How Do I Get a Copy of My Divorce Certificate?

Last reviewed: 8th June 2026.

Key Points

● A decree absolute (for divorces issued before 6th April 2022) or a final order (for divorces issued on or after that date) is the document that legally ends a marriage; both serve as your proof that the marriage has been dissolved.

● If you know your case number, you can obtain a certified copy for £11 by contacting either the Divorce Service Centre (for 16-digit case numbers) or the court that handled your divorce.

● If you know the court but not the case number, a search costs £45 for each 10-year period searched; the court will look five years either side of any date you provide.

● If you have no information about the court or case number, you can apply online or use Form D440 to request a search through the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit at a cost of £65 for each 10-year period searched.

● The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 brought in the term "final order" to replace "decree absolute" for all divorce applications issued on or after 6th April 2022; the process for obtaining a copy of either document is broadly the same.

A copy of your decree absolute or final order is available from HMCTS for a standard fee of £11 if you already have your case number. The document is the official proof that your marriage has been legally dissolved and is regularly needed when remarrying, updating financial accounts, or dealing with property following a divorce.

The terminology changed in April 2022. Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which came into force on 6th April 2022, the final stage of divorce is now called a "final order" rather than a "decree absolute". A "conditional order" replaced what was previously called a "decree nisi". For divorces issued before that date, the older terminology still applies, and any documents issued at the time will still be valid. Knowing which term applies to your own case will help when you contact HMCTS or fill in any application form.

Losing or misplacing a divorce document does not affect your legal status. The marriage has already been dissolved, and HMCTS can produce a replacement copy. The three routes available depend on how much you already know about your case.

For a full overview of the divorce process and what to expect at each stage, see our guide to family law in Solihull.

Which Route Applies to You

The starting point is whether you have your original case number. If you do, the process is quick and costs £11. If you do not, you will need to ask HMCTS to search their records, which will cost more and take longer. The route you follow also depends on when and how the divorce was handled.

If your case number is 16 digits long, your divorce went through the online digital service. You should contact the Divorce Service Centre. If your case number is not 16 digits, or if a local court handled the divorce, you should contact that court directly. The gov.uk guide on getting a copy of a final order or decree absolute provides current contact details and links to the relevant court finder.

When you have the case number, write to the Divorce Service Centre or to your local court and include your name and address, the case number, and your preferred payment method. It costs £11 per copy. Payment can be made by cheque, postal order, or credit or debit card. If you wish to pay by card, include your telephone number so a representative can call you. You should receive the copy within a week of payment being received.

If you know which court handled the divorce but cannot find the case number, you can still request a copy. The court will search its records for five years either side of any date you provide. If you cannot provide a date, the court will search the records for the last 10 years. The fee is £45 for each 10-year period searched. Send a letter or email to the court with your name and address, an approximate date, and payment details. For divorces made online after January 2019, or by post after April 2022, contact the Divorce Service Centre rather than a local court.

Consider a scenario common among Solihull residents who divorced in the early 2000s and need their decree absolute for a remortgage. They may remember roughly when the divorce was finalised, but have no paperwork at home. Provided they can name the court, they contact it directly with an approximate year. The £45 fee covers a 10-year search window, and the copy arrives by post within a week of payment clearing.

Applying Through the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit

If you cannot identify which court or service centre handled your divorce at all, you need a central search. This is handled by the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit, which maintains the Central Index of Decrees Absolute. You can apply online using the HMCTS request service or complete Form D440 and send it by post or email.

Form D440 is titled "Request for search for Divorce Decree Absolute or final order" and was updated in June 2025. The form asks for as much of the following as you can supply:

● the full name of the person who applied for the divorce

● the full name of the person who responded to the application

● the full name of any co-respondent

● the date of marriage

● the date of separation

● the approximate date the divorce petition was filed

● the court details and case number, if known

● the approximate date of the conditional order or decree nisi

● the approximate date of the final order or decree absolute

● your name, address, and contact telephone number

The fee is £65 per 10-year period searched. If you need records searched across a longer span, you must submit a separate application for each additional period. Payment can be made by cheque or postal order made payable to "HM Courts & Tribunals Service", or by credit or debit card; if paying by card, include your telephone number on the form.

Send the completed form by post or email to:

Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit 2nd Floor, Triton House St Andrews Street North Bury St Edmunds IP33 1TR

Email: Bse.decreeabsolute@justice.gov.uk

If the search is successful, you will receive a certificate of the search together with a copy of the final order or decree absolute by post, usually within 45 days of the court receiving your payment. If no record can be found, you will receive a "no trace" certificate instead.

One point worth clarifying: the old Pearce Legal article referred to this central search as the "Central Family Court" service. As of June 2025, HMCTS routes the central D440 search to the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit, rather than to the Central Family Court in London. The Central Family Court email address (cfc.decreeabsolute@justice.gov.uk) and telephone number (0300 123 5577) remain contact points for general enquiries about cases where the court is unknown, but the physical search and correspondence route for Form D440 goes to Bury St Edmunds.

The Difference Between a Final Order and a Conditional Order

A question that sometimes arises is whether a conditional order (formerly decree nisi) will suffice as proof of divorce. It will not. The conditional order is an interim step at which the court confirms it is satisfied that the legal requirements for divorce have been met. It does not dissolve the marriage. Only the final order (or decree absolute, for pre-April 2022 cases) brings the marriage to a legal end.

The difference matters whenever you need to prove marital status, for example, when applying to remarry, when dealing with a pension scheme that requires evidence of divorce before splitting benefits, or when an estate needs to confirm whether a former spouse has any remaining claim. If you only have a conditional order to hand, you will need to return to HMCTS to obtain the final order separately.

Our divorce solicitors in Solihull regularly help clients who need to track down missing documents from divorces that concluded some years ago. If the process of contacting HMCTS feels daunting, or if you are uncertain which type of document you received, a solicitor can make the application on your behalf and ensure the correct fee is paid the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a decree absolute the same as a divorce certificate?

Yes, broadly. England and Wales do not issue a formal document called a "divorce certificate" in the way that the General Register Office issues certificates for births, deaths, and marriages. The decree absolute (for cases issued before 6 April 2022) or final order (for cases issued on or after that date) is the document that formally ends the marriage and serves as your legal proof of divorce.

How long does it take to get a copy?

If you have the case number and apply to the Divorce Service Centre or the relevant court, you should receive the copy within a week of payment being received. A central search through the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit takes longer: HMCTS aims to issue the certificate of search and copy document within 45 days of receiving payment.

Can I apply online rather than by post?

Yes. HMCTS offers an online service for requesting a copy that covers both direct copy requests (where you have a case number) and central searches (where you do not know the court). The online route is generally faster than mailing Form D440 because it eliminates postage delays and allows card payments to be processed immediately.

What if the search finds no record of my divorce?

The Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit will issue a "no trace" certificate explaining that no matching record was found for the period searched. This sometimes happens because the approximate dates provided fell outside the searched period, or because the divorce may have been handled in Scotland or Northern Ireland (which have separate processes). If you receive a "no trace" certificate, a family law solicitor can help you investigate alternative records or consider whether a different search period is needed.

Do I need a solicitor to apply for a copy?

No. The application process is designed to be completed by anyone directly, without legal representation. You supply the information you have, pay the appropriate fee, and HMCTS carries out the search. However, if you also need advice on the wider implications of your divorce, such as a financial remedy order, pension sharing, or arrangements for children, those are matters where specialist legal advice is worth seeking.

About the Author

Stephanie Howard (SRA number 432274) is a Director of Pearcelegal and Head of the firm's Family and Litigation department. Admitted as a solicitor in 2015, she advises on the full range of family law matters, including divorce, financial remedy proceedings, child arrangements, civil partnerships and cohabitation disputes, as well as general civil litigation and contentious probate. Stephanie joined Pearcelegal in 2014, was promoted to Associate in 2021, took over the Family and Litigation team in 2023 and was appointed a Director in April 2026. She is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA ID 432274).