Get a copy of a final order or decree absolute
If you do not know which court you should apply to
If you do not know which court or Divorce Service Centre handled the divorce, dissolution or annulment, you can apply to the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit to search for a copy of the final order or decree absolute.
There鈥檚 a different way to apply for a copy of a decree absolute or final order if you know which court handled the divorce.
How much it costs
It costs 拢65 for each 10 year period you search. If you want to search for a longer period, you鈥檒l need to submit another application.
How to pay
After you鈥檝e applied, you can pay using:
- a debit or credit card
- a cheque or postal order
- the Payment By Account (PBA) if you鈥檙e a solicitor
Your search will not be completed until you鈥檝e paid.
Pay by debit or credit card
If you apply online, you鈥檒l be told how to pay after you apply.
If you apply by post, the form will ask you to provide a phone number so the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit can call you to take your payment. Or you can call the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit to make the payment.
Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit
2nd Floor
Triton House
St Andrews Street North
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 1TR
Find out about call charges听
Pay by cheque or postal order
Make the cheque or postal order payable to 鈥楬M Courts & Tribunals Service鈥� and send it to the Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit.
Bury St Edmunds Divorce Unit
2nd Floor
Triton House
St Andrews Street North
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 1TR
What you鈥檒l get
You鈥檒l get a certificate of the search with a copy of the final order or decree absolute by post, usually within 45 days after the court gets your payment.
If the court cannot find a final order or decree absolute, you鈥檒l get a 鈥榥o trace鈥� certificate instead.
Before you start
You鈥檒l need to provide:
- your name and contact details
- the address you need the copy of the final order or decree absolute to be sent to
- the name of the person who applied for divorce, annulment or dissolution
- the name of the person who responded to the application
- the search start and end dates
The search will be quicker if you can provide:
- the date of the marriage
- the date the divorce, annulment or dissolution application was filed
- the date and the court in which the conditional order or decree nisi was granted
- the date the final order or decree absolute was granted
Apply online
Use the online service to apply for a search.
Apply by post
Fill in form D440 and return it by post or email to the address on the form.