To find out if someone is divorced in California, search the online civil or family case index of the Superior Court in the county where the divorce would have been filed. That search will confirm whether a dissolution case exists, when it was filed, and whether a final judgment has been entered. If you need proof rather than just confirmation, you can order a certified copy of the judgment from the clerk’s office for $15.1Superior Court of California. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule
California divorce cases are public court records. Anyone can look them up, and you don’t need a reason or a connection to the parties.
What to Gather Before You Search
The single most important detail is the county where the divorce was filed. California has 58 Superior Courts, one per county, and each keeps its own records.2Judicial Branch of California. Superior Courts Without a county, you’d have to search each one separately.
Then collect:
- Full legal names of both spouses, including maiden names and alternate spellings.
- An approximate date range, even if it’s just a rough year.
- Any case number you already have from a related proceeding — that pulls up the exact file instantly.
Searching the County’s Online Case Index
Most of California’s larger counties run a free web-based case index where you can search civil and family law cases by party name. If a dissolution was filed, the index will typically show the case number, filing date, the parties, and the current status, which tells you whether a judgment has been entered.
Coverage is uneven. Some counties have decades of digitized records; others only go back a few years. If the online index doesn’t reach far enough back, or if the county doesn’t offer one, you’ll need to contact the clerk’s office directly or go in person to search the public terminals at the courthouse.
The index confirms whether a case exists. It won’t give you the divorce judgment itself.
Getting Copies from the Clerk
Once you’ve found the case, or if you already know one exists, you can request copies from the Superior Court clerk. Most clerks accept requests in person, by mail, or through a written request. A mailed request should identify the case by number and party names, list the specific documents you want, and include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Fees are set statewide by statute, so they’re the same at every California Superior Court:
- Certified copy of the dissolution record: $15.1Superior Court of California. Statewide Civil Fee Schedule
- Certified copy of any other document in the file, such as a specific order or property settlement: $40 per document under Government Code section 70626.3California Legislative Information. California Government Code GOV 70626
- Uncertified copies: $0.50 per page.
Turnaround varies. Walking in with a case number can get you copies the same day. Mail requests can take several weeks depending on the courthouse. Call the clerk before sending anything to check current processing times.
Older Divorces: 1962 Through June 1984
The California Department of Public Health keeps a limited index of divorces finalized between 1962 and June 1984. For $18, CDPH will issue a Certificate of Record showing the names of the parties, the filing date, the county, and the case number.4California Department of Public Health. How to Obtain a Certificate of Record for a Divorce This isn’t the divorce decree itself, but it tells you which Superior Court to contact for the full file.
For divorces before 1962 or after June 1984, CDPH has nothing. The Superior Court is your only source.
Confidential Marriages Still Produce Public Divorces
California allows couples to enter a “confidential marriage.” Under Family Code section 511, the confidential marriage certificate is a permanent record that the public cannot inspect without a court order showing good cause.5California Legislative Information. California Family Code FAM 511
The divorce is a different story. If someone who had a confidential marriage later dissolves it, that dissolution is a court case governed by the ordinary rules of public access. It appears in the case index like any other divorce. The marriage license stays confidential; the divorce filing does not.
Sealed Cases and Redactions
A judge can seal a divorce case, but the standard is high and full sealings are uncommon.6Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court Rule 2.550 – Sealed Records The parties cannot seal a case simply by agreeing to it.7Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court Rule 2.551 – Procedures for Filing Records Under Seal What happens more often is that specific documents within a file are sealed or redacted, especially financial disclosures, tax returns, and records involving minor children. When that happens, the basic case information — parties, filing date, judgment status — usually remains visible in the index even though certain documents are restricted.
Sensitive numbers like Social Security and account numbers are also commonly redacted from filings the public can view. You can confirm the divorce and see the general terms, but granular financial data is often stripped from the public copy.