New York Divorce Records

New York divorce records are kept in the Vital Records Office in New York and/or the county where the couple filed for divorce. You can request one of two types of documents – an original divorce decree or a divorce certificate. The original divorce decree states the significant details of the separation and is signed by the judge. It can be used for legal proceedings, if necessary. The divorce certificate reveals only sketchy details such as when and where the divorce was granted and the full names of the people involved. This document is for information purposes only and can’t be used as a legal vehicle.

To retrieve New York divorce records, you’ll need proof of identity and to state a reason why you want a copy of the decree. You can walk in to the New York Vital records office, fax, mail or phone – or, you can request the information through the Internet. You’ll likely pay an administration fee for a copy of the decree. New York charges $30 for each copy of a divorce certificate and an additional fee of $15 for extra copies. Internet and telephone orders incur the same charge. You’ll need to send a check or money order. Cash is not accepted. Expect a wait of five to ten business days after New York receives an Internet request for a copy of the divorce decree. You can have the copy sent through UPS overnight delivery, but that will add an extra $14 to the original fee. Mail requests may not be processed for two to four weeks after they’re received, and some may take as long at ten to twelve weeks.

Send your mail-in request for regular handling, along with the proper identification and information to:

New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY  12220-2602

NY Divorce Records

The data you’ll receive may contain information such as the bride’s and groom’s full names, date and state where filed, ages and dates of birth and current address information.

If you’d rather bypass this information and choose an Internet, fee-based site for your search, look online for a reputable search site that will provide the information you need in a short amount of time (usually within minutes) and in a form that you can understand. These fee-based sites are popular with attorneys, legal professionals, employers and other individuals or organizations that need to be updated on a person’’s status on a regular basis. They’ll use powerful databases and search engines to retrieve the information you’re searching for – for only a small fee, either one-time or monthly. Click on the link for more information.