Who issues divorce decrees in the US
Divorce decrees are court documents, not vital records in the strict sense. The certified copy you need almost always comes from the clerk of the court that entered the divorce — typically the superior court, district court, circuit court, or family court of the county where the case was filed. The state vital records office may keep an index of divorces (so it can confirm whether one occurred) but will refer you back to the court for a certified copy.
If you have lost track of the original court, your state's central vital records office or judicial branch website usually offers a divorce index search by name and year. The state pages on this site point you to the correct court for each major county.
What you'll need to provide
To order a certified divorce decree, you will generally need:
- Proof of identity. A government-issued photo ID such as a driver license, state ID card, US passport, military ID, or permanent resident card. Some agencies accept a notarized application instead of an ID copy.
- Proof of relationship (when the record is restricted). Most states restrict full birth and death certificates to the registrant, immediate family, legal representatives, and certain government agencies. Be ready to identify your relationship and, in some states, attach supporting documentation (your own birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court appointment as executor).
- Specifics about the record. Full legal name on the record, date of the event, place of the event (city and county), and the names of parents (for births) or spouse (for marriages and deaths).
- The fee. Personal check, money order, or — for online and in-person requests — a credit or debit card. State fees range from about $5 to about $35 per copy, plus shipping and any expedited-service surcharge.
How long it takes
Mail-in turnaround varies enormously, from about two weeks (Vermont, North Dakota, Iowa) to nine months in some California counties. In-person and approved-online requests are almost always faster, and many states offer same-day service at the central office in the capital. If you need a record on a deadline — for example, before a passport appointment — order in person if you can, or use the state-approved online vendor.
Compare all states
Sort the table below to find the cheapest fee or the fastest typical turnaround for a divorce decree across every US state and territory we cover. Figures come from the same dataset as each state page — see data sources.
| State ▲ | Fee | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama (AL) | $15 | 8-10 weeks by mail; same-day in person |
| Alaska (AK) | $30 | 4-6 weeks by mail; 1-2 weeks in person |
| American Samoa (AS) | contact high court of American Samoa | 6-10 weeks by mail |
| Arizona (AZ) | contact superior court clerk | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Arkansas (AR) | $10 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| California (CA) | $16 | 6-9 months by mail; faster from county recorder |
| Colorado (CO) | $20 | 15-25 business days by mail |
| Connecticut (CT) | contact superior court | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| Delaware (DE) | contact prothonotary | 6-8 weeks by mail |
| District of Columbia (DC) | contact DC Superior Court | 3-5 weeks by mail |
| Florida (FL) | $5 | 3-5 business days by mail; same-day in person |
| Georgia (GA) | contact superior court | 8 weeks by mail |
| Guam (GU) | contact superior court of Guam | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Hawaii (HI) | $10 | 8-10 weeks by mail |
| Idaho (ID) | $16 | 2-3 weeks by mail |
| Illinois (IL) | $5 (verification only) | 6-8 weeks by mail |
| Indiana (IN) | contact circuit court clerk | 6-8 weeks by mail |
| Iowa (IA) | $20 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
| Kansas (KS) | $15 | 10-12 weeks by mail |
| Kentucky (KY) | $6 | 30-35 business days by mail |
| Louisiana (LA) | contact district court clerk | 2-4 weeks by mail |
| Maine (ME) | $15 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Maryland (MD) | contact circuit court | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| Massachusetts (MA) | contact probate & family court | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Michigan (MI) | $34 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Minnesota (MN) | contact district court | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| Mississippi (MS) | contact chancery clerk | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Missouri (MO) | $15 (1948-present) | 5-7 weeks by mail |
| Montana (MT) | contact district court clerk | 8-12 weeks by mail |
| Nebraska (NE) | $17 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Nevada (NV) | contact district court clerk | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| New Hampshire (NH) | $15 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
| New Jersey (NJ) | contact superior court | 6-12 weeks by mail |
| New Mexico (NM) | contact district court | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| New York (NY) | $30 | 6-8 months by mail (NYC handled separately) |
| North Carolina (NC) | $24 | 5-15 business days by mail |
| North Dakota (ND) | contact district court | 2-3 weeks by mail |
| Northern Mariana Islands (MP) | contact superior court | 4-8 weeks by mail |
| Ohio (OH) | contact common pleas court | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Oklahoma (OK) | contact court clerk | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Oregon (OR) | $25 | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | contact prothonotary | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Puerto Rico (PR) | contact court of first instance | 6-8 weeks by mail; same-day in person |
| Rhode Island (RI) | contact family court | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| South Carolina (SC) | $12 | 3-4 weeks by mail |
| South Dakota (SD) | $15 | 2-3 weeks by mail |
| Tennessee (TN) | $15 | 5-7 weeks by mail |
| Texas (TX) | $20 (verification) | 6-8 weeks by mail |
| US Virgin Islands (VI) | contact superior court | 8-12 weeks by mail |
| Utah (UT) | $20 | 3-5 weeks by mail |
| Vermont (VT) | $10 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
| Virginia (VA) | $12 | 4 weeks by mail; same-day in person |
| Washington (WA) | $25 | 4-8 weeks by mail |
| West Virginia (WV) | contact circuit clerk | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Wisconsin (WI) | $20 | 4-6 weeks by mail |
| Wyoming (WY) | $25 | 2-4 weeks by mail |
Browse divorce decrees by state
Each state link below opens a guide tailored to that jurisdiction's office, fees, processing time, and rules. We cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Puerto Rico
- US Virgin Islands
- Guam
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
Common questions
Can I order a divorce decree from another state on someone else's behalf?
Sometimes. Most states allow immediate family members and legal representatives (with documentation) to order. Distant relatives, friends, and unrelated third parties typically cannot order a full certified copy of a recent record, but they may be able to order an informational or genealogical copy of an older record.
Do I need an apostille?
Only if you are submitting the certificate to a foreign government that is party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State of the state that issued the certificate, not by the vital records office itself. Order the certified copy first, then send it to the Secretary of State for authentication.
Can I get a same-day copy?
In many states, yes — if you visit the central office in the state capital in person with ID and the fee. A few states also offer same-day service through approved courthouse pick-up. Mail and standard online orders almost never qualify for same-day turnaround, regardless of how much you pay.