Explore Free Greene County Divorce Records (Verify Status)

Search free Greene County divorce records today, once you know which records custodians to contact and the online databases available.

Divorces are legal court proceedings, and some custodians offer the public online databases that contain court case records at no cost. Divorce records are not publicly available to anyone in Missouri, so you must be an eligible applicant when making requests.

The best ways to obtain a divorce record in Greene County, Missouri, are outlined throughout this streamlined resource.

How To View Greene County Divorce Records for Free

Many states allow residents to view records of divorce for free using online databases. Typically, interested researchers can perform a search through one of the county custodians. This is generally done by checking with the county court and reviewing the resources provided by the clerk.

In Missouri, official divorce judgments can only be obtained from the circuit court clerk in the county in which the proceeding was recorded. Vital records are not public, and only eligible individuals may successfully procure a record. There are several types of individuals who are eligible to obtain a vital record, including divorce records.

• Immediate Family Members
• Official Representatives
• Guardian
• Authorized Agent
• Claimant With Tangible Interest

Simply put, there are no public divorce records in Missouri. The Greene County Circuit Clerk maintains all case records filed in the circuit court.

Domestic relations cases, such as divorces, are heard in the circuit court. The Greene County Circuit Clerk is where eligible persons can request a divorce record.

All requesters must complete a Greene County Missouri Circuit Clerk’s Office request for records form.¹

On the request form, eligible applicants must provide their name and phone number. Select ‘Domestic/Family Case’ as divorce cases fall under this type.

You must also include the names of both parties to the divorce. The ‘Petitioner’ is the party that initiated the divorce, and the ‘Respondent’ is the other spouse.

You may choose the preferred method for receiving the requested divorce record, either by mail or email. You can also choose whether you want a certified, non-certified, or triple-authenticated copy.

Non-certified copies are $0.25 per page, certified copies are $3 per document, and triple-authenticated copies are $6. There is an additional $1 mailing fee if you do not provide a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request.

There is a general turnaround time of 5 to 7 days from when requests are received to when records are sent out. The Clerk of Court may contact a requester to require additional information, such as a photo ID, in order to obtain a copy of a record.

Requests may be submitted by mail, in person, or by email. For more information contact the Greene County Circuit Clerk or access Frequently Asked Questions for more information.²

Greene County Circuit Clerk’s Office
1010 North Boonville Avenue
Springfield, Missouri 65802

Phone: 417.868.4074
Email: [email protected]

Find Divorce Records in All of Missouri Through the Department of Health & Senior Services

Although certified copies of divorces can only be obtained through county circuit clerks, the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services allows eligible individuals to obtain divorce statements.³

A divorce statement is an official document that serves as proof a dissolution occurred. Contrast that with a divorce certificate or decree, which is the court order signed by a judge and issued at the end of a dissolution proceeding.

Only certain individuals may obtain a divorce statement. Immediate family members, official representatives, guardians, authorized agents, or persons who have demonstrated proof of an interest in the record may gain access. Just as certificates and decrees are not public records, neither are divorce statements.

Eligible persons must complete an Application for Missouri Vital Record and complete the ‘Divorce Statement’ portion.⁴

Fill in the names of both parties to the divorce, the date the decree was issued, and the city and county where the event occurred.

Eligible applicants must fill in their personal and contact information at the bottom of the request document. Additionally, applicants must provide the purpose for the request and the relationship to the parties named on the divorce record. The Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services maintains statements of divorce dating back to July 1, 1948.

Divorce records are $15 each and must be made payable to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. There is also a search fee that accompanies all requests for copies of vital records. This fee will be assessed after the request.

Requests may be submitted by mail or in person to either the local public health agency or the Jefferson City office. If you wish to perform an in-person request at the Jefferson City office, call 573.751.6387 to schedule an appointment. The office offers services from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Some in-person requests have same-day turnaround times, although this is not a guarantee. Requests mailed to the Jefferson City office are generally processed within 8-12 weeks.

Missouri Bureau of Vital Records
930 Wildwood Dr.
Jefferson City, Missouri 65109

Phone: 573.751.6387

Submitting a request for a divorce statement locally is the fastest method. The nearest office to Greene County, Missouri, is located in Springfield. Eligible individuals must complete the application and either mail or deliver it in person to the Springfield local office.

Springfield-Greene County Health
227 East Chestnut Expressway
Springfield, Missouri 65802

Phone: 417.864.1658
Email: [email protected]

The Springfield-Greene County Library maintains a divorce index dating back to 1837. This archive shows the historical record information of divorces filed in the Greene County Circuit Court.

These archives show the names of both the plaintiff (person who initiated the divorce) and the defendant (responding spouse), when the petition was initiated, and whether the dissolution was granted or dismissed.

Researchers may also use the name index or the keyword search to look for specific individuals.⁵

For more information, contact the Springfield-Greene County Library using the details below:

Springfield-Greene County Library
The Library Center
4653 South Campbell Avenue
Springfield, Missouri 65810

Phone: 417.882.0714

Requests may also be made through the third-party provider, VitalChek. There are different fees associated with this method, and requests can be submitted online or over the phone.

Are Divorce Records in Greene County Publicly Accessible?

Divorce records in Greene County are not publicly accessible.

Divorces are considered vital records in Missouri. Under Missouri Code 193.245, it is unlawful for vital records to be copied unless authorized by state law.⁶ Furthermore, Missouri Code 193.255 provides that no person shall prepare or issue a vital record unless authorized under law.⁷

There are no laws that permit the public at large to have access to vital records, including divorces. Only eligible persons, as described in the sections above, may obtain a divorce decree or statement.

A decree is a final judgment issued by the court when a divorce ends. This is distinguished from divorce papers, which are the initial filings in a suit.

There is no such thing as a common law divorce in Missouri. To obtain a divorce, a person must get a dissolution of marriage granted by a circuit court.

In the event that the circuit court clerk or state health department cannot assist in your request, a third-party provider may offer an alternative. It should be noted that whatever record you receive from any third-party provider not endorsed by the state of Missouri cannot be used for any official purpose.

A Greene County divorce records search is available to eligible individuals, who are generally next of kin and people with a proven interest in the record; use the information and resources offered by this article and conduct a divorce lookup.