Looking up Texas Divorce Records at government departments in general will be a challenge to most of us but trying to find a Divorce Record in California at their Office of Vital Records will be a test of character in black-belt proportions. Those who have tried are likely to opine that if you are able to persist with them, you are either a really tough cookie or you are just not aware of any other means.

In 2007, day-to-day operations at the former California Department of Health Services (CHDS) were reorganized under two new departments namely the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) purportedly to better serve the community. Public records went under the charge of the CDPH. This service is offered through their Vital Records Office which reports into the Certificate and Licenses Unit.

The fact of the matter is the Office of Vital Records in California is quite lame where divorce records are concerned. Essentially the only function that is rendered there is the issuance of Certificates of Record and even that is limited to the period from 1962 to June 1984, shortfall unexplained. Anything beyond will be turned away to the Superior Court in the county where the divorce occurred. Along with those of Colorado, Indiana and Louisiana, the California State Department does not keep track of the number of divorces in the state.

For all practical purposes, a Certificate of Record on divorce is only a gateway document at best. The information that is presented on it consists of just the names of the divorcing couple, the county at which the divorce is filed and the assigned court case number. It does not even indicate if the subject divorce was ever finalized in the courts. On top of it, the waiting period could stretch up to 3 years although the quoted average processing time is 6 months and a fee of $13 is charged.

The main document in Free Online Divorce Records is the divorce decree. Information from end to end of the divorce process can be found in the divorce decree although the decree is mainly for officially stating the court ruling in the settlement of assets, alimony and child support, custody and visitation matters if any. In California, all divorces will be issued with a California Divorce Decree by the County Superior Court when the divorce is granted. These decrees can be requested again in the future but they are only available at the very county office where the divorce took place.

Texas Divorce Records are also known as Records of Marriage Dissolution. Marriage and divorce records invariably appear side by side in a search whether the search is primarily for one or the other. They are often merged as Marriage and Divorce Records, in both government and commercial databases. Many states require a certified copy of Divorce Records detailing the proper dissolution of previous marriages when divorcees apply for Marriage License to re-marry. California is one such state.

California population is 36 million strong. Given that some County Divorce Records date back hundred over years, it’s reasonable to speculate that there are millions of Divorce Records in California. Scouring divorce records county by county is obviously not practical. Luckily, there are plenty of commercial Divorce Records Search providers around nowadays. Unlike government agencies, their databases are generally cross-linked and they also have access to proprietary sources.

Searching for State of California Divorce Records is fairly easy. We can assist you with our experience and information on Free Divorce Records.