Access Albany Divorce Records
Albany divorce records are on file at the Albany County Clerk's Office at 16 Eagle Street. As the state capital and the county seat of Albany County, the city is home to both the county courthouse and the New York State Department of Health's vital records offices. That puts Albany residents in a good position when it comes to finding divorce records. You can walk into the county clerk's office, search through the state's online case lookup tool, or request certificates from the DOH across town. This page explains how to search for, request, and obtain Albany divorce records.
Albany Overview
Albany County Clerk Divorce Records
The Albany County Clerk's Office is in Room 128 of the Albany County Courthouse at 16 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207. The phone number is (518) 487-5100, and the fax is (518) 487-5099. You can email them at countyclerk@albanycounty.com. The current County Clerk is Hon. Bruce A. Hidley. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Records Room is open 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM.
The clerk holds divorce decrees, judgments, and full Supreme Court case files. Albany County divorce records go back to 1847. That is over 175 years of court history in one office. The clerk also keeps deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, and other legal filings. For divorce records specifically, you will need to show a valid photo ID and prove you are a party to the case or have a court order.
Albany's City Clerk at City Hall, 24 Eagle Street, Room 108, handles birth, death, and marriage records. But divorce records are not held there. You must go to the county clerk for those.
How to Get Albany Divorce Records
There are a few ways to get Albany divorce records. The fastest is to visit in person. Bring your photo ID and give the clerk the full names of both spouses, the approximate date of the divorce, and the case index number if you know it. The search fee is $5.00 per name per year. Uncertified copies cost $0.65 per page with a $1.30 minimum. Certified copies are $8.00 each. The clerk accepts cash, check, and money order.
For mail requests, write to: Albany County Clerk, 16 Eagle Street, Room 128, Albany, NY 12207. Include both party names, maiden names if applicable, the rough date, and a check or money order for the fees. Mail requests take longer, typically one to two weeks plus delivery time. Make the payment out to "Albany County Clerk."
The image below shows the NYS Archives page explaining where to get divorce decree copies, which applies to Albany County cases.
The state archives site outlines the 100-year sealing period and tells you which office to contact for records.
Note: Divorce files are sealed for 100 years under New York law, restricting access to parties and their attorneys.
Searching Albany Divorce Cases Online
You can look up Albany divorce case information through WebCivil Supreme. Pick Albany County from the menu and enter a party name or index number. Set the status to "All" so you see both active and closed cases. Results show the index number, date filed, case type, status, judge, and attorney names. The system goes back to about 1983.
WebCivil is just a lookup tool. It does not show documents. Under DRL Section 235, divorce records are sealed from public view. You still need to go to the clerk for actual copies. The NYSCEF electronic filing system is another option for registered users who are parties to a case. Albany County uses NYSCEF, and attorneys must e-file in most civil cases.
Albany Divorce Certificates From the DOH
The New York State Department of Health has divorce certificates for every case since 1963. Since the DOH is headquartered in Albany, local residents have the option of using the satellite office at 800 North Pearl Street, 2nd Floor, in Menands. You can drop off requests there instead of mailing them.
By mail, the fee is $30 per copy. Send to: Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Include a check to "NYS Department of Health" and a copy of your ID. Processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. Priority handling adds $15 and cuts the wait to about two weeks. Online or phone orders cost $45 plus a vendor fee. Only the named parties or someone with a court order can get a divorce certificate.
Below is the NYS Department of Health divorce certificate page, which covers Albany and all other New York locations.
Albany residents benefit from being close to both the county clerk and the state health department offices.
Filing for Divorce in Albany
Albany divorce cases go to the Albany County Supreme Court in Room 102 at 16 Eagle Street. The phone is 518-285-8989. Chief Clerk David Cardona and Deputy Chief Clerk Sean Quillinan run the administrative side. Hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays. The public entrance is on Lodge Street.
The index number fee is $210. The Note of Issue costs $125, and a Request for Judicial Intervention is $95. That brings an uncontested divorce to at least $335. Fee waivers exist for people who qualify. New York requires at least one spouse to have lived in the state for two years, or one year under certain conditions outlined in DRL Section 170. The most common ground is irretrievable breakdown for six months.
The Albany County Supreme Court also runs a Matrimonial Center that helps self-represented people. Staff can answer questions about forms and court steps, but they cannot act as your attorney.
Legal Help for Albany Divorce Cases
Free resources exist for Albany residents. The Albany County Help Center in Room 140 of the courthouse (518-285-8989) gives out forms and explains court procedures. The Albany County Law Library in Room 100 (518-487-5090) has free legal research databases. The NYS CourtHelp site and Law Help New York can connect you with legal aid in the Capital District.
Divorce forms are free from the NYS Courts divorce page. The packet covers uncontested cases and includes every form you need to get started.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
If the divorce you are looking for was not filed in Albany County, check these nearby cities for the right office.
Albany County Divorce Records
Albany is the county seat of Albany County. Divorce records are held at the County Clerk's Office in the courthouse at 16 Eagle Street. For full county-level details, visit the Albany County page.