Go to services.ecourts.gov.in or the eCourts Services app, choose Case Status, select the state, district and court complex, and search by CNR number, case number or party name. You will see hearing dates, orders and whether the case is pending or disposed. A divorce is final only after the decree and the appeal period.
Key takeaways
- Use eCourts with the CNR number for the most reliable result; party-name search also works.
- Most divorce cases are heard in family courts, or the district court where no family court exists.
- 'Disposed' does not always mean divorce granted; open the final order to check.
- Under the Hindu Marriage Act, remarriage is lawful only after the appeal period ends or an appeal fails.
- Some courts mask names in matrimonial cases, so a name search may not find every case.
Can you check divorce case status online in India?
Yes. Divorce petitions are filed in family courts or, where a district has no family court, in the district court. Most of these courts are on the eCourts system, which lets anyone view case status, next hearing date and, often, interim and final orders online, free of charge.
You can search the national portal at services.ecourts.gov.in, the eCourts Services mobile app, or the district court's own website. Appeals against divorce decrees go to the High Court, which has its own case-status page. Our wider guide to checking court cases against a person explains search options beyond divorce.
How to check divorce case status on eCourts: step by step
- Open services.ecourts.gov.in (or install the official eCourts Services app).
- Choose "Case Status". If you have the 16-character CNR number, enter it directly; this is the quickest and most accurate route.
- Otherwise select State, District and Court Complex. Pick the complex that includes the family court.
- Search by case number (with the case type and year), or by party name with the year of filing. Try spelling variations and the surname alone.
- Enter the captcha and view the results list.
- Open "View" on the right case to see the filing date, case stage, hearing history, next date and, where uploaded, orders and the final judgment.
- For appeals, check the High Court's website for any appeal against the decree.
- For a certified copy of the decree, apply to the court's copying section, usually through a lawyer; rules for non-parties vary by court.
Case types for divorce differ by state; you may see labels such as HMA, MC (matrimonial case) or similar. The National Judicial Data Grid (njdg.ecourts.gov.in) shows statistics but is not a tool for finding individual cases.
What does each divorce case status mean?
| What you see | What it means | Is the couple divorced? |
|---|---|---|
| Pending / next date listed | Case is ongoing; stage may show notice, mediation, evidence or arguments | No, still married |
| Referred to mediation or counselling | Court has sent the couple to try settlement | No |
| First motion (mutual consent) | Joint petition recorded; waiting period running | No |
| Disposed, decree of divorce granted | Court has dissolved the marriage | Yes, subject to the appeal period |
| Disposed, dismissed or withdrawn | Petition failed or was withdrawn; couple may have reconciled | No |
| Disposed, judicial separation | Couple need not live together, but the marriage continues | No |
| Appeal pending in High Court | The decree is being challenged | Treat as not final until the appeal is decided |
Always open the final order rather than relying on the word "disposed", which only means the case is closed.
Kya divorce ho gaya? When is a divorce actually final?
A divorce is complete when the court passes a decree of divorce. But for remarriage, the Hindu Marriage Act (section 15) adds a condition: it becomes lawful for either party to remarry only once there is no right of appeal, or the appeal period has expired without an appeal, or an appeal has been dismissed. So a person who remarries the week after a contested decree may be taking a legal risk.
In a mutual consent divorce under section 13B, the court normally records a first motion and then a second motion after a waiting period of six months (which the Supreme Court has held can be waived in suitable cases, Amardeep Singh v. Harveen Kaur, 2017). The decree comes after the second motion. Couples often say "we are divorcing" after the first motion, but legally they are still married at that stage. Other personal laws have their own procedures, so check the law the couple married under.
How do you check if someone is divorced?
If you are considering marriage with someone who says they are divorced, it is entirely reasonable to ask for:
- a copy of the divorce decree, showing the court, case number and date;
- the CNR number, so you can look up the case yourself on eCourts and confirm it was decided;
- confirmation that no appeal is pending, or a copy of the order dismissing any appeal.
Compare names, dates and the court on the decree with the eCourts record. If a person refuses to share anything, or says the divorce is "almost done", treat them as still married. A separated person who hasn't got a decree cannot validly remarry, and doing so may amount to bigamy under BNS section 82. See our guides on checking whether someone is already married and second-marriage law.
Why can't you find a divorce case online?
- Name masking. Some High Courts have directed that parties in matrimonial cases be shown as initials or placeholders to protect privacy.
- Wrong court complex or district. Divorce can be filed where the marriage took place, where the couple last lived together, where the respondent lives, or where the wife lives.
- Spelling and transliteration: Hindi or regional-language names may be entered differently.
- Older cases may not be fully digitised.
- Divorce obtained abroad. It won't appear on eCourts, and it may not be recognised in India; see our NRI guide.
- Customary or community divorces. Some communities recognise customary divorce, but whether it is legally valid depends on proof of that custom; get legal advice.
When should you involve a lawyer or a detective?
For your own case, your advocate is the best source; they can get certified copies and explain each order. If you are checking someone else's divorce before marriage and the records don't match what you were told, a lawyer can advise on getting certified copies or verifying a decree with the court.
A detective helps when the real question is wider: whether the person is still living with the first spouse, whether there is another marriage, or what their background is in another city. A lawful detective uses public court records and field enquiries, never sealed files or private data. Hire Your Detective can connect you with verified professionals for pre-matrimonial checks; you can find one by city.
Bottom line
Checking divorce case status online is easy with eCourts: the CNR number is your best friend, and the final order matters more than the word "disposed". For remarriage, wait until the decree is passed and the appeal period has ended. If anything doesn't match what you've been told, pause and verify before you commit.
Sources & official links
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and procedures change, and every case is different — speak to a lawyer about your situation. In an emergency, call 112.