How to Find a Divorce Record in Washington D.C.

A divorce marks the end of a traditional or common law marriage in D.C. Unlike some U.S. states, D.C laws do not require that both spouses reside in the state. Instead, to file for divorce, one party simply needs to have been resident in D.C for at least six months before the filing date. Couples who file for divorce in D.C can do so on two grounds:

Separation without cohabitation for at least one year
Separation without cohabitation for at least six months

A separation without cohabitation for the year is required in cases where one party does not agree to the divorce, while the alternative is used in cases where the couples both agree on the separation. For either option, partners may also request property distribution and marital support during a divorce. Partners may also request child support or child custody.

What is a District of Columbia Divorce Decree?

A D.C divorce decree is a court issued-document that lists key decisions regarding the marriage dissolution. It marks the judgment and final rulings of the court at the conclusion of divorce proceedings. A D.C divorce decree is an important part of any marriage dissolution as it typically contains post-marital agreements and resolutions, some of which include:

Alimony: Decrees may state how much one party pays to another party and for how long. Alimonies are typically temporary.
Property division: In the absence of a prenuptial agreement, divorce decrees may contain details on how property should be divided after marriage.
Child custody decision: Divorce decrees may either award joint custody to both parents or sole custody to one parent.
Resolution on child support: Divorce decrees may stipulate how much each party is supposed to pay to support the other party’s child support.

Note: In cases where a divorce without a trial, a divorce decree will contain the terms of settlement agreed by both parties.

What is a District of Columbia Divorce Certificate?

A divorce certificate is a state-issued record-keeping document that confirms a person has gone through a legal divorce. It provides basic details about the divorce such as:

The court case number
The place and date when the divorce was filed
The (former) name of the parties involved in the divorce
Unlike a divorce decree, a divorce certificate may only be used for limited applications, such as:
Obtaining a travel visa
Showing proof that a person is single
Showing proof that a divorce occurred without added specifics
Getting permission for a name change

What is a District of Columbia Divorce Record?

A divorce record provides proof that two parties were legally separated after a common-law marriage or formal union. It typically contains the final decisions from the divorce court as well as the agreed terms for separation. Divorce may be used for different legal processes or proceedings, some of which include:

Filing for immigration
Filing for a marriage license when remarrying
Settling claims over spousal support or child custody
Settling contested issues of property distribution

Are Divorce Records Available to the Public in D.C?

D.C divorce records are mostly public records. Members of the public can obtain information on divorces by contacting the record custodian. However, requesters will be unable to obtain copies of any record sealed by court order or any record containing sensitive information exempted by law. In addition, while residents can view general divorce information, access to certified copies of a divorce decree is typically restricted to only eligible persons such as the:

Both spouses named in the records
Children of the spouses named on the records
Legal guardians or parents of the named parties on record
Any authorized legal representatives of the divorced parties

Courts may decide to seal a divorce record for a variety of reasons. Some acceptable reasons for having a record sealed include:

To prevent the spread of misinformation or false allegation
To protect the identities of minors
To protect parties who have been victims of domestic abuse or violence
To protect private or proprietary business information
To protect financial information such as account numbers or social security numbers

Divorce records are considered court records. They may therefore be searched on third-party public record websites. Divorce records can offer personal information on minors, finances, and sensitive criminal information like domestic abuse. Because of this, divorce record, certificate, and decree availability is usually much lower than other types of public records because of the personal nature of divorces. Simply put, divorce records are significantly harder to obtain and search for than other types of public records.

How Do I Obtain a D.C Divorce Decree?

The Superior Court of the District of Columbia maintains records of divorce decrees granted to couples from September 16, 1956. Interested parties can obtain copies by submitting a request to the Clerk of Court located at:

Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Room 4485
Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: (202) 879-4840

The courthouse charges $20 for the first copy of a decree and $10 for each subsequent copy. Certified copies of a decree may only be provided to eligible persons, namely the parties involved in the divorce and an authorized legal representative. Record custodians may also require that record seekers provide a valid government-issued I.D before processing the search. Other details that may be required for a record search include:

The date and location of the divorce
Names of both parties on the divorce record
Relationship of the requester to the parties named in the record

Depending on when the case was filed, divorce records may be available online using the court’s eAccess platform. Users can conduct searches by typing a known case number and date. Government public record search portals and third-party public record websites may also provide court records search tools, which can come in useful for locating divorce records. However, record availability usually varies widely. Some records may simply be unavailable through either source. Records of D.C divorces granted before September 16, 1956, can be obtained by contacting the Clerk of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington, DC 20001).

Does District of Columbia Recognize Common-Law Marriage

The District of Columbia recognizes the validity of common law marriages created within the capital. If a couple uses terms such as husband and wife or spouse, present themselves in public as married, have exchanged wedding bands, commemorate the date they exchanged promises, then they may have a common-law marriage in the district of Columbia. Although the law in the District of Columbia does not specify any duration as the minimum to validate a common law marriage in the state, it requires that the couple identify the exact moment of marriage consent between the couple. Once recognized, a common-law marriage can only be terminated through a divorce. However, the court will ensure a fair and equitable sharing of properties, and award alimony provided your financial situation requires it.