Monterey County Divorce Records

A divorce is a painfully-relieving process all dysfunctional marriages go through for reasons only the couple can decipher. The official divorce decree, along with any other documents related to the dissolution of the marriage is grouped as a single divorce record, after the approval of a judge in a court of law.

The presence of a divorce record means that a judge in a court of law has approved of its legality. The procurement of these divorce records is common among couples who want perform a background check of the person whom they are currently dating. Before officially tying a new knot with the new partner, it is imperative to know any history of domestic violence and restraining orders related to it and other significant facts so as not to go through another emotional ordeal. Moreover, divorce records can also be utilized as a requirement for regaining your maiden name and to eliminate all traces of your ex-partner’s existence in financial and insurance arrangements.

Monterey County divorce records, as dictated by California State Laws, are stored in the California Department of Public Health and the Monterey County Superior Court, depending on the year the divorce was recorded. Divorces that were record from 1962 to June 1984 are archived within the confines of the CDPH, and documents recorded later than June 1984 are kept by the county Superior Court where the divorce transpired.

Request forms for obtaining such records can be completed either personally, or via the websites of the appropriate agencies. Prior to doing so, make sure that you have gathered sufficient data as to where and when the divorce occurred. It is also important to identify the types of divorce records that occur in existence. First, certified authorized copies can be secured the persons whose names are in the decree, specifically, the couple who mutually agreed to have their marriage terminated, and any other entities or witnesses specified thereof by the law. The couple’s parents can also secure an authorized copy. Informational copies on the other hand, can be obtained by the general public. A processing fee of 10$ for requests coming from public agencies, or 15$ for any other individual entreaties is to be paid to the Office of Vital Records. Your accomplished request form is also mailed to the same institution. It will then take you a few weeks to six months for your request to be processed.

For a much faster processing time compared to the traditional method, one can request for the services of independent online records retrieval providers. Their services include fast and accurate search and retrieval of public documents such as divorce records using a database that can be accessed infinitely. Furthermore, these services are either for free or pay-based using a very small amount. Using the internet, convenient access to such services can help determine the fate of your remarriage and facilitate you and your loved ones’ safety.

Monterey County Vital Records

If you’re looking for an efficient way of acquiring divorce records, follow the steps below, along with other significant information:

Gather vital information about the divorce record that you’re looking for;
Determine if you can secure an authorized or an informational copy as per California state laws;
Informational copies share the same information with authorized copies, but will come with a legend that states, “INFORMATIONAL, NOT A VALID DOCUMENT TO ESTABLISH IDENTITY.”
Fill up the request form provided to you, or download it here
Pay the processing fee of 15$, and 10$ (for requests coming from public agencies) to be paid via check or money order payable to the CDPH Office of Vital Records;
Mail your request to the same office;
The standard processing time per individual request is around a few weeks to six months.

Monterey County Court Records

Enumerated below are the links of the different public agencies that are tasked with the storage and releasing of public documents such as divorce records: