In the United States, divorce records are public. A divorce records database contains all the divorce listings for a particular area or region. There are a few main methods individuals and businesses can use to access this information and find divorce records. Divorce records may be needed for legal proceedings and tax queries, among other reasons.
The pricing and costs of divorce records search queries is important to consider. In many instances, divorces themselves can be very costly. While spouses are given copies of their divorce decree and, in most cases, their divorce records, the paperwork can be destroyed in a fire or flood, prompting them to get new copies. Economical shopping is important, even when performing a marriage divorce records search. Competitive searchers may:
1. Save themselves or their business money;
2. Find the most convenient divorce search option;
3. Or use the fastest divorce records search options available.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Go to your county courthouse in order to perform a public divorce records search
When thinking about how to find divorce records, one of the simplest options is to go to the county clerk's office, which keeps track of all public records, including public divorce records. While the records located there can be accessed for free, it will cost a minimal amount to make copies of the paperwork. This is a great option for those who are performing a divorce record search in their immediate area. This is often the cheapest, and most economical, option available to searchers.
I recommend: Genealogy.com provides a national listing of county courthouses, which can aid you in your divorce record search.
National Association of Counties has a similar listing but also allows you to search by county name if you know the name of the county you are searching.
Review online divorce records to complete your search
It is very difficult to find completely free online divorce records. Many of the websites that offer online public divorce record searches will not charge for the search but rather for their services. This results in a subscription fee. Paying a subscription fee may be worthwhile if you perform many searches each month or if you are unable to easily access the county courthouse where the divorce records are kept. Without a subscription, online divorce record searches can cost as little as $2.95 or as much as $39.95 for a single search. However, it might also be worthwhile to consider going to a local library and getting information online there. Many libraries subscribe to genealogy websites that can provide copies of divorce records.
I recommend: VitalChek.com charges approximately $16, less for a one-time order than GovernmentRegistry.org. However, VitalChek does not offer an optional subscription with purchase of a divorce record. GovernmentRegistry.org offers a yearly subscription at a discounted price when purchasing one divorce record.
GovernmentRegistry.org charges approximately $40 for an entire year of divorce record searches, which is a good deal if you will be searching often.
Find a freelancer or research-savvy individual to search divorce records for you
The fee you would pay this individual could be negotiated as a flat rate and include all potential charges, such as the cost of copying or mailing the divorce records requested. Freelance courthouse researchers may be your best bet to get the work done for you. Independent researchers can vary greatly in their cost depending on what you need done. Many accept large genealogy projects but have the skills necessary to accomplish smaller tasks such as a divorce records search. Fees can vary but will likely range from $10 to $10 per hour.
I recommend: Elance.com offers a listing of freelance workers. Its searches can be limited by region, state and zip code. Learn about what is typically expected out of a freelance researcher at
Find Freelance Work.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Try to make your money stretch for a divorce records search. If you are making copies of papers from a divorce record, only copy the sheets you need. Search competitively through online companies and freelance researchers.
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