When two married people decide to no longer stay married, divorce or marriage dissolution takes place. If you are dealing with a divorce case in Washington, the decision can take place in a family court or civil court. When it comes to Washington state divorce records, these are court records that are managed by the Washington Department of Health or WDH. However, for the cases prior to 1968, the records are kept by the county clerk of Washington County. Want to know more about how to find these records? Check out the points mentioned below:
About Washington Divorce Records
If you are of the view that the Washington divorce record is the same as that of the divorce certificate or decree, you are wrong. A certificate is just a proof document that the divorce was finalized. And a divorce decree contains more information about the divorce which includes the date, location, case number, etc.
But, on the other hand, when it comes to Washington divorce records, it is a much more detailed statement. Every file or transcript that was produced during the divorce proceeding is contained in this record. It consists of the agreements, and if any of the two partners want to make some changes, the record can prove to be very useful.
Are These Public Records?
Yes, the records can be accessible to the public. But, the certified copies are only available to the two participants and their attorneys. However, if the judge decides to seal the records, they will no longer be available to the public.
How to Obtain The Records?
If your divorce happens before 1968, you can find the records with the county clerk of Washington County. To know the exact instructions, you must visit the website of the county where your divorce took place. And, if your divorce happened after 1968, you can find the record in WDH. To have access to your records, you need to fill out a request form.
Endnotes
As of now, you must be very clear about how to find a divorce record in Washington. If you want to receive the records in person, there are higher chances that you may receive them on the same day. Just make a visit to the Customer Service Counter of the Department of Health on any day from Monday to Friday between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm. And, to receive the records online, the process is much easier, and there are a lot of third parties willing to help you out.
