Finding Divorce Records in Duval County, Florida
Florida has one of the highest divorce rates in the nation. If you are seeking a divorce in Duval County, you can bring your case to local circuit court. Residents can search court records, like citations or dockets and official records, such as deeds, mortgages, notices, and plats online at the clerk’s website.
Dissolution of Marriage Certificates
There are a number of reasons that someone would need to get a copy of their divorce decree. They may need to close a joint bank account, refinance a home, or revise their estate planning documents. They might also need to provide proof of divorce when applying for employment or when a government agency asks to see their records.
A court dissolving a marriage issues a final judgment that determines all property, support and child-related issues in the case. There are two legally acceptable grounds for a divorce in Florida: incompatibility and irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
Usually, spouses must file a petition to start a divorce, legally serve their spouse, exchange financial information with each other and the court, take a parenting course if children are involved, and either reach an agreement on their own or, with a contested case, have a hearing before a judge to resolve all outstanding issues in their divorce. Most cases settle by mediation or collaborative law.
Decrees of Divorce
A divorce decree is different than a marriage certificate, because it includes the court’s final ruling and judgment order that makes the dissolution of marriage official. It can be accessed by parties involved in the case or their lawyers, and it is also public record. It contains important information about the end of the marriage, including responsibilities and rights such as property division, child custody and visitation schedules, and spousal support.
The court keeps a copy of the divorce decree for future reference. This can be helpful in any legal proceedings involving the former spouses or their children. It is also possible to use the decree as proof of a divorce in any situations where you need to change your name, such as changing your name on bank accounts or other business records.
The 4th Judicial Circuit offers several family law programs, including mediation, specialty treatment courts, domestic violence assistance, and small claims clinics. In addition, the FloridaLawHelp website offers do-it-yourself forms and instructions organized by family law topic.
Orders of Divorce
It is possible to get a divorce in Florida, but there are specific rules that must be followed. Couples must prepare legal forms specific to their case and file them with the Clerk of Court. After filing the documents, a hearing date will be set. The divorce Judge will decide the final outcome of the case.
Once the case is in process, it can take anywhere from four months to a year to complete. The Court can also issue temporary orders while the divorce is pending. A divorce cannot be finalized until the Judge signs the final divorce decree.
The clerk of court has an online portal where the public can access court records including transcripts, dockets, case motions and exhibits. However, some cases are confidential including military discharge documents, ongoing criminal investigations and divorces based on fault grounds. Also, the public can not access records involving juveniles or domestic and repeat violence. Other confidential records include wills and estates, real estate, liens and mortgage foreclosures.
Public Records
Public records are documents or data that government agencies create and maintain. The law requires that most of these records are available to the public, but there are exceptions for a few specific purposes, such as protecting private information or promoting public safety. For example, a background check is considered a public record because it can help employers keep their employees and customers safe by ensuring that potential hires are not convicted felons or sex offenders.
The public can access many of these records through the state’s online database. The system allows users to search for records by name, instrument number, document type, consideration, book/page, and case number. Users can also register to view non-confidential records if they want to. This is helpful for law firms or government agencies that wish to use the system frequently. The system charges fees for copies of public records. The public can also request court records from the county clerk.