Divorce records indicate that someone has gone through a divorce, and knowing how to find these records is important. What’s more, it’s important to know if these records are even publicly available in Massachusetts before you begin your search. So, are divorce records public in Massachusetts? The short answer is yes, but there’s a lot more to it than that.
The good news is that we’re here to help. Whether you want to find divorce records for your specific divorce or you want to verify that someone else is divorced, you’ve come to the right place. Not only do we cover which aspects of a divorce record are public, but we also show you how to find divorce records in Massachusetts.
What Are Divorce Records?
Divorce records are a collection of records that are created when a couple goes through the process of divorce. Due to there being court cases and other legal sessions, there have to be records of divorces to absolve a marriage and provide a framework for asset division, alimony, child support, and much more.
While the amount of records will vary on a case-by-case basis, in Massachusetts, there tends to be at least a divorce decree, a certificate of divorce absolute, and a divorce separation agreement. Depending on the case, judgments and other records may also be available, especially if lawsuits, child support, or alimony are involved.
Overall, divorce records contain information about divorce proceedings.
Are Divorce Records Public in Massachusetts?
Divorce records tend to be public in Massachusetts. In fact, information about divorces is sometimes published in local newspapers. That said, only some information is available. For example, you may be able to find a divorce decree or discover that someone has gone through a divorce, but you may have trouble finding additional information if it was redacted by the court.
What’s more, divorce records in Massachusetts may not be public in cases that involve settlements or specific agreements. Therefore, while you can view most surface-level records for a divorce in Massachusetts, you can’t always find every single detail.
How to Find Divorce Records in Massachusetts
If you’re looking to find divorce records in Massachusetts, you have a few options at your disposal. While you can find your divorce records online through state resources, the same isn’t always true for someone else’s records. Learn more about how to find divorce records in Massachusetts below.
Mass.gov
If you want to find your divorce records online, you can always use Mass.gov. You’ll have to pay a fee to get a copy of the records, but you can find out if your divorce has gone through and even view your divorce decree. What’s more, you can request a certificate of divorce absolute, a certified copy of a judgment, and a copy of the divorce separation agreement.
For these reasons, if you need to find personal divorce records for you or a spouse, it’s not a bad idea to start with this state database. Plus, it’s easy to use on mobile devices, laptops, and desktops.
That said, if you want to find divorce records for someone else, you may want to try a third-party tool instead. This is because Mass.gov doesn’t let you dive as deep into other people’s divorce records.
PublicRecord.com
One of the best ways to find divorce records is to use a third-party online search tool. You don’t have to get off the couch, and all you need is someone’s name, city, and state to get started. In fact, the best tools help you search with only a name, which is why we always recommend PublicRecord.com.
If someone has public divorce records in Massachusetts or any other state, a quick search with PublicRecord.com will help you find them. Within the comprehensive full report, you can also find any additional public records. This includes:
- Criminal records.
- Additional civil court records.
- Employment and education records.
- Social media accounts.
- Addresses.
- Email addresses.
- Phone numbers.
Depending on the person, you can find some or all of these records, along with divorce decrees and sometimes additional information about a divorce.
Are Divorce Records Public in Massachusetts? Our Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, divorce records may or may not be public depending on the specific case. So, are divorce records public in Massachusetts? Typically, yes, divorce records are public in Massachusetts, and you can find divorce decrees, separation agreements, and much more.
While you can use tools like Mass.gov to find information about your divorce, and sometimes someone else’s, we always recommend starting with PublicRecord.com. Not only will you find Massachusetts divorce records, but you will find all available public records associated with someone.
