Fairfax County, Virginia Divorce Records

Fairfax County divorce records are official recordings of divorce events that occurred in the county. Persons or entities search and obtain divorce records for a variety of reasons, including remarriage, research, and mortgage refinancing.

Divorce records in Fairfax County are mostly accessible to the general public. Persons seeking to obtain the record must fulfill the legal requirements for doing so. For instance, you must be a case party or immediate relation to access divorce documents that are less than 25 years old. Such records are confidential since they may reveal information that violates the safety of concerned parties. Case in point: court-sealed divorce records are not accessible to the public.

Fairfax County, Virginia Divorce Rate: In 2022, Virginia had a divorce rate of 7.9 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national average divorce rate of 7.1. Per the Census Bureau, 15.2% of Fairfax residents were divorced as of 2023.

Are Divorce Records Public in Fairfax County?

Per the Virginia Code § 32.1-271, Fairfax County divorce records are only publicly accessible after 25 years from the event date. Only the case party, immediate family members, and their legal representatives can access divorce records less than 25 years old.

Irrespective of the timeframe, the court may still decide to redact specific information from divorce documents. For instance, the court may redact financial statements, custody arrangements, and identities of minors in the dissolved union.

How to Find Divorce Records in Fairfax County

You can find and look up divorce records in Fairfax County via local and state-level entities. At the local level, the FairFax County Health Department and the Circuit Court are the local custodians of divorce records. However, the Virginia Department of Health is a state-level custodian of divorce records.

How to obtain divorce records from the Fairfax County Office of Vital Records

• Interested parties must follow these steps to get records from the agency:
• Fill out the VDH application form.
• Attach a valid ID if requesting divorce records less than 25 years old. Only the record subject, immediate family relations, and legal representatives can access such records.
• Present the completed application and form to the agency during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at these locations:

How to obtain divorce records from the Fairfax County Circuit Court

The Fairfax County circuit court is the custodian of divorce decrees or final judgments. Interested parties can look up these documents by sending a mail or in-person request to the courthouse at:

Mail Address

The request must include the following:

• A request letter that contains the case number, case party names, and divorce date.
• The required fees. The agency charges $0.5 per page and $2 per certification of a divorce document.
• A check or money order made payable to the Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court.

How to obtain Fairfax County divorce records from the Virginia Department of Health

The Virginia Department of Health maintains divorce records from 1918 until the present date. To obtain divorce records, you may drop off the request or send it via mail to:

The request must include the following:

• A completed VDH Application form.
• Photocopy of the requester's ID.
• A $12 fee per requested divorce certificate. Money orders and checks must be signed and made payable to the State Health Department.

Overview of the Fairfax County Court System

The Fairfax County Circuit Court handles all family-related cases, including divorces. Interested parties may find the courthouse at this location:

Note that the clerk of the circuit court is the official custodian of divorce case files and final judgment. The clerk may disclose the records upon receiving an in-person or mail-in request from eligible parties.

Online Access to Fairfax County Divorce Records

There is no official searchable database for accessing Fairfax County divorce records. The circuit court only offers in-person and mail-in access to records in their custody.

In contrast, you can find Fairfax County divorce records online via third-party search websites. Such websites generally allow name- or location-based inquiries for divorce records. In addition, some websites may offer free downloads of divorce documents. Nevertheless, third-party websites operate outside government jurisdiction and, as such, may not provide accurate court information.

What's Typically Included in a Fairfax County Divorce Record

Fairfax County divorce records typically reveal the following details:

• Case parties' names and residence.
• Divorce decree date and location.
• Court-related information like petitions, summons, and motions.
• Number of children in the dissolved union.,
• Divorce cause.

The circuit court may seal sensitive or confidential records due to statutes or court orders. There are also instances when divorce case parties petition the court to redact specific information.

How to Get Certified Copies of Fairfax County Divorce Records

You can get certified copies of Fairfax County divorce records from the county's Office of Vital Statistics and the Circuit Court. Certified copies may bear the signature and seal of the deputy clerk, clerk of court, and judge. These copies are important for various legal and financial matters, including name changes, mortgage refinancing, and marriage license applications.

The Circuit Court offers access to certified copies of divorce decrees. To get certified divorce decrees in Fairfax County, you must make an in-person or mail-in request to:

The request must include these details and fees:

• The case party's name, case number, or divorce date.
• Valid ID
• The required fees. The court charges $0.5 per page and $2 per certification of divorce document., You may pay an additional $2.50 to get the documents certified by the court judge and clerk of court. Mail-in payments must include a money order or check made payable to the Clerk of the Fairfax Circuit Court.

In contrast, the Fairfax Office of Vital Statistics provides access to certified divorce certificates. Inquirers seeking to obtain the record must follow these steps:

• Complete the VDH Application form.
• Attach a valid ID. You may use the agency's ID requirement list to determine suitable identifications.
• Pay the required $12 fee per divorce certificate.
• Send the documents and fees to these locations:

Why People Request Fairfax County Divorce Records

There are multiple reasons to request divorce records in Fairfax County. These reasons include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Name change.
• Remarriage.
• Estate planning cases.
• Child custody disputes.
• Genealogy or family research.
• Refinancing of mortgage.

Fairfax County Divorce Records Summary