Last updated 2026-07-11
TL;DR
You get extra copies of divorce documents by contacting the clerk of the court where your case was filed. You can request certified or plain copies in person, by mail, or online through your state's case portal. Fees typically run $0.50 to $2.00 per page for plain copies and $5 to $25 for a certified copy. Processing takes anywhere from same-day to four weeks.
What kinds of divorce document copies can you get from the court?
Courts issue two types of copies, and knowing which one you need before you call the clerk saves real time.
A plain copy (sometimes called a conformed copy) is a photocopy of whatever is in your file. It has no special seal. Banks and title companies almost never accept it as proof that your divorce is final.
A certified copy is a photocopy that the court clerk stamps and signs to confirm it is a true and accurate copy of the original record. The stamp typically reads something like "certified to be a true copy of the original on file." [1] This is the version you need for changing your name on a Social Security card, updating a passport, transferring real estate, or refinancing a mortgage.
Some states also issue an apostille, which is a certification layer added on top of a certified copy to make it valid in countries that have signed the Hague Apostille Convention. If you are moving abroad or dealing with a foreign government, you usually need both a certified copy from the court and then an apostille from the state's Secretary of State office.
A few states also issue a Certificate of Divorce or Dissolution, a one-page summary document issued by a state records office rather than the court clerk. California, for example, phased out its public divorce index, but other states like Texas still issue marriage dissolution certificates through the state health department. [2] Know which document the requester actually wants before you order.
Where exactly do you go to request copies of your divorce records?
The right office is the clerk of the superior court (or district court, circuit court, or family court, depending on your state) in the county where the divorce was filed. Not your county of residence now. The county where the case was originally opened.
If you filed years ago and moved, you may need to do a little detective work. Start by searching your state's online case lookup system. Every state has one; some are statewide, some are county-by-county. Search your name or your ex-spouse's name plus the approximate year. The case number that comes up tells you exactly which courthouse holds the file.
For cases filed before roughly 2000, the physical file may be in a warehouse or archives facility rather than at the courthouse counter. Courts in California, for instance, route requests for older files through a records management department that can take two to four weeks to pull and copy a stored case. [3] Always call the clerk's office before driving over so they can tell you whether the file is on-site or archived.
State court self-help centers are genuinely useful here. The California Courts Self-Help Center (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov) and similar sites in Texas, Florida, and New York all have direct links to county clerk record request forms. [4] Use them. They are free, current, and authoritative.
How much does a certified copy of a divorce decree cost?
Fees vary quite a bit by state and sometimes by county within the same state. The table below shows certified copy fees for a sample of states as of 2025. All figures come from each state's official court fee schedule.
| State | Certified copy fee | Per-page fee (additional pages) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $25 first page | $0.50 each additional | CA Gov. Code § 70626 |
| Texas | $1 per page + $5 cert. fee | $1 per page | TX Gov. Code § 51.318 |
| Florida | $1 per page + $2 cert. fee | $1 per page | FL Stat. § 28.24 |
| New York | $5 certification fee | $0.65 per page | NY CPLR § 8020 |
| Illinois | $2 per page | included | 705 ILCS 105/27.1 |
| Georgia | $2.50 per page | $2.50 per page | GA Code § 15-6-77 |
| Ohio | $1 per page + $1 cert. | $1 per page | Ohio Rev. Code § 2303.20 |
A typical divorce decree runs 5 to 15 pages. Budget $10 to $40 for a certified copy at most courts, plus any mailing or processing fees. [5]
Certification fees are set by state statute, not by individual clerks, so there is no negotiating them. Some counties add a small administrative fee on top of the statutory rate, which is why the clerk's website for your specific county is always the final word. The one cost people forget is the envelope or mailing fee for mail requests, which can add $5 to $15 if the court uses tracked mail.
Can you order divorce documents online, and how does that work?
Increasingly, yes. The experience varies wildly by state.
California's online case access portal (courts.ca.gov) lets you view and download electronic copies of documents in your own case if the court has e-filed the records. Certified copies still have to be ordered by mail or in person at many California courts, though a handful of counties now offer e-certified copies with a digital court seal. [4]
Texas has TexFile and individual county portals. Harris County (Houston) allows certified copy requests online through its district clerk website, with payment by credit card and mailing within a few business days.
New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF) lets parties in e-filed cases print certified copies directly from the portal. The certification appears embedded in the downloaded PDF. [6]
Florida's myFlorida Clerk portal varies by county. Some Florida counties have full online ordering; others require a mail-in request.
If your state does not offer online ordering, the next best option is a mail request. Send a written request to the clerk's office with your full name, your ex-spouse's name, the case number, the year of the divorce, the specific documents you want, and a check or money order for the correct fee. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Most courts will not accept cash through the mail.
Third-party record retrieval services exist, but they charge $50 to $150 on top of the court fees for work you can do yourself with a phone call and a check. That is not a good use of money.
How long does it take to get copies of divorce documents?
In-person requests at a courthouse where the file is on-site: same day, usually within an hour.
Online orders or e-filed courts that allow digital downloads: minutes to 24 hours.
Mail requests to courts with on-site files: 1 to 3 weeks, depending on staff workload.
Archived files (cases older than roughly 10 to 20 years stored off-site): 2 to 8 weeks. Some courts charge an additional retrieval fee of $5 to $15 for archived cases.
If you have a deadline, say for a name change appointment with a Social Security Administration office or a real estate closing, order at least three weeks before you need the document. Then call the clerk's office after ten business days to confirm they received your request and pulled the file. Clerks are overworked, and a friendly follow-up call is not pushy. It is normal.
Expedited processing is available at some courts for an additional fee (often $15 to $35), but it is not universally offered. Ask when you call.
What information do you need to request your divorce records?
Most courts require all of the following to locate and release your file.
Full legal names of both parties as they appeared on the original petition. If you have since changed your name, give the name at the time of filing.
The approximate year the divorce was finalized, or ideally the exact date.
The case number or docket number. If you have any paperwork from the original filing, like the petition or the final decree, the case number is printed on every page in the top right or top left corner.
The county where the divorce was filed.
Your current mailing address for mail requests, plus a phone number in case the clerk has questions.
Proof of identity. For in-person requests, a government-issued photo ID is standard. For mail requests, some courts ask for a notarized statement confirming your identity. The clerk's office will tell you exactly what they need.
One note on privacy: divorce records in most states are public records. That means anyone can request a copy, not only the parties to the case. [7] A few states have provisions to seal certain family law cases, but a routine divorce decree is almost always public. If you want to know whether your case has any sealing order attached, ask the clerk directly.
What if you cannot find your case number or do not remember which county you filed in?
Start with your state's online case search tool. Most state court websites have a public case lookup that lets you search by party name. Here are the search portals for the four most populous states.
California: Each county has its own portal; the California Courts website (courts.ca.gov) has a directory of all county court websites. [4]
Texas: The Office of Court Administration maintains a case search at search.txcourts.gov. [8]
Florida: The Clerk of Courts Operations Corporation runs a statewide search at myeclerk.com.
New York: eCourts at iapps.courts.state.ny.us covers most New York cases. [6]
If the online search does not return a result, it might be because the case was filed before the court began digitizing records, typically pre-1995 to pre-2005 depending on the county. In that situation, call the clerk's office directly with your name, approximate year, and any other details you have. Clerks deal with this regularly and can search paper indexes.
As a last resort, if you genuinely do not know the county, start with the county where you lived at the time of filing. If that turns up nothing, try your spouse's county of residence at the time. Jurisdiction rules vary by state, but most divorce petitions are filed in the county of residence of one or both parties.
How many certified copies do you actually need?
More than one, fewer than ten. That is the honest answer for most people.
Think through every agency or institution that will ask to see proof of your divorce before you order. Here is a practical list of common uses.
Social Security name change: 1 certified copy (they return it). [9] Passport application or renewal with name change: 1 certified copy (they return it). State DMV name change: 1 certified copy (policies vary; some keep it, some return it). Real estate deed transfer or mortgage refinance: 1 certified copy, sometimes 2. Bank or financial account name change: 1 plain copy usually suffices, but call first. Retirement or pension account beneficiary change: 1 certified copy. Foreign country documentation: 1 certified copy plus apostille.
Some agencies return original certified copies; others keep them. Call ahead and ask. If there is any doubt, ordering three certified copies at once is cheaper than requesting them one at a time later, since you pay the court's processing fee each time.
If your divorce involved divorce papers with a property settlement agreement attached, confirm whether the requesting institution wants just the final decree or the complete file including attachments.
Can someone else pick up or order copies on your behalf?
Generally yes, with the right authorization.
Most courts will release certified copies to a third party if that person presents a signed, written authorization from one of the parties to the case, plus their own government-issued ID. Some courts require the authorization to be notarized.
An attorney can always request records in a case they are representing. If you ever worked with a divorce attorney on your case, they may already have a full copy in their file, and that could be faster than ordering from the court.
Title companies and banks regularly order records on behalf of clients for real estate transactions. They know the process and often have established relationships with specific county clerk offices.
One thing to watch: if you hire someone to retrieve records for you, make sure they give you the original certified copy and not a photocopy of it. A photocopy of a certified copy is not a certified copy. Courts seal certified copies in ways that make photocopying them meaningless for official purposes.
What if you never received your final divorce decree in the first place?
This is more common than people think. Courts mail the final decree to the address on file, and if you moved during the case or shortly after the judgment, the document may never have reached you.
The solution is the same as ordering any other copy: contact the clerk of the court where the case was filed, provide your case number, and request a certified copy. The fact that you never received the original does not create any legal problem. The court's record of the judgment is what matters legally. Your certified copy is simply proof of what is already in that record.
If you are not even sure whether your divorce was ever finalized, a case search will show the case status. Look for a disposition date or a judgment date in the case record. If the case shows pending or open, the divorce may not have been granted, which is a different problem entirely and worth a call to a divorce lawyer to sort out.
For people who went through a DIY process and want to make sure their paperwork was properly accepted and their judgment is real, a certified copy of the final decree is the definitive proof. If you are still in the middle of an uncontested case and want a clean set of forms to start from, DivorceClear's $149 document packet gives you state-specific forms drafted to meet your court's requirements.
The divorce rate in America means court clerks process hundreds of these record requests every week. It is a routine transaction, not an unusual ask.
What does the process look like step by step?
Here is the full sequence from start to finish.
Step 1. Locate the case. Use your state's online case search to confirm the case number, county, and date of judgment. Write these down.
Step 2. Check the court's website for the specific county. Find the clerk's records request page. Most courts now have a downloadable request form or a list of what to include in a written request.
Step 3. Decide how many certified copies you need. Think through every institution that will ask for one. Order at least two.
Step 4. Calculate the fee. Multiply the per-page fee by your estimated page count, then add the certification fee for each copy. Add any processing or mailing fee. Round up slightly to avoid a short-payment rejection.
Step 5. Submit your request. In person, by mail, or online depending on what your court offers.
Step 6. If mailing, use a tracking number on your payment envelope and include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the copies to be returned.
Step 7. Follow up at the ten-business-day mark if you have not received a response.
Step 8. When copies arrive, confirm the clerk's seal or stamp is present before submitting them anywhere. If the seal is missing or smeared, call the court before submitting to a government agency.
For name change purposes after the divorce, the Social Security Administration has a clear guide on acceptable documents at ssa.gov. [9] Start there before you order copies so you know exactly which documents they want.
If you ever need to work through other post-divorce logistics like alimony modifications or a child support calculator for a post-judgment review, keeping a certified copy of your decree accessible saves time on every future step. DivorceClear has a full walkthrough of post-divorce name change and record steps for people who completed an uncontested case.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a certified copy of a divorce decree cost?
Most states charge $5 to $25 for a certified copy of a divorce decree, plus $0.50 to $2.00 per page. California charges $25 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page under Government Code § 70626. Texas charges $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee under Government Code § 51.318. Budget $10 to $40 total for a typical decree of 5 to 15 pages.
Can I get a copy of my divorce decree if I lost the original?
Yes. The court keeps the official record regardless of what happens to your copy. Contact the clerk of the court in the county where your divorce was filed, provide your name, your ex-spouse's name, the approximate year, and any case number you remember. They will locate the file and issue a new certified copy for the standard fee. You do not need to explain why you need it.
How long does it take to get certified copies of divorce papers from the court?
In-person requests at courts with on-site files are usually fulfilled the same day. Mail requests take one to three weeks. If your case is archived off-site (common for divorces filed before the mid-2000s), expect two to eight weeks. Always order at least three weeks before any deadline like a name change appointment or real estate closing.
Does the court keep copies of all divorce documents forever?
Court retention schedules vary by state. Final judgments and decrees are almost always kept permanently. Supporting documents like financial disclosures may be retained for only 10 to 20 years depending on state rules. If you want copies of everything in your file beyond just the final decree, order the complete file sooner rather than later.
Can anyone request a copy of my divorce records, or are they private?
Divorce records are public records in most states, meaning anyone can request a copy, not only the parties to the case. Some exceptions exist for cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, or where a judge granted a sealing order. If you want to know whether your specific case has any sealing protection, ask the clerk directly when you call.
What is the difference between a certified copy and a plain copy of a divorce decree?
A certified copy has an official court stamp and the clerk's signature confirming it is a true copy of the original. Government agencies, banks, title companies, and the Social Security Administration require certified copies as proof of divorce. A plain or conformed copy is just a photocopy with no authentication, accepted for informal purposes but not for official name changes or property transfers.
Do I need an apostille on my divorce decree?
Only if you are using the document in a country that participates in the Hague Apostille Convention. You first get a certified copy from the court clerk, then separately apply for an apostille from your state's Secretary of State office. Apostille fees typically run $5 to $20 per document. If you are only using the decree domestically, you do not need an apostille.
How many certified copies of my divorce decree should I order?
Order at least two to three at the same time. Common uses that each require one copy include a Social Security name change, a passport renewal, a real estate deed transfer, and a retirement account update. Some agencies return the original; others keep it. Ordering multiple copies in one request is always cheaper than making separate requests later.
Can I request copies of divorce documents by mail?
Yes. Most courts accept mail requests. Write a letter with your full name, your ex-spouse's name, the case number, the year of the divorce, and the documents you need. Include a check or money order for the correct fee (no cash), a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a copy of your photo ID. Call the clerk's office first to confirm the exact current fee before you send payment.
What if I do not know which county my divorce was filed in?
Start with the county where you lived when you filed. Use your state's online case search tool with your name and approximate year. California, Texas, Florida, and New York all have statewide or county-level public case search portals. If the online search fails, call the clerk's office in the county you think is most likely; they can often search paper indexes for older cases.
Can my attorney get a copy of my divorce decree instead of me?
Yes. An attorney of record can request certified copies directly from the court. If you used a divorce attorney on your original case, they likely have a copy in their file already, which may be faster than ordering from the court. For non-attorneys acting on your behalf, most courts require a written, signed (sometimes notarized) authorization from one of the parties plus a government-issued ID from the person picking up.
Is a divorce certificate the same as a divorce decree?
No. A divorce decree (or judgment of dissolution) is the full court order signed by a judge. A divorce certificate is a shorter summary document issued by some state records offices, similar to a birth or marriage certificate. Some institutions accept a divorce certificate for name change purposes; others require the full decree. Check with the requesting agency before you order.
How do I get copies of divorce documents from another state?
The process is the same regardless of where you live now. You contact the clerk of the court in the state and county where the divorce was filed. Most states allow out-of-state residents to request records by mail or through online portals. You will need your full name, case number, approximate year, and proper payment. Expect mail turnaround of two to four weeks from a distant court.
What if the court says it cannot find my divorce case?
Ask the clerk to search under both your name and your ex-spouse's name. If you changed your name after the divorce, search under the name you used at the time of filing. Also ask whether older cases are stored off-site and require a separate archival request. If a thorough search turns up nothing, it may mean the divorce was never finalized, which warrants a consultation with a family law attorney.
Sources
- California Courts, Certified Copies of Court Records: Certified copies carry a clerk's stamp confirming the copy is true and accurate to the original on file
- Texas Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics: Texas issues marriage dissolution certificates through the state health department as a separate document from the court decree
- California Courts Self-Help Center, Court Records: Older California files routed through records management can take two to four weeks to pull and copy
- California Courts Self-Help Center: State court self-help centers provide direct links to county clerk record request forms and are free and current
- California Government Code § 70626, Court Fees: California charges $25 for the first page of a certified copy and $0.50 for each additional page
- New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF): NYSCEF allows parties in e-filed cases to print certified copies directly from the portal with an embedded court certification
- Florida Statutes § 28.24, Clerk Fees: Florida charges $1 per page plus a $2 certification fee for certified copies of court records
- Texas Office of Court Administration, Case Search: Texas OCA maintains a public statewide case search portal at search.txcourts.gov
- Social Security Administration, Change of Name: The SSA requires a certified copy of a divorce decree for a name change and returns the original document to the applicant
- Texas Government Code § 51.318, District Clerk Fees: Texas charges $1 per page plus a $5 certification fee for certified copies of district court records
- New York Civil Practice Law and Rules § 8020: New York charges a $5 certification fee plus $0.65 per page for certified copies of court records
- Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 105/27.1, Clerk Fees: Illinois charges $2 per page for certified copies of circuit court records