Access Richmond County Divorce Records

Richmond County divorce records are maintained by the County Clerk's Office at the Supreme Court in Staten Island, New York. Richmond County is the formal name for Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City. The 13th Judicial District handles all divorce cases here. The County Clerk stores every divorce decree, judgment of divorce, and matrimonial case file that gets decided in Richmond County. If you need to search for or get a copy of a divorce record from Staten Island, the clerk's office is where you start.

Richmond County Clerk Divorce Files

The Richmond County Supreme Court is at 18 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. The Civil Term phone number is 718-675-8500. The County Clerk's office, which sits inside the Supreme Court building, handles all divorce record requests. The clerk's phone number for general inquiries is (718) 675-7700. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Divorce records in Richmond County follow the same confidentiality rules as all other New York City boroughs. DRL Section 235 keeps matrimonial files sealed for 100 years. Only the parties, their attorneys of record, or someone with a notarized authorization can see the files. The NYC 311 service confirms that divorce records across New York City are not open to the public.

Certified copies of the judgment of divorce cost $8 per certification. Copying fees are $0.65 per page with a minimum of $1.50. The search certificate fee is $10 for a two-year search, with an extra $5 for each additional two-year period. Exemplification fees run $25 plus certification and copying charges. Payment must be by U.S. postal money order, certified check, or NYS attorney's check. Personal checks are not accepted.

Search Richmond County Divorce Records Online

Several online tools cover Richmond County divorce case searches. WebCivil Supreme lets you search by party name, index number, or attorney name for Supreme Court cases across all 62 New York counties. The E-Courts system also provides case information. These tools will show you the case status, party names, and filing dates. The full divorce decree is not viewable online because of the state confidentiality rules.

The NYSCEF electronic filing system handles e-filed cases in Richmond County Supreme Court. If a divorce was filed through NYSCEF, you can track its progress and see basic case details online. The Matrimonial Part in Richmond County processes divorce cases, and the status updates in NYSCEF reflect the current state of each filing.

For general guidance on NYC divorce records, NYC 311 lays out the process clearly. It tells you who can get records, what ID to bring, and where to go. It also explains what to do if the divorce happened outside New York City, in another state, or in another country.

Richmond County Divorce Court

Richmond County has its own judicial district. The 13th Judicial District covers only Staten Island. This makes it one of the smaller districts in the state. The Supreme Court here handles all divorce cases for Staten Island residents. Family Court deals with custody, support, and protection orders, but it does not grant divorces.

The filing fees are standard across all New York City boroughs. An index number costs $210. The note of issue is $125. Motions cost $45 each. The total minimum for an uncontested divorce is $335 plus the cost of a certified copy. If you need a fee waiver, you can file a poor person application with an affidavit about your finances and supporting documentation.

You can get free divorce forms and instructions from nycourts.gov/divorce. The site has packets for uncontested divorces with and without children, contested divorces, and various supplemental forms. The NYS Courts also run an online DIY uncontested divorce program that guides you through the paperwork step by step.

How to Obtain Richmond County Divorce Records

For the full divorce decree, go to the Richmond County Clerk at the Supreme Court building on Richmond Terrace. You need valid photo ID and must be a party to the case, their attorney, or have notarized authorization. For a Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage, the NYS Department of Health has these for divorces from 1963 onward. The fee is $30 by mail or $45 online.

For divorces that took place before 1963, the clerk's office is the only source. No state-level certificate exists for those earlier cases. For very old records before 1847, the New York State Archives may be able to help. The archives hold historical court records from across the state.

Written requests sent by mail should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment in an accepted form. Provide the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, and the index number if you have it. Requests without the index number take longer because the clerk has to search the records. The search fee applies in those cases.

Staten Island Divorce Filing and Resources

To file for divorce in Richmond County, you must meet New York's residency requirements. The simplest is that either spouse has lived in the state continuously for two years before filing. One-year options exist if the marriage took place in New York or if both spouses were residents at the time of filing. The no-fault ground requires the marriage to have been irretrievably broken for at least six months.

After filing, the plaintiff has 120 days to serve the defendant with the papers. Service must be done by someone at least 18 years old who is not the plaintiff. When the judge signs the judgment, it goes to the Richmond County Clerk for filing. The clerk stamps it with the official filing date. That date makes the divorce final. Get a certified copy. You may need it for remarriage or government paperwork.

The Court Help Center in Staten Island provides free procedural guidance and forms. The New York State Bar Association referral line at 1-800-342-3661 connects you with attorneys in the area. Several legal aid groups in Staten Island offer free representation for those who qualify financially.

Richmond County Records Screenshot

The NYS DRL Section 235 governs the confidentiality of divorce records in Richmond County and all other New York counties. The page below explains the statute.

This statute page outlines the 100-year confidentiality rule that applies to all matrimonial records in Richmond County.

Nearby Counties

Richmond County (Staten Island) is adjacent to these boroughs and counties. Each handles its own divorce records.

Cities in Richmond County

Richmond County is Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City. Divorce records for Staten Island residents are managed by the Richmond County Clerk at 18 Richmond Terrace. See the New York City page for citywide divorce record information.