Look Up Free Madison County Divorce Records (Case Search)

Find free Madison County divorce records today to uncover vital family information or engage in genealogical research. The detailed instructions below should help individuals expedite their search for records. Understanding where to find the information you need can reduce the time and hassle of a search.

Interested parties can access the basic details of divorces on file with the county, but searchers must maintain ethical use to protect the rights of those involved. This article serves as a resource for searching Madison County, Ohio, divorce records seamlessly.

How To Track Down Madison County Divorce Records for Free

The first step to tracking down divorce records in Madison County involves collecting key details about the divorce. This includes the full names of all the parties connected to the divorce, the approximate date the divorce occurred and any supplementary information, such as confirming Madison County handled the conclusion of the divorce.

Inquirers should begin their search with the Madison County Clerk of Courts.¹ Individuals can visit the official website of the clerk or contact the office directly with requests.

When looking for divorce documents online, searchers should always verify the source to ensure the credibility and validity of the information provided. The Madison County Clerk of Courts offers an online search of their divorce records.² No account registration is required. Double-checking accuracy helps ensure a better match in the results, and utilizing the provided fields or advanced options can narrow down the search parameters.

When conducting a name search, provide as much detail as possible. The online form includes specific instructions to help individuals refine their search. This feature lets users narrow the search according to:

• Plaintiff or defendant
• Case number
• Hearing date
• File date

Searchers must be prepared with sufficient specifics in the event they turn up more than one match.

Once results are displayed, the correlating record can be clicked. Only adult direct relations of a divorcee, a present or former spouse, those with a court order and government officials can obtain a copy of the physical record.

When requesting information in person, visitors must present the required documentation and facts. These items may include:

• Proof of identity, such as a state-issued photo ID, military ID or passport
• Declaration of intent related to the request
• Pertinent details about the divorce, such as names and dates

Individuals seeking information about a common law marriage should note that Ohio only recognizes those filed before 1991 or recognized in other states. A common law divorce wouldn’t exist outside of these parameters, so records wouldn’t exist either.

Electronic copies don’t qualify as certified records. Individuals who require a certified copy must contact the Madison County Clerk of Courts directly.¹

Forms related to divorce filings come from the Ohio Supreme Court website.⁴ The plaintiff must request the divorce papers and serve them to the plaintiff to validate the divorce.

Restrictions may prevent users from accessing documents, so searchers should prepare for a potential denial of access or redacted content if a direct connection or valid purpose cannot be proven. Should any questions arise or if an online search doesn’t produce the results needed, individuals should reach out to the clerk of record via phone, fax, email or in person by visiting or contacting the office located at:

Madison County Courthouse
1 North Main Street
London, OH 43140

Phone: 740-852-9776 or 740-852-0756
Fax: 740-852-1778
Email: [email protected]

According to the county website, no fees accompany requests for records, but inquirers may want to confirm this directly through the courthouse. They maintain the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for federal holidays.

Additionally, if a divorce occurred outside Madison County but still within the state, searchers can visit the listing of county clerks in Ohio.⁶ This document, which is maintained by the Ohio County Clerks Association, contains contact information and details for the relevant county.

If the location is uncertain, the U.S. Census can pinpoint where the couple lived before and after the divorce occurred. After this information is obtained, a search can be performed within that county. Typically, divorce records cannot be accessed through government offices of individual cities, regardless of the county they reside in.

How To Use the Ohio History Connection To Find Statewide Divorce Information

Although some references state otherwise, the Bureau of Vital Statistics at the Ohio Department of Health does not oversee the maintenance of divorce records for the state.⁷ According to their official website, they don’t maintain a divorce index. Individuals wanting to obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree must visit the county where the official event took place.

As an alternative to the DOH and state library, the Ohio History Connection contains some divorce records filed throughout the state, but not all of them.

No statewide index exists for divorces filed prior to 1954. Most occurred through the court of appeals, probate courts or General Assembly. After 1914, domestic relations courts within the Court of Common Pleas for each county handled all divorce cases.

The online catalog facilitates searches by county and court name or record type. For records related to this article, individuals can type “Madison County Clerk of Courts” and review the results. Specific sorting actions can be made using the left sidebar to refine the findings further.

Possible results may include details pulled from:

• Newspapers
• Dockets
• Journals
• Court records
• Diaries
• Books

The Ohio History Connection (OHC) helps to preserve and share the state’s rich history. In addition to its two main components, the Ohio History Center and the Youngstown Historical Center of History and Labor, it also connects over 50 museums and historic sites throughout the state.^{8, 9}

If an online search through the OHC database doesn’t produce the details needed, interested parties can speak with a staff member at either principal location to get additional assistance.

Ohio History Center
800 East 17th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211

Phone: 614-297-2300 or 800-686-6124

The History Center maintains a regular schedule on Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in addition to special events.

The Availability of Divorce Records in Madison County Ohio

According to the Ohio Revised Code, the records of divorce cases exist as public records.¹⁰ The Supreme Court of Ohio allows eligible individuals to access copies of public divorce records maintained by county courts.

Any document or pleading sealed by the court has a confidential designation and remains restricted from the public. Certain information may be redacted, or restrictions may exist due to privacy concerns. This includes personal details such as custody agreements or financial disclosures.

Sometimes, an online search may produce basic file details about a divorce. However, the county clerk may require searchers to pay a fee to obtain a complete copy of that file. Madison County doesn’t specify a fee schedule on its website, but fees may exist.

Typically, only parties directly tied to the record in some fashion may receive certified copies. Non-certified copies made at the requester’s expense after viewing a record in person or online aren’t validated for official use.

County clerk offices and state records resources house physical and electronic divorce records from 1954 to the present. However, divorces filed within the past two years often contain closed records, which remain that way until the cases are fully resolved.

To access records outside that timeframe, visitors can search the archives of state or county libraries. Tracking family histories, genealogies or lineage through these collections often yields helpful information.

For a divorce involving legal proceedings beyond a divorce certificate or decree, searchers can visit the Madison County Family Court and submit a request to the court clerk for records related to the case. A certificate validates the divorce and verifies the termination of the marriage, while a decree contains more personal information and may be subject to access limitations. It all depends on the regulations in place in the county and state.

Third-party sites offer some access to records, but they require either paid accounts or registration to search their databases. They may also include paid ads and have limited options. Government websites remain the best source.

To obtain a copy of any Madison County divorce records, seekers must contact the office that filed or issued the decree; utilize the resources provided above to achieve success in your search.