Get a copy of a final order or decree absolute

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Check which court you should apply to

How you check which court to apply to depends on whether you know the case number for your divorce, annulment or dissolution.

If you know the case number

Your should apply to either:

You should include:

  • your name and address
  • the case number
  • how you want to pay

You’ll get the copy within a week after the service centre or court gets your payment.

It costs £11.

Pay by cheque or postal order

Make the cheque or postal order payable to ‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service’ and send it to the service centre or court.

Pay by credit or debit card

You’ll be told how to pay after you apply. Your search will not be completed until you’ve paid.

If you do not know the case number

If you do not know the case number for your divorce, annulment or dissolution, how you get a copy of your final order or decree absolute depends on:

  • when the divorce, annulment or dissolution application was made
  • whether the application was online or by post
  • whether you know which court handled the divorce, annulment or dissolution

If you do not know which court handled the divorce, annulment or dissolution, you can apply to the Central Family Court to search for a copy of the final order or decree absolute.

If it was made:

You should include your name and address and how you want to pay.

Give the service centre or court the date you think the case happened. They will search 5 years of records either side of that date.

If you cannot give them a date, they will search the last 10 years of records.

It costs £45 for each 10 year period you search.

Pay by cheque or postal order

Make the cheque or postal order payable to ‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service’ and send it to the service centre or court.

Pay by credit or debit card

You’ll be told how to pay after you apply. Your search will not be completed until you’ve paid.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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