Chemung County Divorce Records

Chemung County divorce records go back to 1881 and are stored at the County Clerk's Office in Elmira. The clerk handles all requests for divorce decrees, certified copies, and case searches. The Supreme Court in Elmira is the only court with authority to hear divorce cases in Chemung County. If you need a certified or exemplified copy of a divorce judgment, the clerk's office on Lake Street is where you start. Processing times and fees are clearly set, making it a fairly predictable process. The NYS Department of Health also holds divorce certificates for cases from 1963 to the present, providing a second avenue for getting records.

Chemung County Clerk Divorce Records

The Chemung County Clerk's Office is at 203 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901. The mailing address is PO Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902-0588. Phone: (607) 737-2920. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office has divorce records going back to 1881. That gives the county over 140 years of divorce case files on record.

Fees at the Chemung County Clerk are straightforward. A certified copy of a divorce decree costs $8.00 per document. An exemplified copy costs $20.00. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days for certified copies and 5 to 7 business days for exemplified copies. Access is restricted to the parties to the divorce, their legal representatives, or people with a New York State Court Order. Photo ID is required for all requests.

The Chemung County Supreme Court page provides details on the court that handles divorce filings in this county.

This court page lists contact details, hours, and available services.

Searching Chemung County Divorce Records Online

Use the WebCivil Supreme system to search for Chemung County divorce cases. Select the county, enter a party name, and set the status to "All." You will see the case index number, date, type, status, and judge. This is a free tool maintained by the NYS Unified Court System. It covers cases from the 1980s forward.

Actual divorce documents are not available online. The DRL Section 235 confidentiality law seals matrimonial files. The online system is an index only. To get the actual decree or case file, you need to contact the clerk. The NYSCEF electronic filing system is available for Chemung County. Parties to cases filed through NYSCEF can track filings and view documents online.

Chemung County Divorce Filing Process

All divorces in Chemung County go through the Supreme Court. The county is in the 6th Judicial District. Filing costs $210 for the index number. The Note of Issue is $125 or $30 depending on the type of case. A Request for Judicial Intervention adds $95. Total minimum cost for an uncontested divorce is $335.

The plaintiff must serve the defendant within 120 days of filing. Someone over 18 who is not the plaintiff has to handle service. After service, the plaintiff files the Note of Issue to put the case before a judge. If the defendant does nothing after being served, the plaintiff waits 40 days. If the defendant signs the Affidavit of Defendant, the case can go forward right away.

New York has seven grounds for divorce under DRL Section 170. Irretrievable breakdown (no-fault) is the most common. Residency requirements must be met before filing. At least one spouse needs to have lived in New York for a continuous period, typically one or two years depending on the circumstances.

The City of Elmira handles marriage licenses but not divorce records. The screenshot below shows the City of Elmira marriage license page.

Marriage licenses are separate from divorce records and handled by a different office.

Note: For fee waivers, file an Affidavit in Support of Application to Proceed as Poor Person with the court.

Getting Copies of Chemung Divorce Decrees

Visit or write to the Chemung County Clerk at 203 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901, to get a certified copy. The fee is $8.00. Exemplified copies cost $20.00. You need the names of both parties and the date of divorce. Include a check or money order with mail requests. Allow 3 to 5 business days for certified copies and 5 to 7 days for exemplified ones.

The NYS Department of Health has divorce certificates for 1963 forward. Those cost $30 by mail or $45 online. Send mail requests to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. The NYS Archives confirms that county clerks hold divorce decrees from 1847 on. The 100-year sealing rule applies to all matrimonial actions.

Chemung County Divorce Legal Resources

Free divorce forms are available at the NYS Courts divorce page. The NYS CourtHelp website lists help centers across the state. These centers offer procedural information and forms but cannot give legal advice. Law Help New York at lawhelp.org/ny connects people with free legal services.

The 6th Judicial District covers Chemung, Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Madison, Otsego, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. Resources available through the district serve residents of all these counties.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chemung County. If the divorce was filed elsewhere, contact that county's clerk.