Clarkstown Divorce Records
Clarkstown divorce records are maintained at the Rockland County Clerk's Office in New City. Clarkstown is the largest town in Rockland County and sits in the 9th Judicial District. Divorce cases from Clarkstown are filed and decided at the Rockland County Supreme Court. The county clerk stores the completed case files, judgments, and decrees. You can request copies in person, by mail, or look up basic case data online using the state court system's search tools. This page breaks down the steps for finding and getting Clarkstown divorce records.
Clarkstown Overview
Rockland County Clerk and Clarkstown Divorce Records
The Rockland County Clerk's Office is at 1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956. The phone number is 845-638-5070. New City is actually within the town of Clarkstown, so the county clerk's office is local for most Clarkstown residents. This office holds all divorce decrees and Supreme Court case files for Rockland County.
To get copies, visit with a valid photo ID. Provide the names of both parties and the rough date of the divorce. If you have the index number, bring that too. Certified copies typically cost between $5 and $10. If the index number is unknown, a search fee of $5 per name per two-year period applies. Payment by check or money order is standard. Some offices also accept cash.
Under DRL Section 235, divorce files are sealed. Only the parties, attorneys, or people with a court order get access to the full file.
Searching Clarkstown Divorce Cases Online
The WebCivil Supreme system provides free case lookups for all New York counties. Choose Rockland County from the drop-down. Type in a party name and set the status to "All" so the search includes both open and closed cases. You will see the index number, filing date, case type, and the name of the assigned judge.
This tool works as an index. It does not display any documents. Divorce cases are confidential, and the actual files can only be obtained from the Rockland County Clerk. The system goes back to approximately 1983 for most counties. If you are looking for older Clarkstown cases, you will need to search directly at the clerk's office.
The NYS Courts divorce page shown below provides forms and filing information that applies to Clarkstown and Rockland County divorce cases.
All court forms for contested and uncontested divorces can be downloaded from this site at no cost.
Clarkstown Divorce Filing Details
Clarkstown residents who need to file for divorce do so at the Rockland County Supreme Court. The index number fee is $210. The Note of Issue is $125, and the Request for Judicial Intervention is $95. Together, the minimum cost for an uncontested divorce comes to about $335 in court fees alone. Fee waivers are an option if you can't afford it. You file a "poor person" affidavit and the judge decides.
New York has residency rules you must meet before filing. At least one spouse must have lived in the state for two straight years. A one-year rule applies if the marriage was performed here, both spouses lived here as married partners, or the grounds occurred in the state. The no-fault ground, irretrievable breakdown for six months or more, is by far the most used option. All seven grounds are spelled out in DRL Section 170.
Getting Clarkstown Divorce Certificates
The NYS Department of Health keeps divorce certificates for every case from 1963 to the present. The certificate has the names of the parties and when the marriage ended. It does not include the terms of the divorce or any settlement details.
By mail, the cost is $30 per copy. Send to: Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Include your photo ID and a check to "NYS Department of Health." Mail orders are taking 10 to 12 weeks. Priority handling costs $15 more and takes about two weeks. Online and phone orders are $45 plus a vendor fee. Only the parties named in the divorce or someone with a court order can request a certificate.
For divorces before 1963, contact the Rockland County Clerk. The state health department does not have records from before that date.
The image below shows the NYS Department of Health mail request page, which covers Clarkstown divorce certificate orders.
This page details the mail request process, fees, and required identification for getting divorce certificates.
Note: Processing delays are common at the state level right now, so plan ahead if you need documents for a deadline.
Legal Resources for Clarkstown Divorce
If you need legal help in Clarkstown, the NYS CourtHelp website lists help centers in the 9th Judicial District. Staff at these centers hand out forms and explain procedures. They do not give legal advice. Law Help New York connects people with free and low-cost attorneys for divorce and family law matters in Rockland County.
Divorce forms are on the NYS Courts divorce page. Rockland County uses NYSCEF for electronic filing. Attorneys must e-file, while self-represented individuals can file on paper or use the electronic system.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
Other towns near Clarkstown also have their own divorce records pages. If your divorce was filed in a different area, try one of these links.
Rockland County Divorce Records
Clarkstown is in Rockland County. The county seat, New City, sits within Clarkstown itself. All divorce filings go through the Rockland County Supreme Court, and the clerk at 1 South Main Street keeps the records. Visit the county page for full details.