Virginia Divorce Records: Certified Decrees, Divorce Certificates and Who Can Get Them
Virginia family law · Last reviewed October 27, 2026
There are two kinds of proof of a Virginia divorce. The final decree is the court order itself, kept by the circuit court clerk that entered it. The divorce certificate is the state's vital record of the divorce, issued by the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Vital Records. The decree carries the terms: property, support, custody, and any name restoration. The certificate shows that the divorce happened.
The decree: from the circuit court clerk
Ask the clerk of the circuit court where the divorce was granted. You may already have a copy: the statutory clerk's fee paid when the case was filed "shall include the furnishing of a duly certified copy of the final decree" (§ 17.1-275(A)(26)).
For more copies, clerks charge by the page and per certification. Fairfax and Alexandria both charge 50 cents a page and $2 per certified document, and both take requests in person or by mail. Alexandria asks for payment by cash, money order, or certified check with a mailed request.
Who can see the court file
Circuit court records are generally public. "Except as otherwise provided by law, any records that are maintained by the clerks of the circuit courts shall be open to inspection in the office of the clerk by any person" (§ 17.1-208).
Two protections apply in divorce cases. Papers filed under the divorce chapter must not contain Social Security numbers or identifying account numbers; those go on a separate confidential addendum, form CC-1426 (§ 20-121.03). The open-records rule also yields wherever another law provides otherwise.
The divorce certificate: from Vital Records
The Office of Vital Records issues certified copies of divorce records from 1918 to the present. The fee is $15, which took effect July 1, 2026 under 2026 Acts chapter 616; the statute caps it at $15 (§ 32.1-273). Vital Records charges the fee even when no record is found: "There is no refund if the certificate is not found."
You can apply online, by mail, or at the Richmond office's walk-in lobby, and the department says most records are also available at local DMV offices and local health departments.
Who can order one. For 25 years after the divorce, certificates go only to the people named and their immediate family: in the department's words, "mother, father, current spouse, child, brother, sister and grandparents with valid ID." After 25 years, divorce records become public information.
Corrections. Vital Records doesn't correct divorce records itself. It tells people to contact the circuit court that issued the divorce.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a copy of my divorce decree in Virginia?
Ask the clerk of the circuit court where your divorce was granted. Fairfax and Alexandria charge 50 cents a page plus $2 for each certified document. Your filing fee included one certified copy of the final decree.
How much is a Virginia divorce certificate?
$15 from the Office of Vital Records, as of July 1, 2026. The fee isn't refunded if no record is found.
Are Virginia divorce records public?
The court file generally is, except for protected information such as Social Security numbers. The state's divorce certificate is limited to the people named and their immediate family for 25 years.
What's the difference between a divorce decree and a divorce certificate?
The decree is the court's order, with all its terms. The certificate is the state's vital record showing that the divorce happened. Ask whoever wants proof which one they need.
How do I correct a mistake on a Virginia divorce record?
Contact the circuit court that granted the divorce. Vital Records sends correction requests for divorce records there.