New York Divorce Records: Official Certificates, Decrees, and Search Options

New York divorce records are official documentation of the termination of marriage in New York State. These records encompass divorce case files (court proceedings), judgment of divorce (or final decree), and divorce certificates. Divorce records are legal proof of the end of a marriage, and they provide crucial data for:

• Genealogy and family history study, including for researchers and individuals seeking clarification on family structures and inheritance
• Verification of marital status and eligibility for certain benefits
• Statistical and demographic analysis for understanding marriage patterns, social trends, and population shift.

Divorce in New York: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Vital Statistics reported New York's divorce rate at 2.4 per 1,000 persons as of 2023. The CDC data show an increasing trend, starting from 1.8 per thousand in 2020, rising to 2.2 in 2021, and reaching 2.3 in 2022. Separately, the New York State Department of Health's Vital Statistics report shows that the state recorded 44,222 divorces in 2022, which comprises 16,532 cases for New York City and 27,690 for the rest of New York State.

Official Types of Divorce Documentation in New York

New York divorce records comprise three types of documents, each serving a distinct administrative or legal purpose. These documents are:

• Divorce certificates
• Divorce decree
• Divorce case file.

New York divorce certificates

A divorce certificate is a document issued by a court as official confirmation of the termination of a marriage. The divorce certificate is a summary of the divorce containing essential details without revealing sensitive information such as financial settlements or custody arrangements. In New York, divorce certificates are accessible through the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) (for divorces outside New York City) or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) if the divorce is within any of the five boroughs within New York City.

New York divorce decree

A New York divorce decree (judgment of divorce) is an official court order that legally ends a marriage. New York's Supreme Courts issue these documents as the final judicial documents after reviewing and approving all matters relating to a divorce case. A New York divorce decree contains more comprehensive details and is more legally significant than a divorce certificate; it outlines the responsibilities of the former spouse going forward. In New York, County Clerk's Offices are the official custodians of divorce decrees. Eligible individuals seeking copies of these documents should contact the County Clerk's Office in the same county where the specific divorce was finalized.

New York divorce case file

New York divorce case files are comprehensive compilations of documents and proceedings relating to divorces within New York's Supreme Courts. These documents reflect the entire history of divorce from the summons and complaint stage to the issuance and entry of the judgment of divorce (divorce decree). Access to New York divorce case files is through the Office of the County Clerk or New York State Unified Court System (NYSUCS) in the case-originating county.

Document Type	Issued By	Purpose	Contains
Divorce Certificate	New York Department of Health (statewide) New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (for New York City)	Proof of legal divorce	Names Date of divorce Name of county Case number
Divorce Decree/Judgment	County Clerk or Supreme Court	Legal termination document outlining final orders, containing details of divorce settlement and terms	Rulings Custody orders Property division Name change
Divorce Case File	County Clerk or Supreme Court	Full record of all court filings and proceedings	All pleadings Affidavits Motions Orders Transcripts.

Public Access and Confidentiality of New York Divorce Records

New York divorce records are not public. Section 235 of the New York Domestic Relations Law and the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) restrict access to these documents. Under these laws, access to divorce records is limited to the spouse involved in the divorce and their attorneys of record.

In New, non-parties to a divorce must petition the court and show a compelling legal reason for review to obtain court orders before they may access divorce records. Additionally, to protect the privacy of the involved parties, custodian agencies typically redact sensitive details, such as:

• Social Security numbers and tax information
• Financial disclosures, including income, property, and bank accounts
• Child custody and visitation details
• Child support amounts and records
• Medical or psychological evaluations
• Domestic violence or abuse allegations
• Minors' names and identifying details.

Depending on the place of divorce within New York State, individuals may access divorce records through the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Office of Vital Records, or the New York State Department of Health. Record seekers may contact these agencies using the following information.

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

New York State Department of Health

Vital Records Section, Certification Unit

What Information Do New York Divorce Records Include?

Divorce records are official documents detailing the divorce process, encompassing information and documents from the initiation of the divorce (Summons with Notice) to the signing and entry of the Judgment of Divorce. The specific information on a New York divorce record varies with the type of divorce document and the originating county. Nonetheless, these documents contain:

• Personal details
• Marriage information
• Divorce details
• Legal orders and findings
• Judgment information
• Administrative information.

Per document types, New York divorce records may detail the following information:

New York Divorce Certificate

• Full legal names of spouses
• Date and place of divorce
• Name of the issuing court
• Date and location of the marriage
• Case number
• Seal of the issuing authority (the NYSDH or NYCDOHMH)

New York Judgment of Divorce (divorce decree)

• Case number
• Full court order ending the marriage
• Property division
• Child custody and support terms
• Date of Signature and Filing
• Grounds for divorce
• Orders regarding health and life insurance
• Restoration of former name (if applicable)

New York divorce case file

• Summons With Notice or Summons and Verified Complaint
• Affidavit of Service (Proof of Service)
• Request for Judicial Intervention (RJI)
• Affidavit of Defendants
• Financial and Settlement Documents, which include:
• Statement of Net Worth (Financial Disclosure Affidavit)
• Stipulation of Settlement/Separation Agreement
• Child Support Worksheet/Maintenance Guidelines Worksheet
• Final Documents (the Decree); this is signed by the judge and finalizes the divorce, and contains documents such as:
• Findings of Fact/Conclusions of Law
• Judgment of Divorce
• Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage.

While searching for New York divorce records, note that these documents are confidential, and access to some information depends on the requester's identity.

Procedures for Locating Divorce Records in New York

Individuals may request copies of New York divorce records through official webpages and the Clerk's Offices of New York's Supreme Courts in the various counties and boroughs. Eligible individuals may make online requests for copies of New York divorce records through the New York State Department's Divorce Center Webpage for divorces that occurred outside New York City. For records of divorces within New York City, visit the New York City divorce records webpage and use the county clerk's office links to create an account and request copies of these documents from the specific counties.

While the NYSDOH and NYC divorce records webpages permit online requests for divorce certificates (verification of divorce), individuals seeking certified copies of New York's divorce decrees or divorce case files should contact the clerk's office of the Supreme Court at the case-originating county or borough.

Requesters should note that access to copies of New York divorce records involves costs, as the table shows.

Record Type	Issuing Agency	Coverage Area	Years Covered	Costs
Divorce Certificate	NYSDOH	Statewide (excluding New York City)	January 1, 1963, to present	$30.00, plus $8.30 for online access through third-party platforms
Divorce Certificate	NYC DOHMH	New York City	1963 to the present	$15.00, in addition to $8.30 for third-party services
Divorce Decree	County Supreme Court Clerk	The county where the divorce was granted	Early 1800s to the present	$8.00 to $30.00 (costs vary across counties)
Divorce Case File	County Supreme Court Clerk	The county where the case was filed	Early 1800s to the present	Approximately $0.65 to $1.00 per page.

How to Request Certified Copies of Divorce Records in New York

Depending on record type and location, there are two options for obtaining certified copies of divorce records in New York. A certified copy of a New York divorce record is an official, government-issued document that verifies the legal end of a marriage. It bears an official seal, raised stamp, signature, or watermark from the issuing authority; either a New York Supreme Court Clerk's Office (for divorce decrees and divorce case files) or the New York State or City Department of Health (for divorce certificates). A New York divorce record is an official confirmation that a divorce is final. These documents are legally acceptable to courts, agencies, and institutions across the U.S. for various purposes.

The New York State Department of Health and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provide access to copies of certificates of divorces within their geographical jurisdictions, while Supreme Courts Clerk's Offices within the state are the custodians of divorce decrees and divorce case files.

For individuals seeking copies of New York divorce certificates:

• Confirm eligibility to access the specific divorce record (only the individuals whose names are on the document, their attorneys of record, and persons with judicial orders may access divorce records in New York)
• Gather the necessary information, including:
• The full names of both spouses at the time of divorce
• Date and county of divorce
• The court where the divorce was granted
• Purpose for the request
• Valid photo ID or notarized application
• Choose a request method. For instance, online through the official NYSDOH partner or by mail to:

The New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section

For certificates of divorces that occurred within New York City, mail or visit the Office of Vital Records of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at:

• Pay applicable fees (the cost may vary depending on the access method and platform)
• The NYSDOH or NYC DHMH typically mails a certified copy of the divorce certificate, stamped and sealed, confirming the names of both parties, the date of divorce, the county, and the court.

Certified copies of New York divorce decrees and divorce case files are accessible through the clerk's offices of New York's Supreme Courts. To access copies of these documents:

• Identify the originating county for the specific divorce record
• Prepare copies of valid government-issued photo identification documents, such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport
• Submit the request by mail or in person. A request for a New York divorce record should include:
• Full names of both spouses
• Date or approximate year of divorce
• Index or case number (if known)
• Pay the applicable fees
• Receive copies of the divorce record in person or through the mail.

Copy Type	Where to Request	Who may Order	Legal Use
Divorce Decrees	County Supreme Courts Clerk's Offices	Either spouse named on the record Any individual with a court order A legal representative of either party (with proof)	Legal evidence of the court's final judgment Enforcing or modifying custody, support, or property terms Immigration or court-related verification Proof of finalized dissolution for legal filings
Divorce Case Files	County Supreme Courts Clerk's Offices	Either of the spouses or their attorney Court-approved individuals (by order) In some older cases, public access may be available through archives or research requests	Legal appeals or motions to modify orders Background verification or genealogy research (for historical cases) Reviewing complete proceedings, petitions, and settlements
Divorce Certificates (outside New York City)	New York State Department of Health	Either party to the divorce A party's attorney of record A person with a court order or legal authorization	Proof of divorce for remarriage or immigration Name change or driver's license update Social Security or pension updates General verification of marital status
Divorce Certificates (New York City only)	New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene	Either of the parties involved or their attorney Court-approved individuals (by order) In some older cases, public access may be available through archives or research requests	Proof of marital status Government and immigration applications Name change documentation Social Security, pension, and insurance claims Court or legal proceedings
Archived Divorce Records (historic documents)	New York State Archives or Municipal Archives (New York City)	Researchers, historians, or descendants (depending on the age of the record and the access policy)	Genealogical or historical research Public or academic documentation of historic cases.

Why Search for Divorce Records in New York?

There are several practical and legal reasons for accessing divorce records in New York. Divorce records are official documents that serve various legal and administrative purposes. A New York divorce record verifies marital status and may play a crucial role in:

• Property division after a divorce
• Child custody
• Support arrangements.

Additionally, divorce records may provide crucial data for genealogical or historical research. It may also become part of background checks for any employer verifying the identity or personal history of a potential employee.

How Long Are Divorce Records Kept in New York?

New York divorce records are court documents and are not subject to random destruction. In New York, county clerk's offices maintain divorce records indefinitely, but eventually archive or transfer them to the New York State Archives for long-term preservation, particularly when they are of historical value or no longer in active use by the local court.

The availability and storage format of New York divorce records depend on their age. Records of divorces from 1980 to the present are often in digital or microfilm format, making them easier to access. Older divorce records may exist only in paper or microfiche and require manual searches at the courthouse or archives.