Dr M lives in South Africa and had recently begun helping his elderly mother organise her legal paperwork after she decided to move into assisted living.
Whilst reviewing her documents, he discovered that her Decree Absolute was missing. Her solicitor advised that a replacement would be needed before several legal matters relating to her finances and estate planning could be completed.
Her divorce had been granted many years ago by the East Midlands Divorce Unit, which had since closed, leaving Dr M unsure where to begin.
Living in another country meant Dr M couldn’t simply visit a court or make endless telephone calls during UK office hours. He also wasn’t sure whether he was even allowed to request a copy of his mother’s Decree Absolute on her behalf.
Adding to the confusion, he discovered that the East Midlands Divorce Unit no longer existed, making it difficult to identify which court now held the original records.
Searching online for information about how to obtain a copy of a Decree Absolute from the East Midlands Divorce Unit, Dr M found UK Document Services.
He wanted an experienced company that understood the court system, knew where older divorce records had been transferred, and could manage the application without him having to navigate the process from South Africa.
Can someone else order a Decree Absolute?
Yes.
Once a divorce has been finalised and a Decree Absolute has been granted, it becomes a public record.
This means another person can request a copy, provided they can supply the minimum information required on the order form.
Although Decree Absolutes become public records, they are not available to search or download online. In most cases, the document must still be obtained through the court responsible for holding the record.
How to Obtain a Copy of a Decree Absolute
Dr M completed the UK Document Services Divorce Order Form using the information he knew, including:
- the names of both parties;
- the approximate date of the divorce;
- the court where the divorce was originally granted; and
- any additional details available.
Once submitted, UK Document Services handled the rest.
Because the original court had closed, we identified which court now held the divorce records before submitting the application on Dr M’s behalf.
We liaised directly with the court, monitored the progress of the request and arranged for the completed Decree Absolute to be dispatched securely to South Africa.
Throughout the process, Dr M dealt with one dedicated member of our team, who kept him informed at every stage.
The replacement Decree Absolute arrived safely in South Africa, allowing Dr M to provide the document to his mother’s solicitor so her legal affairs could continue without interruption.
Decree Absolute Dispatch Times
- Standard Service – dispatch is up to 20 working days
Rapid & Priority Service are not available for divorce certificates.
NB. Delivery time should be added to the stated estimated dispatch date.
Dr M chose the delivery option that best suited his needs:
- 151st Class Airmail (15-20 Days)
- International Tracked Service (12-15 days)
- Courier (3-6 days) – The most reliable delivery option
How UK Document Services helps:
Dr M didn’t have to research court closures, identify which court held the records or spend time contacting different government departments.
Instead, UK Document Services:
- identified the correct court after the East Midlands Divorce Unit had closed;
- handled the application from start to finish;
- communicated directly with the court;
- reduced delays by ensuring the correct information was supplied;
- arranged secure international delivery; and
- provided one knowledgeable point of contact throughout.
Need to obtain a copy of a Decree Absolute from the East Midlands Divorce Unit or another court?
Complete our secure online Divorce Order Form today. Whether you’re ordering for yourself or on behalf of someone else, UK Document Services will manage the process from start to finish and deliver your documents safely anywhere in the world.
