There are many reasons you may want to find a decree of divorce.  Public records provide copies of many documents that are court issued.  The reason behind your search determines the legality of your query.  Although divorce records are nominally public, they contain a great deal of private information, social security numbers, bank account information, and the like.

When you search the public record for a divorce decree, it is important to know that your search is legal.  Using the excuse “I didn’t know” is not going to impress any judge if you get yourself in trouble.  Public search services have contracts that stress your responsibility in conducting only legal searches, so make sure you know your rights and where you need to be discrete.

How to Find Your Own Divorce Records
This is an area where there is no question of legality.  Your records are undeniably your own, so privacy isn’t an issue.  If you need a copy of your own divorce record, then you need to contact the state in which you divorced.  Some states keep these records at the state level, others at the county level.  By checking out the state website for vital statistics, you will find out where to turn.

Download and fill out the application.  You will need to name both participants, provide the location where the divorce took place, the date – if possible, and your reason for requesting a copy.  Additionally expect to provide a copy of your own Government issued ID and whatever fee is requested.  The clerk’s office will forward you a copy of your decree within a few weeks.

Other Someone Else’s Divorce Records
Here things get a bit trickier.  There are legitimate reasons to search for the divorce records of other people, but the law is much stricter.  For example, if you are searching for a divorce decree as part of a genealogical search, and you are in the ancestral stream of those divorced, you are fine.  If, however, you are merely trying to dig up dirt on someone, the courts don’t look favorably upon your actions.

With internet dating becoming so common, it isn’t unlikely that you might be searching for a divorce record in order to establish certain facts about your date.  This is a very gray area.  On the one hand, you can argue that you are searching in order to prevent the possibility of physical and financial harm, which is legitimate.  On the other hand, if you don’t trust the person you are dating to that degree, do you really want to date them?

Another Option for Finding Public Divorce Record
If you have some concerns about how the State will view your request, and you believe you are on the right side of the law, it may be much simpler to search online divorce public records.  You can find divorce public documents online in a matter of minutes and not have to explain the nature of your search to anyone.