New York divorce records

How to Access Divorce Records in New York

Before learning about how you can access divorce records in the state of New York, you should know about the two types of such records. They are:

• Divorce decree
• Divorce certificate

A Divorce Decree is a court prepared document where all the terms and conditions of separation or the divorce are mentioned. However, this official document becomes valid only once the judge signs it. The decree is definitely a divorce record because this contains information about various issues like how the assets and liabilities are divided, issues related to child custody and visitation rights if any, alimony and others. Once all the information is entered and once the judge signs the document, it is the Clerk's office that maintains it as the record of the divorce.

If you want a copy of this document in New York, you must approach the Clerk's office. Do remember that if the divorce occurred before January 1st 1963, then this would be the only document that will exist.

A Divorce Certificate is filed with the State Department of Health. There is a certificate for each divorce that was granted after January 1st 1963. This document contains some basic information about the wife and husband, and place as well as date of the divorce. To get a copy of this document, you need to approach the NY State Department of Health.

Who Can Access a Copy of the Divorce Certificate in New York?

It can be accessed by the husband or wife or both, and anyone who has a court order from a court in the state.

The Fee You Need to Pay for the Divorce Certificate

• You must pay $30.00 as the fee to get a copy of the divorce certificate.
• You can ask for priority handling. However, for this, you must pay a $15.00 additional fee for each copy of the certificate. The total cost thus becomes $45.00.
• You can approach the office in person to make the request. You can also ask for the record over the telephone or through the Internet; these requests are treated on a priority basis and thus the fee is $45.00 for each copy of the record. $7.25 is charged as the fee for vendor processing for each transaction, and not copy. Telephone and Internet orders are to be paid with a credit card.
• If you have placed the request through mail, then you can make the payment by cutting a check, or by sending a money order with your application. The payment must be made to the NY Department of Health. Cash payments are not accepted.
• You can place your request from another country if you are a US citizen and currently living overseas. Such payments must be made through a check that is drawn on any US bank. You can also send a money order (international). Cash payments are not entertained here, as well.

How Long Does It Take?

• Telephone or Internet requests take about 5 to 7 business days.
• Mail requests (priority handling) take about 2 to 3 weeks.
• Regular mail requests take about 6 to 8 weeks.

New York Divorce Certificates