New York City Divorce Records

New York City divorce records are spread across five boroughs, and each one has its own County Clerk who holds the case files. That means there is no single office that covers all of NYC. If you need a copy of a divorce decree or want to look up a case, you have to go to the County Clerk in the borough where the divorce was filed. The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island each run their own clerk office with separate phone lines and addresses. Searching for NYC divorce records takes some extra steps compared to most cities, but the process is the same once you find the right office.

NYC Divorce Records by Borough

Each borough in New York City works like its own county for divorce. The Supreme Court in each borough handles all divorce cases, and the County Clerk in that borough keeps the files. Divorce records in NYC are not open to public inspection. Only the parties to the case, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can get copies. This rule covers all five boroughs without exception.

Here is where to go for each borough. The Bronx County Clerk is at 851 Grand Concourse, Room 118, Bronx, NY 10451. Call (718) 618-3300 for general questions or (718) 618-3377 for the Records Search Department. Brooklyn's clerk, the Kings County Clerk, is at 360 Adams Street, Room 189, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Their phone is 347-404-9772. The Manhattan office, known as the New York County Clerk, keeps records at 60 Centre Street (basement) and 31 Chambers Street, 7th Floor. The Supreme Court Record Room number is 646-386-5955, and Archives can be reached at 646-386-5395. Queens County Clerk runs the Matrimonial Department at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435, with a phone of (718) 298-0600. Staten Island's Richmond County Clerk is at 18 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301, and the Civil Term phone is (718) 675-7700.

All offices are open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Bring valid photo ID when you visit.

How to Search NYC Divorce Records

Start by figuring out which borough the divorce was filed in. If you are not sure, you may need to check more than one. The quickest way to search is through WebCivil Supreme, which lets you look up case details by party name or index number. Select the right county from the dropdown. The system shows the case status, filing date, and assigned judge. It does not show the actual divorce documents, though. Those must be obtained from the clerk's office in person or by mail.

The NYSCEF electronic filing system is another way to check on active cases. If the divorce was filed through NYSCEF, you can view court documents online. But matrimonial files have restricted access. Only parties and their attorneys can see the full file.

The NYC 311 portal provides a helpful overview of how to get divorce records across the five boroughs.

This page spells out who can request records and where to send requests for each borough.

NYC Divorce Record Fees and Copies

Fees are similar across all five boroughs, though small differences exist. A search certificate costs $10.00 and covers a two-year period. Each extra two years adds $5.00. Certified copies of Supreme Court documents run $8.00 per certification. Plain copies are $0.65 per page with a $1.30 minimum. If you need an exemplified copy, that costs $25.00 plus the certification and copying fees. Plan on 48 to 72 hours for exemplified copies.

Payment rules vary by borough. The Bronx office takes U.S. postal money orders, certified checks, and NYS attorney checks. Personal checks are generally not accepted at most NYC clerk offices. Cash may be accepted for walk-in requests. Always call ahead to confirm what forms of payment your borough takes.

Filing for divorce in NYC Supreme Court costs at least $335 for an uncontested case. That breaks down to $210 for the index number, $125 for the Note of Issue, and $8 for a certified copy of the judgment. If you file motions, each one costs $45. Those who cannot pay may apply for a fee waiver through the "Poor Person" application.

Note: Bring exact payment since not all borough offices can make change.

Divorce Records from the Bronx

The Bronx County Clerk operates in the 12th Judicial District. All search requests must be in writing and include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The Office of the Self Represented in Room 121 hands out free uncontested divorce packets. The Matrimonial Bureau, run by Thomas P. Lavin, can be reached at 718-618-1340. The Help Center in Room 121 is staffed by Brian Kantor at 718-618-1350. If a case had any activity from 2000 onward, you can view some details online. But case index numbers from before 1992 are on microfiche and must be searched in person.

You need to be a party to the divorce action, the attorney of record, or have a notarized letter of authorization from a party or attorney to get copies of divorce documents. The divorce decree itself is the only document that sometimes has slightly broader access.

Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island Records

The Manhattan clerk keeps files at two locations. Records from 1998 through 2003 and some older files are at 31 Chambers Street, 7th Floor. The main Record Room at 60 Centre Street is open 9 AM to 3 PM. Brooklyn handles records at 360 Adams Street. The Queens court at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard manages all matrimonial cases for the borough. When a divorce judgment is signed in Queens, the case gets marked "Disposed" with a "JS/Date" stamp. Richmond County on Staten Island processes divorces at 18 Richmond Terrace.

For divorce certificates from any borough dating to 1963 or later, the New York State Department of Health is another option. They charge $30 by mail or $45 online. Processing by mail takes 10 to 12 weeks. Priority handling cuts that to about two weeks for an extra $15.

The image below shows the NYS Courts divorce forms page, which lists resources for all NYC boroughs.

This resource has links to forms, packets, and filing instructions for NYC Supreme Court.

New York City Divorce Filing Rules

New York has five ways to meet the residency requirement for divorce. The most common is that either spouse has been a New York resident for two continuous years before filing. Another option is that you married in New York and either spouse lived here for one year before filing. The grounds for divorce also matter. If the reason happened in New York and both spouses live here, there is no waiting period on residency. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 235, all matrimonial files stay sealed. Only parties, their lawyers, or someone with a court order can access the records for 100 years from the final decree date.

After the judge signs the judgment, it must be filed with the County Clerk to become official. The clerk mails a postcard with the filing date. The divorce is not final until that entry happens. You then need someone over 18, who is not you, to serve a copy of the judgment and Notice of Entry on the other party.

If your uncontested divorce papers come back as defective, the Bronx Matrimonial Clerk's Office in Room 217 accepts walk-ins on Tuesday and Thursday between 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM. Other boroughs have their own schedules for handling defective filings.

Legal Help for NYC Divorce Cases

Each borough has a Help Center inside the courthouse. These centers give out forms and explain court procedures. They will not give legal advice or act as your attorney. For free or low-cost legal help, the NYS CourtHelp website lists contacts by county. The NYS Courts also offer an uncontested divorce Do-It-Yourself program that walks you through the forms step by step.

For out-of-state divorces, the NYC 311 system says to visit the VitalChek website. If your divorce took place in another country, contact that country's consulate. The U.S. Department of State has a directory of foreign consulates.

Borough County Divorce Records

New York City spans five counties. Each county has its own page with more details on the clerk, courthouse, and filing procedures.

Nearby Cities

These cities near New York City also have divorce records pages with details on their local courts and clerk offices.