Get a copy of a decree absolute or final order
How to get a copy of a decree absolute or final order depends on the information you have about the divorce, dissolution or annulment.
If you know the case number
It costs £11.
How you apply depends on your case number. If your case number is:
- 16 digits - contact the Divorce Service Centre
- not 16 digits - contact the court that handled your divorce
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.
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
Include your phone number in your email or letter. The service centre or court will call you to take your payment.
If you do not know the case number
It costs £45 to search a 10-year period.
How you apply depends on when the divorce application was made and whether the application was online or by post. If it was made:
- online after January 2019 - contact the Divorce Service Centre
- by post after April 2022 - contact the Divorce Service Centre
- at any other time - contact the court that handled your divorce
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.
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
Include your phone number in your email or letter. The service centre or court will call you to take your payment.
If you do not know which court to ask
You can ask the Central Family Court to search for the decree absolute or final order.
Fill in form D440 and send it to the address on the form. It costs £65 for each 10 year period that’s searched.
Pay by cheque or postal order
Make the cheque or postal order payable to ‘HM Courts & Tribunals Service’ and send it with your form.
Pay by credit or debit card
The court will call you to take your payment. Include a letter with your form to request the call and give your phone number.