Introduction to Vermont Divorce Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Vermont Divorce certificate.  Divorce Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Divorce Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Divorce Certificates is that states have not been registering Divorces for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register Divorces.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the Divorce took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Divorce Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Divorce Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Divorce certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Divorce certificate by following the correct procedure.  

Vermont Divorce certificates have been maintained by the Vermont Department of Health for individuals divorced in the state of Vermont since 1909.  Which office you contact to order a Vermont Divorce certificate depends on how long ago the event took place. 

• If the Divorce was within the past 5 years, order the Vermont Divorce certificate from the Vermont Department of Health.
• If the Divorce was more than the past 5 years ago, order the Vermont Divorce certificate from the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.

Vermont Divorce Certificate Authorized Persons

By Vermont state law, Vermont Divorce certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Vermont Divorce Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Vermont Divorce Certificate
• Grandparents and Great Grandparents of Person Named on the Vermont Divorce Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Vermont Divorce Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Vermont Divorce Certificate
• Adult grandchildren of Person Named on the Vermont Divorce Certificate
• Sister/Brother of individual named on the Vermont Divorce certificate
• Aunt/Uncle of individual named on the Vermont Divorce certificat
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Vermont Divorce Certificate

Vermont Divorce Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain an informational Vermont Divorce Certificate, this is the most comely used Divorce certificate for genealogy purposes.

Vermont Divorce Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Vermont Divorce Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Vermont Divorce Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Vermont Divorce Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order Vermont Divorce Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your Vermont Divorce certificate online.  It usually takes 5-10 business days upon receipt of request to be sent to you:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the Vermont Divorce certificate:

• Full name of husband on the Vermont Divorce certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the Vermont Divorce certificate
• Date of Divorce on the Vermont Divorce certificate
• County (or city) of Divorce on the Vermont Divorce certificate
• Your name  
• Your signature  
• Your relationship to the person whose Vermont Divorce certificate you are requesting  
• Address where the Vermont Divorce certificate is to be mailed  
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

For Vermont Divorce Certificates less than 5 years old
Vermont Department of Health
Vital Records
P.O. Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402-0070

Make checks and money order to “Vermont Department of Health."

For Vermont Divorce Certificates more than 5 years old
Vermont State Archives and Records Administration
1078 US RTE 2, Middlesex,
Montpelier, VT 05633-7701

Make checks and money order to “Vermont Secretary of State."

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in Vermont: You may go to any county health department in the State of Vermont to obtain a certified copy of a Vermont Divorce certificate. Most Vermont Divorce certificates can be issued while you wait.

Vermont Divorce Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Vermont Divorce certificate is $10.00, which includes one certified copy of the Vermont Divorce certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Vermont Divorce certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $10.00. Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.