| Every divorce that occurs needs to be recorded | | | | is useful for the individual parties involved in the |
| with the vital records office and this information is | | | | divorce to prove the divorce and can be of utility |
| available to the general public as a divorce record. | | | | in many areas. |
| A personal copy of the divorce record is a | | | | These records can help the individual ensure that |
| divorce certificate that can be used by the | | | | the divorce has legally occurred. In many cases of |
| individual as a legal document in all matters | | | | uncontested divorces, the respondent party may |
| concerning the divorce. | | | | not be aware of the settlement of the divorce. A |
| Divorce records are maintained by the vital | | | | divorce record helps in proving that the divorce |
| records department or in the health statistics | | | | has been finalized in the Court of Law. |
| department. Any person wishing to access these | | | | When a person intends to marry again after a |
| records may do so by placing a request with the | | | | divorce, the divorce certificates should be |
| concerned department holding the information. | | | | provided to legally allow the person to remarry. It |
| They can also obtain copies of the records which | | | | also helps resolve issues arising in the care of |
| are uncertified copies if you are not one of the | | | | children born out of the marriage where divorce |
| concerned parties in the divorce. Only concerned | | | | has taken place. A woman intending to change her |
| parties in the divorce can obtain a certified copy | | | | name that carries the surname of the ex-husband |
| of the divorce certificate. | | | | can do so by providing these records. |
| The divorce record contains vital information | | | | Another important use of divorce records is |
| about the divorce such as date on which the | | | | searching the names of the current partners on |
| divorce was finalized and why the divorce | | | | websites that allow search of these records. This |
| occurred. It also has other pertinent information | | | | is useful in knowing more about the previous |
| such as names of the couple, the date when their | | | | history of the person. |
| marriage took place, the location where the | | | | If the person has been involved in a divorce, it |
| marriage happened, the date of birth and the | | | | helps in knowing whether the divorce was finalized |
| names of the children, if any, etc. It may also list | | | | and what were the terms of the settlement. It |
| other information such as the divorce | | | | also helps to know the reasons behind the divorce |
| settlements, the payment of alimony or | | | | and can avoid many a future unpleasant scenarios |
| maintenance, if any. | | | | by knowing if the partner was involved in |
| The Uses of Divorce Records | | | | problems like child abuse or had a history of |
| The divorce record is an important proof of | | | | domestic violence. |
| information that the divorce has taken place. This | | | | |