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If you have been running into dead ends with your online searches for divorce records, you may be looking in the wrong places. What you will need in order to gain access to public divorce papers is patience, the right resources, and a few pieces of key information that will help the clerk to pull up the file for you once you hit that step. You should not be expecting to punch in some numbers and names and be looking at scanned versions of the document that you are searching for, as this type of database would cost each state a load of money and time. What you should look forward to are many helpful resources and direct links to the counties that you need to query.

Remember that any and all divorces filed in the United States that involve minor children are not and never will be accessible by the public. These are sealed and closed files and cannot be pulled by anyone except for those parties directly involved with the case or anyone holding power of attorney for a child or adult involved in the case. The child protection laws in place that protect these files cannot be challenged, so if you are looking for such divorce records, you are bound to hit a brick wall eventually.

If you plan to search for divorce decrees in person at the county clerk of their filing, you should know the full names of both or all parties on the decree, as well as the date, because most states incorporate at least the year of the judgment into the case number. This will help the clerk to find that papers that you seek if you do not have the case number handy. Remember that there are tens of thousands of records to sort through in most counties, so the more information you are able to offer, the easier you will make it for the clerk who helps you.

Online searches will result in direct links wherein you can contact the county in which the divorce was filed and granted in order to start the ball rolling through the physical mail. Most states simply do not have the time or the resources to create a public divorce record database, so you are not likely to view and print off the information that you need directly online. The resources offered to you for the pinpointing and procuring of these files, however, is very helpful and should be utilized to the hilt.