How to Get Certified Copies of a Divorce Decree in North Dakota

Every agency, bank, and government office you'll deal with after a North Dakota divorce wants the same thing: a certified copy of your decree with the court's raised seal. Not a photocopy. Not a scan. The original certified copy, which they'll examine and hand back, or in some cases keep entirely.

If you walk out of your divorce with only one certified copy, you'll spend weeks going through agencies one at a time, waiting to get the document back before you can start the next update. Here's how to avoid that bottleneck.

Where to Request Certified Copies

Certified copies come from the Clerk of the District Court in the county where your divorce was filed — not from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (which handles birth and death certificates, not divorce decrees).

You'll need to contact or visit the clerk's office directly. Each county handles requests independently, and some accept mail or online requests while others require in-person visits.

Fees typically range from $10 to $25 per certified copy, depending on the county. Cass County, Burleigh County, and Grand Forks County each set their own fee schedules under N.D.C.C. § 11-18-05.

How Many Copies to Order

Plan on 5 to 10 certified copies. That sounds like a lot, but here's where they go:

• Social Security Administration — needs to examine the original (returned)
• NDDOT driver's license office — certified copy with raised seal required; photocopies rejected
• Passport Agency — keeps a copy with your DS-82 or DS-11 application
• Bank or credit union — typically examines and copies, then returns
• County Recorder — if recording a quitclaim deed, you may need to file the decree alongside it
• Employer HR — for beneficiary and retirement plan updates
• NDPERS or TFFR — if dividing a state pension, the executed QDRO and decree must be served to the plan

Ordering extras upfront at $10–$25 each is far cheaper than making a second trip to the clerk's office weeks later when you realize you're short.

Recording the Decree With the County Recorder

If your decree transfers real property, you may need to record it (or a Summary Real Estate Disposition Judgment) with the County Recorder's office. This is a separate step from simply obtaining certified copies.

Recording creates a public record of the property transfer. Under N.D.C.C. § 11-18-02, the recorder cannot accept any deed that changes a property description without a certificate from the County Auditor confirming all property taxes and special assessments are current.

Recording fees are set by state statute: $20 for documents of 1–6 pages, $65 for 7–25 pages. The first page must have a blank 3-inch top margin for the recorder's stamp — missing this triggers a surcharge or rejection.

If you're concerned about your financial details becoming public record through the decree, ask your attorney about using a Summary Real Estate Disposition Judgment (SREDJ) under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.2 instead. The SREDJ transfers the real estate interest without exposing the full property and debt breakdown.

What the Decree Must Say for Name Changes

If you're restoring your former name, check the decree language carefully before ordering copies. The decree must contain explicit, specific language directing the name change — something like "It is hereby ordered that the Petitioner is restored to the use of their former legal name, [Full Name]."

Vague references to "resuming a former surname" without specifying the exact name are routinely rejected by federal and state agencies. If the language is missing or ambiguous, you'll need to go back to court for an amended order before any of your post-divorce name updates will succeed.

Getting Started

Certified copies are the foundation of every other post-divorce task. Nothing else moves forward without them. The North Dakota Post-Divorce Checklist includes the complete sequence of updates — from Social Security through estate planning — with the exact documents each agency requires.

See more North Dakota guides →