depends on the county office.
Courthouses
Divorces need to go through the court system. This is why you’ll often find information about divorces through court records. Because court records are available to the public, you can often find them in courthouses.
Before you begin your search, make sure you know which court the trial occurred in. You can always use UnMask for help with that. Then, you can view the court’s database or visit in person.
Are Divorce Decrees Public Record? The Verdict
So, are divorce decrees public record? Ultimately, no, they’re not inherently available to the public – not in the way that other records are. While some states will allow you to view every detail of a divorce decree, other states limit the information that’s available.
For this reason, we always recommend starting with UnMask; you’ll be able to find all available public records in one place. This way, you don’t have to worry about choosing different data sources, wasting time, and coming up empty-handed.
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