How do I obtain a certified copy of a divorce judgment in Los Angeles County?
Request the copy from Los Angeles Superior Court. If the judgment is available electronically, start with the court's Divorce Judgment Documents service. You need the case number, must select a certified copy, and must pay the applicable copying, certification, and delivery charges. If the judgment is unavailable through that service, follow its missing-document instructions or contact the handling courthouse or Archives and Records Center.
The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk does not maintain divorce judgments. A marriage certificate request will not produce a divorce judgment, even if the marriage license was issued in Los Angeles County.
Independent information: This website is not affiliated with the court and does not issue certified records or accept copy requests, case documents, or payments.
Identify the Record You Need
A certified copy carries the court's certification that it is a true copy of the record on file. A case-search result, screenshot, or ordinary downloaded document should not be assumed to satisfy a requirement for a certified judgment.
Before ordering, ask the organization requesting proof of divorce which document and certification it requires. This helps avoid paying for a copy that does not meet its needs.
Judgment, Attachments and Notice of Entry
California Courts identifies Judgment, form FL-180, as the opening pages of the final orders in a divorce, legal separation, or annulment case. Additional orders may appear in attachments. A Notice of Entry of Judgment is a separate document.
Be specific about whether you need the judgment, its attachments, the notice, or another order. If you need the complete judgment, confirm what the selected document includes rather than assuming the first page contains every order.
Ordering a copy retrieves an existing record. It does not complete a pending divorce, create a judgment, or change an order. If you are uncertain whether a judgment has been entered, check the family law case information or contact the handling court.
Prepare the Case Details
Have the following information available before starting an order or contacting the court:
- Case number: Copy the complete number from an official court document.
- Party names: Use the names appearing in the divorce case, including former surnames when relevant.
- Case year: The approximate filing year and judgment date, if known.
- Courthouse: The location that handled the case, if known.
- Requested document: Identify the judgment and any required attachments or separate orders.
- Copy requirements: State that certification is needed and specify the number of copies.
- Delivery details: Prepare the recipient name, mailing address, and contact information requested by the service.
These details help identify the correct record; not every item is necessarily an online search field.
If you do not know the number, use the official name-search route described in our guide to finding a court case without a case number. Name-search fees are separate from copy charges.
Confirm that the divorce case was handled by Los Angeles Superior Court. Your current residence or the county that issued the marriage license does not establish which court holds the divorce judgment.
Order Through the Court Website
The Divorce Judgment Documents service accepts orders for judgments available in its electronic collection.
- Read the overview and current ordering terms.
- Choose Place an Order and enter the case number.
- Confirm that the available judgment belongs to the correct case.
- Select the required copy type and quantity, including certification.
- Review the delivery information, total charges, and payment details.
- Submit the order and save the receipt and order number.
The service lists Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards issued to a United States billing address. If you cannot meet its payment requirements, follow the court's written-request instructions.
Do not assume that purchasing an image through a different court service includes certification. If you use Case Document Images to identify the judgment, confirm the certification process before purchasing a copy for official use.
If the Judgment Is Not Available Online
The court's Divorce Judgment Documents FAQ provides instructions for judgments that have not been imaged or cannot be located in the ordering service.
For cases filed or heard on or after January 2, 2018, it directs users to check Case Document Images. Availability there does not itself establish that the document is a certified copy.
If the judgment is unavailable through both systems, the FAQ directs users to email ARCDocs@lacourt.org with the case number, party names, case year, and contact information to request imaging. Follow the resulting instructions for ordering.
A missing image does not prove that no judgment exists. If the case itself cannot be identified, see why a court case may not appear online.
Mail and In-Person Requests
The Archives and Records Center provides information about divorce judgment copies, mail requests, and older records. The courthouse handling the case can also explain the appropriate copy procedure.
| Your situation | Where to start | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| You need to order by mail | The court's current mail-request instructions for the office holding the record. | Required form or letter, certification, payment, return postage, and processing address. |
| You want to request copies in person | The handling courthouse or Archives and Records Center. | Record location, appointment requirements, available services, and payment methods. |
| The case is older or its storage location is unclear | Archives and Records guidance or the originating courthouse. | Whether the office holds the file and whether retrieval or imaging is required. |
| The requested material is sealed or confidential | The court responsible for the record. | Access requirements and whether a court order or other authority is necessary. |
Preparing a Written Request
Identify the case, the document requested, the number of copies, and the need for certification. Include the contact and return-address information required by the handling office.
Use the current Request for Copies form, LASC ADM 080, when directed by the court. Find the form through the court's official Court Forms page. Follow the selected office's instructions for payment and a return envelope or postage. Do not assume that the online service's accepted cards are also accepted for mail requests.
Confirm the destination before mailing. Archives requests and courthouse certification requests may use different offices; a general courthouse address is not a substitute for the designated processing address.
For a visit, review the clerk appointment system and the office's instructions. Selecting an appointment does not guarantee that a stored file can be retrieved or copied during the visit.
Fees, Delivery and Order Status
The online judgment service lists copying at $0.50 per page and certification at $15 per copy, plus postage and handling. Check its current fee schedule and the total displayed before paying.
Name searches and document downloads may involve separate charges. If the receiving organization specifically requests exemplification or another form of authentication, confirm that requirement with the court before ordering.
Track an Online Order
The ordering service publishes a three-business-day processing period, with additional time for postal delivery. This is not a promise that the copy will arrive within three days, and it does not describe mail requests or imaging work.
Use View Order Status and retain your receipt. The service's FAQ states that rejected orders do not generate a notification, so check the status yourself. For unresolved questions about that service, follow its FAQ and Archives contact instructions.
Check the Copy You Receive
Before using the document, check:
- The case number and party names.
- The judgment date and document description.
- Whether the requested pages and attachments are included.
- Whether the requested court certification is present.
- Whether the number of copies matches the order.
If pages or certification appear to be missing, contact the issuing office with the order number and document details. Do not alter the court's certification or assume an ordinary photocopy will meet the recipient's requirements.
For case lookup tools, see our Court Case Search page.
Ordering procedures, charges, and record availability may change. Follow current court instructions and direct copy requests to the designated official service. Messages or documents submitted to this website do not reach the court.