Hempstead Divorce Records
Hempstead divorce records are filed and stored through the Nassau County Clerk's Office in Mineola. As the largest town in Nassau County, Hempstead generates a significant share of the divorce filings that go through the county system. The Nassau County Supreme Court is the only court that can grant a divorce for Hempstead residents. Whether you need to search for a case, get a copy of a judgment, or check the status of a filing, the County Clerk's office at 240 Old Country Road handles it all. You can visit in person during their posted hours or submit requests by mail.
Hempstead Overview
Nassau County Clerk Divorce Records
The Nassau County Clerk's Office sits at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501. The phone number is 516-571-2664. The County Clerk is Maureen O'Connell. The Document Room has specific hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 AM to 3:30 PM, and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Those hours matter if you plan to visit in person.
The clerk keeps divorce judgments, decrees, and case files for all divorces filed in Nassau County. Divorce records are sealed under New York law. Access is limited to the parties, their lawyers, or someone with a court order. You need a valid photo ID to get copies. Non-certified copies cost $0.65 per page with a $1.30 minimum and a $40.00 maximum. Certified copies are $1.25 per page with a $5.00 minimum and $40.00 maximum.
Nassau County also has a Divorce Document Request Form that you can use to formally ask for copies. This form helps make sure you include all the details the clerk needs to find your case.
Searching Hempstead Divorce Cases
You can search for Hempstead divorce cases online through WebCivil Supreme. Select Nassau County and enter a party name. The system returns case index numbers, filing dates, judges, and current case status. It will not show you the actual sealed documents.
NYSCEF is another option for electronically filed cases. If the divorce was filed through this system, some details will appear online. But access to matrimonial files remains restricted to the parties and their attorneys even in the electronic system.
The NYS CourtHelp page shown below explains the divorce process and what forms are needed.
This state resource walks through each step of the divorce process, from filing to getting your final judgment.
For in-person visits, bring your photo ID to the Nassau County Clerk at 240 Old Country Road. Having the case index number saves time. Without it, the clerk runs a name search at $5.00 per name per two-year period.
Hempstead Divorce Filing Fees
Filing a divorce case in Nassau County Supreme Court requires a $210 index number fee. The Note of Issue costs $125. A Request for Judicial Intervention runs $95. So the base cost for an uncontested divorce is about $335. Motions cost $45 each. A certified copy of the signed judgment runs $5 or more depending on page count.
If you cannot afford to pay, you can file a "Poor Person" application with the court. This asks the judge to waive the fees based on your financial situation. Proof of income is required.
Note: Nassau County land records are available online, but divorce records require an in-person or mail request.
Requesting Hempstead Divorce Copies by Mail
Mail your request to the Nassau County Clerk, 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501. Write both party names, the approximate date of the divorce, and the case index number if you have it. Explain your connection to the case. Include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for the fees. A self-addressed stamped envelope helps speed things along.
For divorce certificates dating from 1963 or later, the New York State Department of Health is an alternative. Their certificates cost $30 by mail or $45 online. The DOH certificate is a shorter document with basic facts about the divorce. The full decree with all case details stays with the Nassau County Clerk. Mail requests to DOH go to the Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Allow 10 to 12 weeks.
Legal Help for Hempstead Divorces
The NYS Courts divorce page provides forms and a self-help program for uncontested cases. The 10th Judicial District has court help resources for self-represented people. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 235, all matrimonial files in Nassau County are sealed for 100 years.
New York residency rules apply to Hempstead residents just as they do everywhere in the state. At least one spouse needs to have lived in New York for two continuous years, or for one year under certain conditions tied to where the marriage took place or where the grounds for divorce arose. The no-fault ground of irretrievable breakdown is the most common. The NYS Archives also explains where to get copies of older divorce decrees across the state.
Nassau County Divorce Records
Hempstead is in Nassau County. All Hempstead divorce cases are filed through the Nassau County Supreme Court and stored with the County Clerk in Mineola.
Nearby Cities
Other cities in the area with divorce records pages include the following.