Securing Copies of Your Divorce Papers for Future Legal Purposes

Some divorced people simply leave the past behind them. However, this is not always the case for others. For life situations such as remarriage, a copy of the divorce papers is required before a new marriage license can be issued. Also, having copies of these documents can be helpful for child support and alimony, as well as tax purposes. Thankfully, a washington state divorce record can easily be accessed, especially if you have a divorce attorney to help you. Divorce records in the state are public but you can have some parts of your divorce filing sealed by a judge. Your attorney can help you with the process.

Getting a Copy of Your Divorce Decree

This paper is the final divorce judgment. It is a final court order that grants your marriage’s termination. For divorces that end up in court, the judgment is confirmed once a judge and the court clerk sign and date the decree. In addition, a divorce decree spells out the final disposition of issues related to the divorce including child custody and support, spousal support, debt distribution, and property division. Make sure to obtain a copy of the decree to verify its authenticity. You might need to provide some agencies such as the Social Security Administration with a sealed copy of this document.

Moreover, you will need a divorce decree when an outside party must see evidence of your marriage dissolution for certain reasons. You can get either a plain copy of the decree or a certified copy. Often, you may need to request a certified copy to confirm to ensure the copy has a court stamp, often with a fee paid.

What are Divorce Certificates

These certificates are papers that often include your name and the name of your ex, the date of your divorce, and where your divorce was filed. You can access them from the vital records office in the state. By determining whether you need a divorce certificate or a divorce decree before you request a copy, you can save money and time.

Finding Divorce Records

A lot of divorce documents in Washington are filed and held in the office of the county clerk. If you want to get a divorce record, you must go through the state’s Department of Health and Vital Records. You can get the record from the facility it was made. Also, you can find divorce records through government-operated search portals. In fact, third-party public record sites can also offer court record search tools.