Delaware County Divorce Records

Delaware County divorce records are kept at the County Clerk's Office in Delhi, New York. The Supreme Court in Delaware County is the only court that can grant a divorce here. Once a judge signs the Judgment of Divorce, the clerk files it and stamps it with the date of entry. That stamp marks the moment the divorce is final. If you need a copy of a divorce decree or want to check on a case filing, you can contact the Delaware County Clerk or request a divorce certificate from the New York State Department of Health for cases since 1963. This page walks through the steps, fees, and rules for getting divorce records in Delaware County.

Delaware County Clerk's Office

The Delaware County Clerk's Office is located at 111 Main Street, Delhi, NY 13753. You can call them at 607-832-5700. The clerk maintains all court records for the county, including divorce judgments and related filings. This is the main place to go if you need a certified copy of a Judgment of Divorce that was granted in Delaware County.

To get a copy, you must be one of the parties named in the divorce, or be an attorney of record. A third party can only get access with a notarized letter of authorization signed by one of the parties or their lawyer. Photo ID is required for all in-person requests. The office follows standard New York State rules on who can view sealed matrimonial files.

Walk-in requests are handled during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. You can also send a written request by mail. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request, along with your full name, the index number if you have it, and the approximate year the divorce was granted.

Divorce Records Fees in Delaware County

The cost for a certified copy of a Judgment of Divorce in Delaware County is typically $5.00 for documents up to four pages. Each page beyond that costs $1.25 more. The search fee is $5.00 per name for each two-year period searched. These fees apply whether you visit in person or mail your request.

If you need a state-level divorce certificate instead, the New York State Department of Health charges $30 per copy by mail. Online and phone orders cost $45 plus a vendor processing fee. The DOH only has certificates for divorces granted on or after January 1, 1963. For older cases, the County Clerk is your only option.

Payment methods vary. The County Clerk generally accepts money orders and certified checks. Call ahead to confirm what forms of payment they take at the Delhi office.

Note: Fees may change without notice, so check with the clerk before sending payment by mail.

Filing for Divorce in Delaware County

All divorce cases in Delaware County go through the Supreme Court. The filing starts when you buy an index number, which costs $210. This is the case number that tracks your divorce from start to finish. You file your papers at the Supreme Court Clerk's Office in Delhi.

New York has specific residency rules you must meet before filing. At least one of these must be true: you married in New York and one spouse has lived here for at least one year, you lived together in New York as a married couple and one spouse has been a resident for a year, the grounds for divorce happened in New York and one spouse has been a resident for a year, both spouses are New York residents and the grounds happened here, or one spouse has lived in New York for two straight years before filing. These rules come from the New York Domestic Relations Law.

After you file, the other spouse must be served within 120 days. Service has to be done by someone over 18 who is not a party to the case. If the other spouse does not respond, you wait 40 days after service before filing a Note of Issue. If they sign an Affidavit of Defendant, you can file right away.

Delaware County Divorce Case Search Online

You can look up case information for Delaware County divorce filings through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF). This system lets you search by index number, party name, or attorney name. If a case was filed electronically, you may be able to view documents online. Keep in mind that matrimonial files are sealed under New York law. The public cannot view the full file. Only the parties or their attorneys have access.

The screenshot below shows the NYSCEF filing portal used across New York State, including Delaware County.

The NYSCEF electronic filing system serves as the main portal for court filings in Delaware County.

This page from the Delaware County Clerk's website shows the department that handles divorce and court record requests in the county.

Confidentiality of Delaware County Records

Under New York law, all matrimonial action records are sealed. They stay sealed for 100 years from the date of the final decree. This means the general public cannot walk into the clerk's office and ask to see a divorce file. The restriction applies to all documents in the case, not just the judgment itself.

Only a few people can access these records. The parties named in the divorce have the right to see the file. Their attorneys of record can also request copies. Anyone else needs written and notarized authorization from a party, or a New York State Court Order granting access. The Domestic Relations Law Section 235 lays out these privacy rules in detail.

This rule matters if you are trying to get a copy for a family member or for research. Genealogical access becomes possible only after the 100-year seal period passes. The New York State Archives provides guidance on where to get older divorce decrees once they become available.

State Divorce Certificates for Delaware County

The New York State Department of Health Vital Records office keeps divorce certificates for all cases across the state since 1963. A divorce certificate is not the same as a divorce decree. The certificate is a shorter document that confirms the divorce happened, lists both names, the date, and the county. The decree is the full court order with all the terms.

You can request a certificate by mail by sending a completed application along with $30 to the Department of Health. Processing takes about 10 to 15 business days on average, though delays can happen during busy periods. If you need it faster, you can order by phone or online for $45 plus a vendor fee. Either spouse can request the certificate. Someone with a court order can also get one.

Nearby Counties

Delaware County borders several other counties in the region. If a divorce was granted in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county's clerk instead. Each county in New York maintains its own separate set of court records.