California - How to obtain a Divorce Certificate

ProcedureEdit

California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Before you submit a request to the CDPH, determine whether the marriage or divorce record you want is available from CDPH Vital Records and if you can obtain an authorized copy or an informational copy.

CDPH Vital Records only accepts orders submitted by mail. Complete and send the application form along with a Notarized sworn statement (if applicable) and check or money order for the certified copy fee to:

California Department of Public Health

Vital Records - MS 5103

P.O. Box 997410

Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

If using a courier service that requires a physical address for delivery, please use the following address:

California Department of Public Health

Vital Records - MS 5103

1501 Capitol Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95814

Notes:

Fill out a separate application for each record requested.
Make sure that you have completed all items required on the application, and provide as much information as possible to help locate the record, otherwise your request may be returned to you for correction.
Fees are payable to CDPH Vital Records via check or money order. International money orders for out-ofcountry requests should be payable in U.S. dollars. Fees are also nonrefundable per state law.
If the CDPH cannot locate the record based on the information you provided, California Health and Safety Code authorizes CDPH to maintain the fee for the search itself, and a Certificate of No Public Record (CNPR) will be issued.
Payment for the fee must accompany all requests for copies of vital records.

Required DocumentsEdit

For requests submitted to CDPH:

Completed Application Form

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Vital Records does not currently have a public counter. However, you may contact them by mail:

California Department of Public Health
Vital Records MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410

Customer Service:
Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00am to 4:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time)
Phone: (916) 445-2684
Email: [email protected]

County Recorder Offices
CDPH Website

Listing of Superior courts in California

Certificates may also be obtained from your local county office. Use the contact information below to inquire.

Alameda County : 1106 Madison St; Rm 101 Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: 510-272-6362

Alpine County : 99 Water St PO Box 158 Markleeville, CA 96120
Phone: 530-694-2287

Amador County : 500 Argonaut Lane Jackson, CA 95642
Phone: 209-223-6468

Butte County : 25 County Center Dr; Oroville, CA 95965
Phone: 530-538-7691

Calaveras County : 891 Mountain Ranch Rd; San Andreas, CA 95249
Phone: 209-754-6376

Colusa County : 546 Jay St; Colusa, CA 95932-2443
Phone: 530-458-0500

Contra Costa County : 730 Las Juntas St; PO Box 350; Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: 925-646-2360

Del Norte County : 981 H St; Crescent City, CA 95531
Phone: 707-464-7204

El Dorado County : 360 Fair Ln; Placerville, CA 95667
Phone: 530-621-5490

Fresno County : 2221 Kern St. Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 559-488-3003

Glenn County : 526 W Sycamore St PO Box 391 Willows, CA 95988
Phone: 530-934-6419

Humboldt County : 825 5th St; Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: 707-476-2384

Imperial County : 940 W Main St; El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: 760-482-4220

Inyo County : 168 N Edwards St PO Box F Independence, CA 93526
Phone: 760-878-0218

Kern County : 1655 Chester Ave Bakersfield, CA 93301
Phone: 661-868-6440

Kings County : 1400 W Lacey Blvd Hanford, CA 93230
Phone: 559-582-3211

Lake County : 255 N Forbes St; Lakeport, CA 95453
Phone: 707-263-2368

Lassen County : 2610 Riverside Drive Susanville, CA 96130
Phone: 530-251-8216

Los Angeles County : 12400 E Imperial Hwy PO Box 1024 Norwalk, CA 90650
Phone: 562-462-2137

Madera County : 209 W Yosemite Ave. Madera, CA 93637
Phone: 559-675-7700

Marin County : 3501 Civic Center Dr San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: 415-499-6094

Mariposa County : 5100 Bullion St PO Box 35 Maripose, CA 95338
Phone: 209-966-5719

Mendocino County : 501 Low Gap Rd Rm 1090 Ukiah, CA 95482
Phone: 707-463-4221

Merced County : 2222 M Street Merced, CA 95340
Phone: 209-385-7627

Modoc County : 204 Court Street PO Box 131 Alturas, CA 96101-0131
Phone: 530-233-6205

Mono County : Bryant Annex 2 PO Box 537 Bridgeport CA 93517
Phone: 760-932-5241

Monterey County : 240 Church Street PO Box 29 Salinas, CA 93092
Phone: 831-755-5041

Napa County : 900 Coombs PO Box 298 Napa, Ca 94559-0298
Phone: 707-253-4246

Nevada County : 950 Maidu Ave. Nevada City, CA 95959
Phone: 530-265-1221

Orange County : 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd. Santa Ana, California, 92701
Phone: 714-834-2536

Placer County : 2954 Richardson Drive Auburn, CA 95603
Phone: 530-886-5600

Plumas County : 520 Main Street Quincy, CA 95971
Phone: 530-283-6218

Riverside County : 4080 Lemon St., 1 st Floor PO Box 12004 Riverside, CA 92502
Phone: 909-486-7000

Sacramento County : 600 8th Street PO Box 839 Sacramento, CA 95812-0893
Phone: 916-874-6334

San Benito County : 440 5 th St 2nd Floor Hollister, CA 95023
Phone: 831-636-4029

San Bernardino County : 1808 Commercenter West, Ste. D, San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: 855-732-2575 / 909-890-1713

San Diego County : Administation Building 1600 Pacific Hwy San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-238-8158

San Francisco County : 400 McAllister Street San Francisco, California, 94102
Phone: 415-551-4000

San Joaquin County : 24 S Hunter St #304 PO Box 1968 Stockton, CA 95201
Phone: 209-468-8075

San Luis Obispo County : 1144 Monterey St Suite C San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Phone: 805-781-5080

San Mateo County : 400 County Center Redwood City, California, 94063
Phone: 650-363-4711

Santa Barbara County : 1100 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Website: http://www.countyofsb.org/

Santa Clara County : 70 W Hedding St 1st Floor San Jose, CA 95110-1768
Phone: 408-299-2481

Santa Cruz County : 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
Phone: 831-454-2800

Shasta County : 1643 Market Street PO Box 990880 Redding, CA 96099
Phone: 530-225-5730

Sierra County : 100 Courthouse Sq Ste 11 PO Box D Suite 11 Downieville, CA 95936
Phone 530-289-6295

Siskiyou County : 311 Fourth Street PO Box 338 Yreka, CA 96097
Phone: 530-842-8084

Solano County : 701 Texas Street Fairfield, CA 94533
Phone: 707-421-6265

Sonoma County : 2300 County Center Drive laPlaza Building B177 Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: 707-565-3800

Stanislaus County : 1021 I Street Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: 209-525-5250

Sutter County : 433 2nd Street Yuba City, CA 95992
Phone: 530-822-7120

Tehama County : 633 Washington Street Red Bluff, CA 96080
Phone: 530-527-3350

Trinity County : 101 Court St Box 1258 Weaverville, CA 96093
Phone: 530-623-1215

Tulare County : 221 S Mooney Blvd Visalia, CA 93291
Phone: 559-733-6418

Tuolumne County : 2 S Green Street Sonora, CA 95370-4679
Phone: 209-533-5570

Ventura County : 800 S Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93009
Phone: 805-654-2267

Yolo County : 625 Court Street PO Box 1130 zip code 95776 Woodland, CA 95695
Phone: 530-666-8130

Yuba County : 935 14th Street Marysville, CA 95901
Phone: 530-721-6547

EligibilityEdit

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

FeesEdit

For requests submitted to CDPH: $14.00 fee per copy requested

Fees are payable to CDPH Vital Records via check or money order. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. International money orders for out-of country requests should be payable in U.S. dollars. Fees are also nonrefundable per state law.
Do not send cash by mail. CDPH cannot be held responsible for fees paid that are lost, misdirected, or undelivered.

ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents which can be used by people who would like to follow this procedure.

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.

Processing TimeEdit

CDPH's processingtimefordivorcerecordscanbequitelengthyandmayexceed6 months.

InstructionsEdit

Divorce Records

Certified copies of actual divorce decrees are only available from the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was filed. California Department of Public Health Vital Records can only issue a Certificate of Record - and only for divorces that occurred between 1962 and June 1984.

A Certificate of Record includes the names of the parties to the divorce, the county where the divorce was filed, and the court case number. A Certificate of Record is not a certified copy of the divorce decree, and does not indicate whether the divorce was ever finalized in court. Our processing times can easily exceed 6 months.

Required InformationEdit

The full name of the parties to the marriage
The Divorce or dismissal date
The county in which the divorce was granted/dismissed
The requesters relationship to the parties named on the Divorce certificate
The requesters reason for requesting the certificate

Need for the DocumentEdit

Dissolution of marriage or divorce is the termination of marital union between married couple. It results in cancellation of all legal duties and responsibilities between married couples.

Following are procedures on how you can obtain a certified copy of a divorce certificate.