To get Kentucky divorce records, you have two sources: the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted holds the full decree, and the state Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) in Frankfort issues a shorter divorce certificate for divorces recorded from June 1958 onward.1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Kentucky Which one you request depends on what you need it for.
Decree or Certificate: Which One Do You Need?
A divorce decree is the court order the judge signed to finalize the case. It spells out property division, spousal support, child custody, visitation, child support, and any other terms. The decree sits in the case file at the Circuit Court Clerk’s office.2Social Security Administration. POMS GN 00308.036 – Kentucky Vital Records
A divorce certificate is a one-page state document that confirms the divorce happened. It lists both parties, the date, and the county. No settlement terms.3USAGov. How to Get a Copy of a Divorce Decree or Certificate
For a name change, remarriage, Social Security update, or most benefits applications, the certificate is usually enough. If you need to show or enforce the actual terms, you need the decree. Before you order either one, ask the agency or person requesting the record which document they accept and whether it must be certified.
What to Gather Before You Request
Both offices will ask for the same core details:
- Full names of both parties, including any maiden or prior married names.
- The date of the divorce, or an approximate year if you are not sure.
- The county where the divorce was finalized.
If you are ordering a certified certificate from the OVS, have a valid government-issued photo ID ready, such as a driver’s license or passport.
Getting the Divorce Decree From the Circuit Court Clerk
Contact the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. That office holds the original decree and the full case file.2Social Security Administration. POMS GN 00308.036 – Kentucky Vital Records Most clerks take requests in person or by mail, and some by phone. Procedures and forms vary by county, so call ahead.
The Kentucky Court of Justice publishes an online directory with contact information for every circuit court clerk.4Kentucky Court of Justice. Contact List Search Fees are set at the county level and usually include a per-page copying charge plus a separate certification fee for a certified copy. Confirm the exact amount with the clerk before sending anything.
Looking Up the Case Online First
If you know a name but not the county or date, start with KYeCourts, the free online case information system from the Kentucky Court of Justice.5Kentucky Court of Justice. KYeCourts – Guest Login You can search by party name and see filing dates, case numbers, and docket entries. KYeCourts shows case information, not the documents themselves, so you still need to go through the clerk’s office for the actual decree.
Getting the Divorce Certificate From the Office of Vital Statistics
The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics, part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, issues certified divorce certificates for divorces recorded from June 1958 forward.1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Kentucky The state fee is $6.00 per copy, charged whether or not the search turns up a record.6Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. 901 KAR 5:050 – Fees for Searches, Certified Copies of Certificates and Records You can order three ways.
By Mail
Download the VS-230 form (Application for a Certified Copy of Marriage/Divorce Certificate) from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services website.7Cabinet for Health and Family Services. VS-230 Marriage/Divorce Application Fill in both parties’ names, the date and county of the divorce, and your contact details. Send the form with a check or money order for $6.00 per copy to the OVS at 275 East Main Street, 1E-A, Frankfort, KY 40621.1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Kentucky Mail requests can take several weeks.
Online or by Phone Through VitalChek
The OVS uses VitalChek for online and phone orders.2Social Security Administration. POMS GN 00308.036 – Kentucky Vital Records This is the fastest route but costs more: the $6.00 state fee plus roughly $10.50 in VitalChek processing, with next-day shipping available for an additional $17.50.8VitalChek. Application for Certified Copy of a Kentucky Divorce Certificate
In Person
You can visit the OVS in Frankfort and request a certificate at the counter. In-person requests are sometimes handled the same day, though that is not guaranteed. Call ahead to confirm hours and walk-in policy.
Divorces Before June 1958
The OVS does not have records from before June 1958. For older divorces, go to the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.9Library of Congress. Vital Records – Kentucky Local History and Genealogy Resource Guide Circuit courts have handled Kentucky divorce proceedings since 1809, and those files remain with the county. For historical research, FamilySearch has indexed many Kentucky court records, and the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort holds some older court material.
Who Can Request These Records
Divorce decrees are court records and generally open to the public, so anyone can request a copy from the Circuit Court Clerk after paying the copying and certification fees.
Divorce certificates fall under Kentucky’s vital statistics laws. KRS 213.136 directs the state registrar to issue a certified copy of a vital record to any applicant who submits a proper request,10Justia. Kentucky Code 213.136 – Certified Copy of a Vital Record and in practice the OVS will ask for the identifying details above and photo identification. Divorce records that are at least 70 years old are fully public under KRS 213.131, which matters mainly for genealogy research.11Justia. Kentucky Code 213.131 – Inspection of Records — Public Records
One last practical point: uncertified copies are rarely accepted for legal, immigration, or government purposes. If the record is going to a court or an agency, order a certified copy.