Find Steuben County Divorce Records

Steuben County divorce records are stored at the County Clerk's Office in Bath, New York. The Supreme Court in Steuben County handles all divorce cases filed here. Once a judge signs the Judgment of Divorce, it goes to the clerk for filing and entry. From that point the divorce is considered final. If you want a copy of a divorce decree or need to look up a past filing, the Steuben County Clerk is where to start. The New York State Department of Health also keeps divorce certificates for cases going back to 1963. This page covers how to search for, request, and obtain divorce records in Steuben County.

Steuben County Clerk's Office

The Steuben County Clerk's Office is at 3 E. Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810. Call them at 607-664-2286. The office keeps all court records for the county, and that includes divorce judgments and related case files. If you need a certified copy of a Judgment of Divorce from Steuben County, this is the place to go.

You must be a party to the divorce or an attorney of record to get a copy. Third parties need a signed, notarized letter from one of the parties granting them access. Photo ID is required for in-person visits. The clerk's office follows New York State rules for sealed matrimonial files, so there is no public access to these records.

Walk-in requests are taken during normal business hours. Mail requests work too. Send your full name, the index number if known, and the year the divorce was granted. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your letter.

Steuben County Divorce Records Fees

A certified copy of a Judgment of Divorce from the Steuben County Clerk typically costs $5.00 for up to four pages. Beyond that, each extra page runs $1.25. The search fee is $5.00 per name for each two-year block searched. These fees apply for both walk-in and mail requests.

The New York State Department of Health has a different fee structure for state-level divorce certificates. Mail orders cost $30 each. Online or phone orders run $45 plus a vendor processing fee. The DOH only covers divorces from January 1, 1963 forward. Anything older has to come from the County Clerk.

Check with the clerk before mailing payment. Accepted methods can vary, but money orders and certified checks are usually safe choices.

Note: Fees are subject to change, so call ahead to confirm current rates.

Filing for Divorce in Steuben County

Divorces in Steuben County are filed at the Supreme Court. The first step is to buy an index number for $210. That number tracks the entire case. You file your papers with the Supreme Court Clerk in Bath.

New York requires at least one residency condition to be met before you file. You must meet one of these: you got married in New York and one spouse has lived here at least a year, you lived in New York as a married couple and one spouse has been a resident for a year, the grounds for divorce took place in New York and one spouse has been a resident for a year, both spouses live in New York and the grounds happened here, or one spouse has lived in the state for two straight years. These come from the New York Domestic Relations Law.

Once you file, the other party must be served within 120 days. The person who serves the papers must be at least 18 and cannot be a party to the case. If the other spouse does nothing, you wait 40 days after service before filing a Note of Issue. If they sign an Affidavit of Defendant, you can move ahead right away.

For an uncontested divorce, the total court costs come to at least $335. That breaks down to $210 for the index number and $125 for the Note of Issue. Additional motions cost $45 each. A certified copy of the final judgment runs about $8.

Steuben County Divorce Case Search Online

You can search for Steuben County divorce case information through the NYSCEF electronic filing system. This tool lets you look up cases by index number, party name, or attorney name. Steuben County is part of the 6th Judicial District, and e-filing is available for Supreme Court cases here.

Keep in mind that divorce files are sealed. The public cannot view the full case details online. Only the parties or their attorneys can access the documents. You can still check basic case status and filing dates through the system, but the sealed documents will not show up for anyone outside the case.

The image below shows the NYSCEF portal used for electronic filings in Steuben County and across New York State.

Visit the NYSCEF homepage to begin a case search or file documents in a Steuben County divorce.

This portal handles all electronic court filings for Supreme Court cases across New York, including divorce cases in Steuben County.

Confidentiality Rules for Steuben County

All divorce records in New York are sealed for 100 years from the date of the final court decree. This rule applies in Steuben County just as it does everywhere else in the state. The general public has no right to view or copy any part of a divorce file during that sealed period.

Access is limited to the named parties, their attorneys, or someone with written notarized permission from a party. A New York State Court Order can also open the file. The Domestic Relations Law Section 235 sets out these privacy rules. For genealogical or historical research, records only become available after the 100-year period expires.

The New York State Archives has more guidance on locating older divorce decrees once they are no longer sealed. Records dating back to July 1, 1847 are filed with the county clerk in the county where the divorce was granted.

State Divorce Certificates for Steuben County

The New York State Department of Health keeps divorce certificates for all cases statewide since 1963. A certificate is not the same as a decree. The certificate is a short form that confirms the divorce took place. It lists both names, the date, and the county. The decree is the full court order with all terms and conditions.

Mail requests cost $30 each. Processing takes roughly 10 to 15 business days, though it can run longer during busy times. You can also order online or by phone for $45 plus a processing fee. Only the spouses or someone with a court order can request a copy. You will need valid photo ID or two documents showing your name and address.

Nearby Counties

Steuben County sits in the southern part of New York, near the Pennsylvania border. If a divorce was filed in a neighboring county, you need to contact that county's clerk. Each county keeps its own court records.