How Can I Find Out if Someone is Divorced
From LoveToKnow Divorce
If you have ever wondered, "How can I found out if someone is divorced?" without asking the person the question, you will find some suggestions for discovering this important information here.
How Can I Find Out if Someone is Divorced: Information Sources
Information about someone's marital status is not necessarily difficult to find out. In addition to searching county records, you can use Internet resources or hire a private investigator to answer your question.
County Records
Marriage and divorce records are kept on file in the County Clerk's office in the jurisdiction where the marriage took place and the divorce was granted. While the fact that someone is divorced is considered a matter of public record, you may not be able to see or order a copy of the divorce decree unless you are one of the parties to the divorce, or an attorney acting on their behalf.
To find out whether someone is divorced, call or visit the web site for the County Clerk's office to find out what the procedure is for requesting a divorce record search. Some offices will conduct the search for you (after you pay a fee) and send you a document confirming the divorce. Others have public terminals available where you can do the search yourself and charge a fee if you want to print off a copy of a document.
Online Search for Divorce Records
Several web sites offer a service that allows you to access online databases to find divorce records. You simply fill out an online form and pay a fee to get the information. The more information you can provide on the form, the better.
You will need to know where the divorce was granted, but some sites will conduct a nationwide search. Since there may be more than one person with the same name, you should also provide a date of birth, if possible. Here are some sites where you can get divorce records online:
The most you will be able to find out without paying a fee is whether the search revealed a match. It's a good idea to find out about the site's refund policy before you pay for the information in case the records that come up are not for the right person.
Private Investigator
Another way to find out whether someone is divorced and to dig up some background information is to hire a private investigator to find this information for you. These people have access to databases and information that is not readily available to the general public.
Before you hire someone, you will want to ask about the hourly rate that you will be charged for this service and whether you need to pay a retainer in advance. Be clear about how much detail you need when you approach a private investigation firm. They may provide a full background check as part of their services, but if all you want to know is whether someone has been divorced, see if you can limit the search to that information only. It's a good idea to check out any firm with the Better Business Bureau before you commit to hiring one.
The method you choose to answer the question, "How can I find out if someone is divorced?" will depend on how quickly you need the information and your financial resources. The information can be found if you really need to know.
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This page has been accessed 2,130 times. This page was last modified 00:59, 31 March 2009.
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