Divorce Records in Florida: Clerk of Court and Health Dept.

To find divorce records in Florida, contact the clerk of court in the county where the case was filed for the full case file, or the Florida Department of Health for a certificate confirming the divorce occurred. Florida treats these records as public under the state’s broad public records law, so almost anyone can request them.¹ Which office you approach depends on what you actually need the record to say.

Clerk of Court or Department of Health

Two different offices hold two different documents, and this is where most searches go sideways.

The Clerk of Court in the circuit where the dissolution was filed is the primary custodian of the complete case file. That file holds the original petition, motions, the final judgment, and any marital settlement agreement. If you need the actual terms of the divorce, such as property division, alimony, or parental responsibilities, this is the office to contact.²

The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps only a Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage. It confirms the divorce was finalized and lists basic identifying information, but it does not include the detailed terms from the court file. The Bureau has certificates on file from June 6, 1927, to the present.²

If you just need to prove a divorce happened, for a name change, remarriage, or a government benefit, the Department of Health certificate usually works. If you need to know what the divorce actually said, you need the clerk’s file.

What to Gather Before You Search

The search moves faster when you have a few pieces of information ready:

Full names of both spouses, including maiden names and any former names used during the marriage or at the time of filing.
County where the divorce was filed. Court files are held by the clerk in that specific county, not in a statewide database.
Case number, if you have it. The unique court-assigned number pulls the file up immediately and appears on every document a party received.
Approximate year. If you don’t have the case number, narrowing the timeframe matters. Without a date range, the Bureau of Vital Statistics charges $2 per additional calendar year searched, up to a $50 cap.²

Not sure which county? Start with the county where either spouse lived at the time. Florida law requires the petition to be filed in circuit court, and most people file where they reside.³

Requesting Records From the Clerk of Court

Each county clerk handles requests slightly differently, but three routes are standard: online, in person, and by mail. The core fees are set by state statute, so the base charges are the same statewide.

Online

Many Florida county clerks run online portals where you can search dockets for free and see basic case information. Some also let you order certified copies electronically. The statutory certification fee is $2 per document, though individual clerks may add a service or processing charge for electronic orders.⁴ Check the specific county clerk’s website for its ordering system and any add-on fees.

In Person

Walking into the clerk’s office lets you review the case file on the spot. Standard photocopies of court records are $1 per page up to standard legal size. A certified copy, which carries an official seal and is accepted as a legal document, adds a $2 certification fee per document on top of the copy charges.⁴

By Mail

You can send a written request to the clerk’s office. Include the case number or enough information to identify the file, a check or money order for the fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Turnaround is slower than in-person or online, and some offices won’t process the request until payment clears.

Ordering a Certificate From the Department of Health

If official confirmation of the divorce is all you need, the Bureau of Vital Statistics certificate is the simpler order. The fees break down as follows:

Search fee: $5 for one calendar year, which includes one certified copy. This fee is nonrefundable even if no record is found.
Additional copies: $4 each when ordered at the same time.
Unknown year: $2 per additional calendar year searched, up to $50 total.
Rush processing: $10, required for records prior to 1970 when using same-day walk-in service.
Shipping: $1 handling fee for mailed orders.

The fastest option is ordering online through VitalChek, a third-party vendor authorized by the state. VitalChek adds a $7 service fee on top of the state’s fees and the $10 rush fee, so a first certificate typically runs about $22 or more depending on what you order.⁵ Ordering by mail directly from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville avoids the VitalChek service fee but takes longer.

What You Won’t See in the File

The final judgment and general case filings are public, but not every page in the file is. Florida’s court access rules designate certain categories of information as confidential and require them to be shielded from public view.⁶

Automatically redacted or restricted information includes Social Security numbers (only the last four digits may appear), bank and financial account numbers, and identifying information about minor children. The clerk’s office screens these details before releasing the file to the public.

Financial Affidavits

Florida’s mandatory disclosure rules require both spouses to prepare and exchange detailed financial affidavits during a divorce, laying out income, assets, debts, and monthly expenses.⁷ Exchanging the affidavits cannot be waived, but the parties can jointly agree not to file them with the court, which keeps them out of the public record. That requires both spouses to sign Form 12.902(k), a joint waiver confirming they exchanged the affidavits privately.⁸ If the affidavits were filed, accessing them generally requires being a party to the case or getting a court order.

Sealed Records

A sealed record won’t show up in a search at all. Sealing an entire divorce file requires a written motion to the presiding judge, and the court grants it only if the harm from public disclosure outweighs the public’s right of access, on grounds such as protecting innocent third parties from substantial injury or safeguarding privacy rights not inherent in dissolution proceedings.⁹

Using the Record Outside the United States

If the record is going to another country, for remarriage abroad, immigration, or custody matters, you’ll likely need an apostille from the Florida Secretary of State. An apostille is a form of international authentication under the Hague Convention that certifies the document’s legitimacy for use in member countries.

Start by obtaining a certified copy of the divorce judgment from the clerk of court (not the Department of Health certificate, unless the receiving country specifically accepts it). Then submit the certified copy to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations with a completed request form, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope or prepaid shipping label.¹⁰

The apostille fee is $20 for documents certified by a Florida clerk of court ($10 for the apostille and $10 for a certificate of incumbency). Payment must be by check or money order payable to the Florida Department of State; cash and credit cards are not accepted.¹⁰ If the destination country is not a Hague Convention member, embassy or consular legalization is required instead, a longer process handled through the U.S. Department of State and the foreign country’s embassy.

1
Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 119.07 – Inspection and Copying of Records
2
Florida Department of Health. Divorce or Annulment Certificates
3
Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 61.043 – Commencement of a Proceeding for Dissolution of Marriage
4
Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 28.24 – Service Charges by Clerk of the Circuit Court
5
Florida Department of Health. Order Certificates from VitalChek
6
Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420
7
Florida Courts. Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285 – Mandatory Disclosure
8
Florida State Courts. Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(k) – Notice of Joint Verified Waiver of Filing Financial Affidavits
9
Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court. Administrative Order 1-06-36 – Sealing of Court Records
10
Florida Department of State. Authentications – Apostilles and Notarial Certifications