Does anybody know of an inexpensive (preferrably free) way to find someone's marriage history (i.e. divorce history)?

Divorces are public record. You can go to the appropriate circuit clerk's office (in the county where the divorce was filed) and make copies from the file. There's a nominal charge for the copies.

But what do I do if I don't know the county or even the state of the divorce.

I know my county clerk's office has a computer for public use. You can go in and use computer without even talking to a clerk -- but you only get the basics on the computer (names, date of divorce decree, book & page number). Some states even have the information on-line (but I know my state only has marriage records on-line, not divorces).<p>Good luck,
JJ

jj613, <p>what state is that?

There are investigative services (on-line also) that for a reasonable fee (usually not more than a couple hundred dollars) will provide essentially a public record search.... criminal record, marital (and other court) history, credit history etc.... it is actually prudent to use such a service anytime someone new comes into your life and you really know nothing about them. Also military records, birth records (verifying age), employment records, lots of things out there. I have read some of the horror stories about the "love" of ones life, not being at all who you think they are....<p>ok, you did say free, so you are gonna have to do a little detective work and start going county by county (mostly such records are county records), maybe even city if big city (not sure).... but usually a phone call (and talking nice on the phone) will get a clerk to at least do a quick comp check to see if the name comes up.<p>[ February 27, 2002: Message edited by: sad_n_lonely ]</p>

S&C,
I live in New England and in a rural area so I was surprised that I could get so much information. I'll be honest....I was researching a property deed for business at the county clerk's office when I realized I could research the OW by just entering her name (this was during my obsessive detective stage!). I was able to find out when she got married (twice), divorced (twice), when she bought her house and all mortgages associated with it (BTW, after getting divorced she got the house and refinanced it for a large amount)....tax and other liens are also listed. I did find out that in order to get a copy of divorce decree or to find out any criminal records that I would have to go to another office and request them in person....so I stopped there. <p>On-line I went to my State's website and searched for public records....I was able to get marriage records for free. Then I went to my original home state (to see if our marriage was listed there), and they had public records available but for a fee. <p>May I ask why you're searching? Don't mean to be nosy......just wondering if you're checking out your SO, the OP, or whatever....maybe we can help in some other way. I definitely know what it's like to be a BS that suspected an affair and then became obsessed with finding out everything I could after D-day. (And as someone else pointed out.....I once knew someone that had everyone convinced that he was a single helicopter pilot and it turned out that he was a married shoe salesman!)<p>Hugs,
JJ<p>May I ask why you are searching?

To JJ613,<p>The truth is my WS has asked me to provide all the info I have on OP in order to understand all the lies. I have info, but its not proven - its heresay. I would like to prove it, but I'm too broke to hire a PI.

The only way I can see is to spend some money. Otherwise you will be going in circles. To find out a little about my H's OW in his sexual affair. I hired a investigator. Didn't pay much, but got some information. I was being conservative with money. Next time I will go full blown and spend much more. I called an investigator in the OW state and they can get some information for $300. He is a big name in this industry. But he said to do a fairly good job would cost around $2000 - $3000. I should of spent that much the first time around.<p>As far as free, I really don't see where you can get anywhere, without going to each county and looking at the free records. But that is going to cost you time (money), cash, gas, sleeping quarters, food, etc. Can't you borrow money from someone, or even tell a family member what you are planning on doing, and pay back in installments?

I'm watching Law and Order right now, and they are doing a plot on this thing right now. <p>The person used "access nation" to search for info on his therapist. Obtained info from state, federal and chat rooms that she had been on.<p>Ironic, just thought I would share!!<p>Dawn [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]