Anaheim Divorce Decree Records

Divorce decree records for Anaheim residents are kept by Orange County Superior Court. If you filed for divorce in Anaheim, your case was processed through the county court system. The court holds all documents related to your case. This includes the initial petition, response, financial disclosures, and the final judgment of dissolution. To get a copy of your divorce decree, you need to contact the Orange County court directly. They maintain files for all family law cases filed in Orange County, which includes all divorces processed in Anaheim. The main records office is at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange.

Orange County Court System

All divorce cases in Anaheim go through Orange County Superior Court. The county operates several courthouse locations. The Lamoreaux Justice Center at 341 The City Drive South in Orange is the main facility for family law records. This courthouse handles most record requests for divorce decrees and other family law documents.

You can view case information online through the county portal. California law prevents remote access to actual divorce documents. You can see a case summary, list of filings, and hearing dates. To view or get copies of the actual divorce decree, you must either visit a courthouse in person or submit a mail request.

The Family Law Records office phone number is (657) 622-8457. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. Staff can tell you if your case file is on site or in storage. They can also explain the process for ordering certified copies of your divorce decree.

Getting Your Divorce Decree

If you need a divorce decree from Anaheim, start by finding your case number. You can search online at occourts.org if you don't have it. Enter your name or your former spouse's name. The system shows cases from 1990 forward. Write down the case number when you find it.

Certified copies of dissolution judgments cost $15. That fee includes the certification and all pages of the judgment. If you need other documents certified, the fee is $40 per document plus 50 cents per page. Plain copies without certification are just 50 cents per page. Most people need certified copies for things like Social Security, passport applications, or remarriage. Plain copies work fine for your own records.

You can request copies in person or by mail. For mail requests, write to Orange County Superior Court, Family Law Records, 341 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868. Include the case number, the names of both parties, and what documents you want. Send a check or money order for the fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing takes about two weeks for mail requests.

According to occourts.org, dissolution cases from 1997 to present can be ordered online. You need to create an account on the court portal. The system lets you order certified copies and pay by credit card. Online orders are usually processed faster than mail requests. Documents are mailed to you within a few days.

Fees and Processing Times

Orange County uses the statewide fee schedule set by law. The $15 fee for certified divorce decrees comes from California Government Code Section 70674. This is lower than the $40 fee for most other certified court documents.

If court staff need to search for your case, there is a $15 records search fee per name searched. This applies when you don't provide a case number. The search fee is separate from copy fees. You pay both if the search is needed.

The court also charges $50 for exemplification. This is a higher level of certification sometimes required for out-of-state or international use. Most people don't need exemplification. A standard certified copy works for most purposes in California and other states.

In-person requests are usually filled the same day if the file is on site. Files more than a few years old may be in off-site storage. Retrieval from storage adds time. Mail requests take two to three weeks on average. Online requests through the portal are typically processed within three to five business days.

Family Law Resources in Anaheim

The Orange County Superior Court offers free self-help services for family law matters. The Family Law Facilitator office can answer questions about divorce procedures. They help people fill out forms. They cannot give legal advice but can provide general information about court processes.

Legal Aid Society of Orange County provides free legal help to low-income residents. They assist with divorce cases, custody issues, and other family law matters. You can apply for services through their website or by calling their office. They have eligibility requirements based on income.

The State Bar of California maintains a lawyer referral service. You can find family law attorneys who practice in Orange County. Many offer free or low-cost initial consultations. The county bar association also has a referral program.

Case Access and Privacy

California Rules of Court limit public access to family law records. Rule 2.503 says courts may not provide remote electronic access to divorce records. You can view a case index online. You can see hearing dates and filed documents. But you cannot view or download the actual documents remotely.

To see the full divorce decree, you must go to the courthouse. Free public access terminals are available. Bring photo ID. Court staff will help you locate your case file in the system. You can view all documents in the case at the courthouse.

Some information in divorce cases is sealed or confidential. Financial records and child custody evaluations may have restricted access. Only parties to the case and their attorneys can view sealed documents. The public version of the case file does not include sealed items.

If your divorce involved domestic violence, your address may be confidential. The court can keep addresses sealed for safety reasons. You can request address confidentiality when filing your case or later if circumstances change.

Historical Records

Orange County maintains divorce records going back many decades. Very old cases may be stored in archives. The court can still retrieve them. It just takes longer than for recent cases. If you need a divorce decree from before 1990, you will need to contact the records office directly.

The California Department of Public Health kept certificates of record for divorces from 1962 through June 1984. These are not full divorce decrees. They only show names, date, county, and case number. The actual decree must still come from the county court. CDPH certificates of record are rarely needed since the full court record is available.

For divorces before 1962, only the county court has records. Contact Orange County Superior Court Records Division. Provide as much information as you can. Include both spouses' full names, approximate date of divorce, and any other details you know. Staff will search their archive system.

Using Your Divorce Decree

A certified divorce decree proves your marriage ended. You need it to remarry. Most counties require it for a marriage license. Government agencies like Social Security may need it to change your name back. Banks and other institutions may ask for it to update your marital status.

Keep several certified copies. You may need to submit copies to multiple agencies. It is easier to order several at once than to request them separately later. Each certified copy costs $15 from Orange County. Order three or four when you first request them.

If you change your name as part of the divorce, the decree serves as legal proof of the name change. You can use it to update your driver license, passport, and Social Security card. The decree must specifically state the name change for this purpose.

Nearby Cities

Other Orange County cities with large populations include Santa Ana, Irvine, and Huntington Beach. All divorce cases from these cities go through the same Orange County Superior Court system. The process and fees are the same regardless of which Orange County city you live in.

If you live near the Los Angeles County line, be aware that Long Beach and other LA County cities use a different court system. Make sure you file in the correct county based on where you or your spouse live.