Family court records cover divorce, annulment, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity, adoption, name changes, and protective orders. They are civil cases, but nearly every state gives them special handling: separate family courts or divisions, extra redaction rules, and in some cases restricted online access. Knowing those rules saves a lot of frustrated searching.
Which court hears family cases
In most states, family cases are heard by the general-jurisdiction trial court (district, superior, or circuit court), often in a dedicated family division, and the file is kept by that court's clerk. A few states have separate family courts with their own clerks. Protective orders may be issued by the family court, a county court, or a magistrate depending on the state and whether a criminal case is also pending.
Our state guides show which court hears family cases in each state and which clerk keeps the records.
What is public and what is not
- Divorce and annulment. The case is public. The decree, the petition, and most orders can be requested by anyone. Financial affidavits, inventories, and parenting plans are often redacted or sealed.
- Custody and support. The index is public; the documents are frequently restricted to the parties and their attorneys. Child-support enforcement records held by the state agency are confidential.
- Paternity. Usually treated like custody: index public, documents restricted.
- Adoption. Sealed in every state. Access requires a court order, with narrow exceptions for adult adoptees seeking original birth records under state law.
- Name changes. Public unless sealed for safety reasons (for example, a domestic-violence survivor).
- Protective orders. Generally public, but some states remove them from online searches or seal the petition to protect the applicant.
- Juvenile dependency (abuse and neglect). Confidential.
Divorce decree vs. divorce certificate
People are often sent to the wrong office. The decree is the court's order ending the marriage, sometimes dozens of pages long, and only the court clerk has it. The certificate (or "verification of divorce") is a one-page summary issued by the state vital-records office in states that index divorces, and it may be all a passport office, the Social Security Administration, or a foreign government needs. Ask the agency which document it wants before you order.
How to get a certified divorce decree
- Identify the county where the divorce was filed. It is not always where either spouse lives now.
- Search the clerk's civil or family index by either spouse's name to get the case number.
- Request a certified copy of the "final decree of divorce" (or "judgment of dissolution") from the clerk, in person or by mail, with the fee.
- If you need it for use abroad, ask the clerk about an exemplified or authenticated copy and then obtain an apostille from the secretary of state.
See how to get certified copies for a general request template.
Searching family records online
Statewide and county portals show family cases in their civil index, sometimes under a separate "family" case type. Expect to see party names, case number, filing date, and docket entries. Document images are less often available than for other civil cases. If the portal hides a case entirely, the state may exclude family cases from public online access; the clerk can still provide public documents in person.
Records involving children
Courts go to considerable lengths to keep children's information out of public files. Expect initials instead of names, redacted birth dates, and sealed evaluations. If a document you need contains child information, you will usually have to be a party to the case, or have a court order, to obtain an unredacted copy.
Related guides
- Civil court records for the general civil index where family cases are often found.
- Probate records for guardianships, which are sometimes handled alongside family matters.
- Certified copies for the request process.
Frequently asked questions
Are divorce records public?
The divorce case file is generally public, but courts redact financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, and children's identifying details. Some states allow the parties to seal the financial portions. Adoption records are sealed everywhere.
How do I get a copy of my divorce decree?
Request a certified copy of the final decree from the clerk of the court that granted the divorce. You need the case number or both parties' names and the approximate year.
Is a divorce decree the same as a divorce certificate?
No. The decree is the court order, kept by the court clerk. The certificate is a summary record kept by the state vital-records office in many states. Agencies usually ask for one or the other; check which.
Can I look up someone's custody or child-support case?
The case index is usually public, but many states restrict access to the documents in custody and support cases, and child-support agency records are confidential.