Written by Erika Busto
Background Checks | May 29, 2024
Table of Contents
Many people want to know how to find out if someone is divorced, and luckily it is easier than ever and can be done for free online in 60 seconds or even less.
Because divorce records are public, it’s just a matter of choosing the best search method to search, and also whether you need certified copies of divorce records.
Certified copies can only be obtained from the courts, but with free search options, anyone can find anyone else’s divorce record record…that is, if they have one.
Knowing how to find out if someone is divorced can come in handy for many reasons. The following guide explains how to do it fast.
For many individuals trying to figure out how to find out if someone is divorced, they may be trying to find more information about someone they just met. In this case, one of the best ways to find out about someone’s marital status for free is to use a search tool. Divorce records are public, so just search the person’s name and get the results in less than one minute!
This allows users to search an individual’s name and obtain background check information as well, including criminal records and other information that are included in a records check.
Another option is to use an online background check service that offers a complimentary background check trial. Although most background check services will require a monthly subscription, many will allow individuals to sign up for a free trial that allows for unlimited searches to be completed over the course of a week.
Be aware that just like most free trials, a standard subscription will be automatically purchased as soon as the free trial ends.
Although there are other methods for finding out the details of someone’s divorce using various public records, most methods will involve some kind of fee. It’s also important to keep in mind for individuals who are searching for certified copies of their own divorce records that the free methods will usually not yield certified copies.
To obtain certified a copy, individuals will usually need to go through the court where the divorce was finalized. Detailed steps to obtain a certified divorce copy are outlined further down.
There are a few different online methods that can be used for how to find out if someone is divorced. Using various background check techniques and available public records makes finding public records extremely easy.
Keep in mind that although any method will work to determine someone’s marital status for personal reasons, if the reason is more official it is best to simply go through the courts to obtain the information.
A fairly modern way to find out if someone is divorced is to find their social media profile. Although many people may have private or reasonably secretive social media accounts, a background check through social channels can be a great way to find these accounts.
Many online background check services these days offer social media background checks as part of their standard background check practices. The process for this is just like any other online background check: simply choose a background check service and enter the name of the individual to perform a search. Although searches can often be performed using only a name, many background check companies will request other information such as a city or address to narrow the results and prevent someone with the same name from confusing the search. A fee is also required for most of these services.
Once the individual’s social media profile has been identified, it is usually a fairly simple process to see if they have any information on their profile regarding their marital status.
Not far off from the social media method, using an online background check service can also be a useful way to find divorce information on an individual. Divorce records are considered public records for the most part so this information should be present on many online background checks. Most online background check services simply charge a fee to search the name of an individual through all available online databases.
These will include:
This means that if someone filed for divorce, the background check should be able to find the court documents that match the individual’s name. This will not only tell individuals if the individual is divorced at all but may even reveal other details such as the name of their previous spouse, where the divorce was filed and the date it was filed and subsequently finalized.
Once again it is possible to find a free trial to do this at no cost but most services will charge a fee to perform this kind of search.
Court records are the only official way that an individual can find information about someone’s divorce proceedings. Using court records is also the only way to obtain certified copies of divorce decrees which may be needed for a variety of reasons.
There are a few different ways to obtain divorce records through the courts but the easiest and quickest method involves using the online court system that most states have. These online court record systems allow users to search an individual’s name to find any relevant court documents. Once found, official copies of any documents can be requested for a fee.
The search of each state’s court system will be fairly similar to a private background check service. The main difference is that only results from that particular state court will be present. This means it is important to know which state the divorce would have supposedly been filed in.
Although criminal records are kept at the county level, divorces are always filed through the state courts so searching local courts will not have access to divorce records.
Use the list below to find the online state court search for each state.
Using the various online methods available is not the only way to find divorce records, although they are generally the quickest. Each state will have a few different ways to obtain divorce records. Although the courts are the most common, divorce records are also considered vital records in most states. This means that the agency in charge of keeping vital records will also have some kind of record of a divorce if it happened in that county.
The agency that is in charge of vital records varies in each state but in many cases, these records will be maintained by the health department or a similar agency. Contacting the agency directly and inquiring about the best way to request vital records is likely the best course of action for this method, as each state will have different record request protocols.
Contacting the court directly is also a great option for those not interested in using online methods. The county court clerk will be the individual in charge of records requests at each court. Contacting them via email, phone, or in person are all acceptable methods to make a records request or at least find more information on how a request can be made. Some clerks will be able to handle requests directly whereas others may refer individuals to a form that needs to be filled out.
As with the online methods, making a record request directly with the county court clerk will still require a small fee.
Vitalchek can be another useful tool when it comes to “How to find out if someone is divorced.”
Although vital records are kept by various state agencies, many states use Vitalchek as well. VitalCheck is a third-party company that keeps vital records for many states. This is especially useful because, unlike state court records, not all states have an online database for vital records. Many states will even refer users to Vitalchek as the preferred method to obtain vital records, such as the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.1
Vitalchek allows individuals to request official vital records for almost any state in just a matter of minutes. However, it is important to keep in mind that vital records, unlike court records, are not always considered public information. Although vital records do include divorce records, requesting vital records on divorce can only be done by an individual who is named in the divorce or an adult child of one of the divorcees.
Requesting records through Vitalchek is extremely easy and can be done through the Vitalchek website or through the phone.
Divorces can be fairly confusing from a legal standpoint making it difficult to know exactly what your marital status is at a given time during divorce proceedings. Divorce is made official when the judge signs the divorce decree, which may also be referred to by several different names depending on the state such as:
In many states, it will not be necessary for the individuals involved to be present when the judge signs the decree, however, even if the individuals are not present the divorce is finalized as soon as they are finished with their signature.
In most cases when the individuals are not present at the signing, the official signed divorce decree will be sent to the individual by mail within a few days. The divorce decree will contain the signed document as well as other relevant divorce documents such as information about the attorneys involved, child support information, property allocation, etc.
Many individuals get confused about the difference between a divorce decree and a divorce certificate. Although similar, a divorce certificate is a document issued by the vital records office in each state. This acts as a form of proof of the divorce but technically does not have the same legal status as a divorce decree.
Essentially the decree is the official court document, whereas the divorce certificate is just a record that the divorce took place.
Getting divorced is extremely stressful and quite overwhelming from a legal perspective. With so much to keep track of, it’s no wonder that important documents can get damaged or misplaced. Thankfully, knowing how to find out if someone is divorced online and obtaining official copies of divorce records is extremely easy thanks to online court and vital records being so widely available.
There are several ways to find out if someone is divorced for free. One option is to use the search bar at the top of this page to perform a free search using the name of the individual. Another option is to find an online background check service that offers a free trial and offers to find divorce or vital records.
The best way to obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree is to contact the court where the divorce was finalized. This can be done by using the online state court case search and requesting documents through the website. Another option is to contact the county court clerk directly and ask about the best way to obtain a divorce decree copy.
Copies of divorce decrees can be obtained via the state courts or through the state agency that maintains vital records. Keep in mind that in many states only the individuals named in the divorce or their adult children will be able to request a copy of a divorce decree.
Free public divorce records searches can be completed in a few different ways. One option is to use the search at the top of this page by entering the name of the individual named in the divorce. Many online background check services can also return this kind of information for a small fee, or for free if a free trial period is available.
An online background check company that offers a free trial is one of the easiest methods to obtain a divorce record. Since divorce records are considered public information, the vast majority of online background check services will be able to obtain this information.
1South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. (2019). Divorce Reports. Dhec. Retrieved August 5, 2022, from <https://scdhec.gov/vital-records/divorce-reports>
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