Divorce is also known as annulment or dissolution of marriage. After the finalization of the divorce proceeding, the next step is to gather all the documents pertaining to the matter for filing at the respective county office. Where divorces are concerned, a court hearing by a judge is usually involved. In that way, it is unique when compared to the other vital records namely Marriage, Birth and Death.

Whether you’re searching for paid or free divorce records, it’s best to start at the state level to see what kind of information is available and where it is kept. The main government agency for vital public records is the Vital Statistics Office under the Ohio Department of Health located at Columbus, Ohio. It accepts written requests mailed in with the required information and fees for abstract searches.

The Ohio Department of Health can only provide abstracts of divorces that occurred in Ohio from January 1, 1954 to the current index date. As such the information would be limited but their index register can point you to the particular Clerk of the Court office where the marriage dissolution was granted. That is also where the original Free Divorce Records and decrees and other documents would be filed.

The old ways of gathering information on public records may serve their purpose but they are certainly time-consuming compared to how it’s increasingly done these days. Log onto any major search engine for that and you’ll be spoilt for choice. There are numerous Online Divorce Records registries and private nationwide directories that are readily found to choose from.

If you have the skills and time, the process of finding free divorce records can be quite fulfilling, not to mention sparing your pockets too. The standard information are names of the couples and family members, time, place and reason of divorce, decree details and so forth. These are used in background checks, Genealogy studies, family tree research and compulsorily in subsequent marriage license application by divorcees.

Of all the methods to search divorce records of Ohio, the most popular one is the internet. Many but not all county offices operate websites to offer online services. It’s 100% with commercial record providers though. Online records are their core competency. Some provide free divorce records search and charge only when the associated reports are ordered. Market rates are very reasonable and well worth the money for the professional service they render.