Missouri Free Divorce Records

By Ben Kingsley


Statistics say that in the US, out of three marriages, one usually ends up in divorce. Despite of premarital counselling efforts, the rate of divorce does not seem to be coming down. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the divorce rate in America in 2010 is 3.6 per 1,000 people. The Department of Human Development & Family Studies stated that divorces in Missouri were 3.9 for every 1,000 people in 2003. Divorce decrees are public records. Therefore any member of the public in need can procure a copy of such record. Usually, a record of divorce in Missouri can be obtained in the Circuit Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.

In the State of Missouri, the central repository for divorce and other vital records is the Bureau of Vital Statistics. This operates under Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Records of divorces can also be requested from the Office of the County Clerk in the county where the divorce was filed and approved.

In requesting for a copy of a divorce record in any of the agencies aforementioned, you have to fill out an application form which be downloaded from the Department's website. Requirements needed are the complete names of the bride and groom, the date and county of the separation, your relationship to the individuals named on the divorce decree, and the reason for your request. In case you are not sure of the exact year the divorce occurred, the office can conduct a maximum of five-year search.

A copy of a divorce decree is worth $15. An additional of $15 is charged for an extra copy if requested at the same time. The payment must accompany all requests for copies of divorce records. Modes of payments accepted are check and money order made payable to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. For checks and money orders, they must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. Please take note that the office does not accept payment made in cash and the search fee will not be refunded even if a record is located or not.

Divorce decrees in Missouri can actually be ordered online, by mail, by fax, or in person. The usual processing time for divorce records requests takes days to weeks. This depends on what method is utilized and the volume of requests received in the Vital Records Office. Should you wish to acquire the divorce record that you need in an expedited and convenient way, do it online.

The number of online service providers today is relatively high thereby providing customer and online users with a wide array of options to choose from. Service providers range from free to fee based. But if you're after the quality of the results, then you're better off with the one that charges a minimal charge but yields comprehensive results. What's nice about these online service providers - both free and fee based - is that, unlike the usual way of obtaining public divorce records, you can do it in the comfort of your own home so long as you have a computer and an Internet handy. As such, you get to save time, money, and effort while procuring the records you need in a fast and practical manner.




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