All counties have a system in place for locating divorce records. Therefore, it is important to look through your local county website for further details on this matter. Specifically, in Broward County, Florida the divorce records are considered legal documents related to a couple’s divorce.
They include the divorce papers that the couple filed in Broward County Court, as well as any records created during the divorce procedure, and a divorce certificate. Florida State also collects and indexes divorce filings to assist people in doing public divorce record searches.
You can receive further details on how to learn about divorce records on their website, including:
- Where to get Broward County Divorce Records online;
- How to get a copy of your divorce decree;
- Which divorce filings are Broward County public records;
- If Divorce Records appear on background checks and;
- Which government agencies issue divorce certificates.
Divorce, also known as dissolution of marriage, is when two people who are married decide to legally terminate the relationship. There are several different methods by which a governmental body records this decision. Understanding the difference is a significant part of the process when attempting to obtain this kind of record.
Divorce records are deemed as court records. Therefore, they may be searched on third-party public record websites. Divorce records can offer personal information on minors, finances, and sensitive criminal information such as domestic abuse.
Due to this, divorce records, certificates, and decree availability are usually much lower than other types of public records because of the personal nature of divorces. Divorce records are relatively harder to obtain and search for than other types of public records.
What is a Divorce Certificate?
According to the state of Florida State records, Florida divorce certificates are the most commonly requested of the available records, because they are easier to obtain. However, it provides the least amount of information too. This certificate will simply show that two people have gotten divorced, where they received the divorce, and the exact date and time that the divorce was finalized.
A divorce certificate is often requested when one of the divorced parties wants to change their name or enter into another marriage, and they need proof that their last marriage was terminated. One of the most common reasons a divorce certificate is requested is to obtain a marriage license. In the state of Florida, this document is a public record, though it can only be purchased by parties involved in the divorce or the attorneys who were part of the legal process. While an official or certified copy can only be obtained by those involved, the record can be accessed by anyone online for viewing purposes.
What is a Divorce Record?
A divorce record contains the most information comparable to a divorce certificate and a divorce decree. A divorce record is considered the case file for a divorce case. Along with the information included in both of these documents, divorce records include all of the general case information such as testimonies, filed evidence, transcripts of court proceedings and any motion, judgments, probationary clauses, terms of shared child-custody, protective orders, or related arrangements, and agreed upon financial entitlements or settlements. These records also have details about all the parties involved in the case, including all witnesses.
Furthermore, most records list the names and addresses of the parties involved too. Many courts will endorse keeping this file for the future in case one of the parties decides to fight any decisions or judgments that were made. Divorce records are usually more public than divorce certificates or divorce decrees. They can be reviewed for and obtained in the same ways as court and criminal records, with valid identification, the information provided, and fees included.
Are Divorce Records Public?
In the state of Florida, divorce is known to be a family court matter, which in and of itself is a civil court matter. Family court records are accessible to the public unless they have been expunged or sealed by order of the court. All people of the public may view divorce records in-person at the county clerk’s office or online, although it is possible to locate more complete records online.
To obtain these records online, the requesting party needs to submit fully completed application forms to the county clerk’s office. The information that is required in these request forms includes the user’s name, address, email address, and phone number. The requesting parties must provide a reason for using the courts’ online record systems.
Additionally, online access requires paying for a subscription. Keep in mind that divorced parties may apply to the court to have some or all of their divorce records sealed. Florida Family Courts rarely grant requests to seal all divorce records. However, they may restrict access to court documents comprising sensitive information such as financial information.
How to Find Divorce Records Online?
To view the records of a divorce case in Florida, you may visit the website of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the specific county where the case was heard, for instance in this case Broward County. The website of Florida Courts provides a list of links to the websites of all Circuit Courts in Florida.
To see the Family Court records online, navigate to the court record access page on the county’s Circuit Court website. Requesting parties will need to register on the site and then log in to access the records portal and start searching for family law cases.
The publicly available records are viewable from some third-party websites. These websites give the benefit of not being limited by geographical record availability. They can frequently serve as a starting point when researching specific or multiple records. To find a record utilizing the search engines on these sites, interested parties need to provide:
- The name of someone involved in providing it is a not a juvenile;
- The known location of the record in question such as a city, county, or state name;
- Government public record search portals and third party public record websites both may provide court records search tools, which can enable to find divorce records, though record availability usually varies widely and;
- Divorce records in particular may simply not be available through either source.
How to Find Divorce Records In-Person and By Mail
Additionally, the public can request these records from the Offices of the Circuit Court Clerks by mail and in person. Some counties also accept requests sent by fax and delivered over the phone. To request Family Court records in person, visit the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk for the county where the case was held. This address is available online on the court’s website. Other available contact information contains the Clerk’s phone number, fax number, and email address.
The Clerk’s Office will charge search and copy fees for requested records. Credit and debit cards are required for payment for records requested by phone and fax. For mail requests, you need to include a check or money order for the total amount and make it out to the Clerk as instructed on the Circuit Court website.
Remember to include the following information in the request for Florida Family Court records:
- The names of the parties involved in the requested record;
- The case number of the divorce;
- The year or years in which the divorce was filed, heard, or finalized and;
- The type and name of the documents in question.
The dissolution of marriage documents in Florida range from June 1927 to the present day and are recorded by the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the county where the divorce took place. They can be collected through the Bureau of Vital Statistics. This document holds an abstract of the information that was yielded during the judgment and is admissible as evidence that a divorce was filed and finalized. The judgment itself is compiled from the Clerk of the Circuit Court that serves the county where the divorce was issued.
When Do I Need to Contact a Lawyer?
If you reside in the state of Florida, specifically Broward County, there is a method of obtaining the divorce records. But if you encounter issues in the process it may be useful to get in touch with a local divorce attorney in the area.
