Obtaining a Certified Divorce Certificate
Establish eligibility. Only a small circle of people can request a person’s divorce certificate in Missouri. To do so you will either need to be the divorced individual, a relative, a legal guardian, or a legal representative.
Fill out an application to receive the certificate. An application to receive a divorce certificate is available on the website of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. You will be required to supply your name, the spouse’s name, site and date of marriage, and the date the marriage was dissolved. Alternatively, you can send a personal letter that includes the name of the bride and groom, date and place of divorce, your relationship to either the bride or the groom, and your reason for requesting the statement.
Return the application to circuit clerk that granted the decree or the Office of Vital Records. If you are picking up the decree in person you will need to present ID. If you are mailing your request, you will need to have the application or letter notarized to verify your identity. You will also need to pay a search fee using either check or money order. For a list of circuit clerks visit the Missouri courts website. Remember, you will need to visit the one that issued the divorce decree. Send mail requests to P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65102-0570. The fee will vary depending upon the agency issuing the decree. Consult with them ahead of time to determine rates.
Obtaining Court Records
Recognize what is public. Customarily, all of the proceedings of a divorce case are public record. Involved parties can ask to have certain parts of the case sealed from the public. Typically, however, a judge will only do this to protect children and victims of abuse or to keep sensitive information like Social Security numbers private. Most information should be public record, including embarrassing accusations.
Search the state database. Missouri has an online database of court records. You can use it to search by name or location for cases. Not all local courts, however, are integrated into the database. For cases tried in some locations you will need to visit the court.
Request records from the court. You should visit the courthouse at which the case was held. You will typically be asked to fill out a request form. To find the locations and phone numbers of Missouri courts, visit the Missouri courts website.
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