Understanding the Differences Between Marriage and Divorce Records: How to Discover the Answers You Need

If you are planning on conducting genealogical research or simply want to check the facts when considering marrying a potential spouse, you need to understand what information you can access and the types of records that can help you along. When considering marriage and divorce records to discover whether someone has ever been married or divorced legally, you first must determine what information your research requires before moving forward. 

Conducting a Public Records Search

Simply verifying family history can be done through a simple marriage records search, and can help you discover the location of where many of your ancestors lived. However, public divorce records can offer very detailed information about property divisions and specific arrangements included in a divorce decree. You may be interested in this information if the divorce involved your parents, or possibly if you want to ensure your spouse’s past marriage is no longer valid.

Many times, a search for more information about a person should begin with a marriage records search. If you discover a marriage that you weren’t aware of, you can then request divorce records to see if the marriage was in fact ended legally. Marriage records also may include the names and addresses of the bride and groom’s parents, and divorce records could include names of any children that were a result of a marriage.

Who Can Access Them?

Determining who can access what information is different in every state. Many states will remove personal identifying information and that of minors involved in the paperwork to protect their identities. Official marriage and divorce records will include social security numbers, addresses and even occupations in some cases. Divorce records could even include particulars such as property owned, and retirement and cash accounts that the involved parties may not want the general public to know about.

Obtaining Copies

Marriage and divorce records are always available to the couple named in them. Your attorney should provide you with a copy of your final divorce record after the judge has signed it and the local offices have filed it away. Marriage certificates are typically mailed after the signed license is received from the official who conducts the civil ceremony and obtains the appropriate witness signatures.

If you need a copy of your divorce record, you will most likely be required to provide two forms of government-issued I.D., as well as utility bills in your name in order to access the complete information. Marriage and divorce records can be requested via mail or phone many times as well. Even if you are not a named party in these records, a court order releasing them to you as a legal representative or any other reason will be enough to gather copies of the originals.

When searching for records regarding someone else (a potential future mate, for example), you first must determine what you need to know. Do you simply need to check that they have never been married? If yes, then you need to search for marriage records. If you know they have been married in the past, you may simply need to search for divorce records to ensure they can legally marry you.  Armed with the correct information, you should be able to access either type of record if you inquire at the local court offices where the marriage or divorce occurred.