Most people believe that a divorce decree and a divorce certificate are the same thing, because both are included in the divorce records. However, this is not true for several reasons. A divorce certificate is similar to any other type of vital document, such as a death, birth or marriage certificate. Each document offers basic demographic information regarding their owners as well as topic-specific information about the event. On a divorce certificate, the names of both parties involved in the divorce are listed as well as the date and place where the divorce settlement took place.

Divorce decrees are far more complicated than divorce certificates and contain more divorce-related information. Unlike a divorce certificate, a divorce decree lists all the results of the divorce settlement.

When looking for these documents, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and, now that you know the differences between these two commonly confused documents, that shouldn’t be too difficult. If you want to obtain a copy of both the divorce decree and the divorce certificate, your best bet would be to get a copy of the divorce records, which contain all of this information as well as other things that aren’t listed on the two documents.