Orange County Divorce Records

Orange County divorce records are official documents produced by the Family Law Division of the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, during marriage dissolution proceedings. These records may include, but are not limited to:

• Case information
• Divorce petition & response
• Court proceedings & orders
• Final judgment of divorce
• Child-related matters (if it applies)
• Domestic violence or restraining orders
• Mediation reports
• Domestic violence or restraining orders.

For those concerned with access and how to find divorce records in Orange County, these documents are generally public, but with certain limitations to protect privacy. Individuals requiring them for remarriage, legal proceedings, genealogical & educational research, or other personal use may find basic information online or request access through the Orange County Superior Court's Clerk's Office.

Note: Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that as of 2023, 6.8% and 11.0% of Orange County's male and female residents were divorced.

Are Divorce Records Public in Orange County?

Yes, the California Public Records Act grants public access to Orange County's divorce records. Nonetheless, public disclosure of these documents is limited to non-sensitive information, such as:

• Case information
• Court Docket/Register of Actions
• Judgment of Dissolution (final divorce decree).

Access to confidential details of Orange County divorces is limited to the parties in the divorce, their attorneys of record, and individuals with legitimate interests. Non-publicly accessible Orange County divorce information includes:

• Financial disclosures such as income/expense declarations, tax returns, and property division worksheets
• Social Security numbers, bank account details, and tax ID numbers
• Custody evaluation reports or mediation notes
• Domestic violence reports and confidential addresses.

Furthermore, sealed Orange County divorce records are not for public disclosure.

How to Find Divorce Records in Orange County

The Orange County Superior Court Family Law Case Access is an official tool for an Orange County court divorce search. Through this access portal, individuals can look up divorce records in Orange County by case numbers or names.

As an alternative, record seekers can access certified copies of Orange County divorce records through the Orange County Superior Court - Family Law Clerk's Office. For mail or in-person access to Orange County's divorce records, send a mail or visit the Family Law Clerk's Office of the Orange County Superior Court at:

Requesters should note the following fees concerning copies of Orange County divorce records through the Family Law Clerk's Office of the Orange County Superior Court:

• Non-certified copies - $0.50 per page
• Certified copies - $0.50 per page, in addition to $15.00 certification fee per document for divorce decrees or $25.00 for other divorce documents.

Certificates of record of Orange County divorces (proof of divorce) from 1962 through June 1984 are accessible through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). For Orange County divorce search through the CDPH:

• Download and complete an Application for Certificate of Record For a Divorce Form ( Form VS 113b)
• Mail the completed request form along with a dollar check or money order for $16.00 (payable to CDPH-Vital Records) to:

Overview of the Orange County Court System

The Orange County court system comprises the Orange Superior Court and its various branches. Under the California court system, Superior Courts are the sole judicial institutions at the county level. They handle civil and criminal cases through their divisions.

The Family Law Division of the Orange County Superior Court handles the county's divorce cases, and the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court is the custodian of Orange County divorce records. Individuals seeking access to Orange County family court divorce filings should contact the Family Law Division of the Orange County Superior Court at:

Online Access to Orange County Divorce Records

Information seekers can find Orange County divorce records online through the Orange County Superior Court Family Law Case Access Portal. This access portal permits free online divorce lookup for Orange County residents and other interested individuals. Users can look up basic information about divorces in Orange County for free and order certified copies of these documents. The Orange County Family Law Case Access portal allows a case number or name search for divorce information.

Furthermore, some private websites may provide free online divorce lookup for Orange County residents and other interested individuals. However, users of non-official platforms as document search options should note that these platforms are independent, and their documents may contain errors and inaccuracies.

What is Typically Included in an Orange County Divorce Record

The content of an Orange County divorce record depends on the type of document. Under California laws, anyone can access basic information about divorce cases. However, full divorce case files contain comprehensive details about divorce cases.

A typical publicly accessible Orange County divorce record or an informational copy of the document contains the following information:

• Case number
• Names of the parties
• Date the divorce petition was filed
• Court location (Orange County Superior Court Family Law Division)
• Case status (pending, dismissed, or finalized)
• Register of actions/docket entries.

By comparison, in addition to general case information, an Orange County divorce decree may contain most or all of the following details:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
• Financial disclosures
• Property division
• Child custody/visitation arrangements
• Spousal support
• Domestic abuse claims
• Details of private mediation
• Clerk's certification stamp and seal
• Statement verifying that it is a true and correct copy of the original court record.

How to Get Certified Copies of Orange County Divorce Records

Certified copies of Orange County's divorce records are official versions of the county's divorce documents. The public can order these documents by mail or in-person requests through the Orange County Superior Court Clerk's Office.

To order a certified divorce decree in Orange County:

• Log in to the Orange County Superior Court Family Law Case Access Portal
• Accept the disclaimer to access the search page
• Use the name or case number to search and confirm if the document is available online (Orange County divorce records from 1997 to the present are available electronically)
• Use the Family Law Records page's "Request copies online" to order the documents using the case details. Additionally, indicate that the order is for a certified copy
• Make payment using a credit or debit card (a certified copy of an Orange County divorce decree costs $0.50 per page, in addition to $15.00 certification fees).

Alternatively, call the Orange County Superior Court Clerk's Office at (657) 622-8457 and order certified copies of divorce records, or:

• Download and complete a Copy Request Form (L-0696)
• Include a check or money order (to cover copy and certification fees) and a self-addressed stamped envelope, and mail to:

Individuals can also get official divorce records in Orange County by visiting the Lamoreaux Justice Center.

Certified copies of Orange County divorce records are official divorce documents. Unlike informational copies, they play several legal roles in name change, remarriage, and immigration applications.

Requesters should note that phone, online, and mail requests for Orange County divorce records take 30 to 45 days for delivery, while the Orange County Superior Court Clerk's Office delivers in-person requests in three to four days.

Why People Request Orange County Divorce Records

There are various reasons to request Orange County divorce records. Individuals may need Orange County divorce records:

• To change their name
• To remarry
• For legal or financial matters
• For genealogy or family research.

Orange County Divorce Records Summary

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