Albany County Divorce Decree Records

Albany County divorce decree records go back to 1847 and are kept at the County Clerk's Office in the Hall of Records. The Albany County Clerk serves as the clerk of the Supreme Court, which is the only court in New York that can grant a divorce. If you need a copy of a divorce decree from Albany County, you can visit the office in person, send a mail request, or search for case details online through WebCivil Supreme. The county seat is Albany, and the clerk's office has a full set of divorce decree files along with land records, court documents, and other public filings.

Albany County Divorce Decree Office

The Albany County Clerk's Office is the main place to get a divorce decree in Albany County. The office sits at 95 Tivoli Street in Albany, NY 12207. You can call them at 518-436-3663. They are open Monday through Friday during normal business hours. The clerk holds divorce records from 1847 to the present day. Supreme Court records after 1919 are also on file there. Beyond divorce decree files, the office keeps land records going back to 1630, naturalization records from 1827 to 1991, and marriage records from 1870 to 1946.

To get a copy of your divorce decree, bring a valid photo ID. The clerk will need the full names of both parties. Having the index number helps speed things up. If you do not have the index number, the clerk can search for it. There is a $5 search fee for every two-year period they look through. A certified copy of the divorce decree costs $5 for the first four pages. Each page after that is $1.25. Plain copies run about $0.25 to $0.65 per page.

Under Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law, divorce decree records are not open to the public. Only the parties to the divorce, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can view the full file. This rule holds for 100 years from the date of the final decree. After that, the records open up for anyone to see.

Search Albany County Divorce Decrees

The Albany County Supreme Court handles all divorce cases. It is part of the 3rd Judicial District. The courthouse is at 16 Eagle Street in Albany. You can reach the court at 518-285-8989. David Cardona serves as the Chief Clerk, and Sean Quillinan is the Deputy Chief Clerk. The court runs a Matrimonial Center that helps low-income and self-represented people with questions about contested divorce cases. The center does not give full legal help, but it can point you in the right direction on forms and procedures.

WebCivil Supreme is a free tool you can use to look up divorce decree cases in Albany County online. You search by party name, index number, or attorney name. The system shows case status, party names, and filing dates. Keep in mind that the full divorce decree is not viewable online because of privacy rules. But a search on WebCivil can confirm that a case exists and give you the index number to use when you request records from the clerk.

The NYSCEF electronic filing system is another option. Some Albany County divorce cases may have documents filed through NYSCEF. You need an account to use it. Not all divorce cases show up there, so check with the clerk if you are not sure.

Albany County Divorce Decree Access

Albany County maintains many types of public records including court records, property records, and vital records. For divorce decree records specifically, you need to contact the County Clerk's office directly. The clerk can tell you which documents are on file and what it takes to get copies. The office at 95 Tivoli Street handles all divorce decree requests for the county.

Here is the Albany County Records Portal, which lists the types of records held by the Albany County Clerk.

This portal covers court records, property filings, and vital records. For divorce decree copies, reach out to the clerk at 95 Tivoli Street.

If your divorce took place before January 1, 1963, the divorce decree filed with the Albany County Clerk is the only record that exists. For divorces after that date, the NYS Department of Health also has a divorce certificate on file. The certificate is a short form that just lists the names and the date the marriage ended. It does not include the full terms of the decree. The mail-in fee for a divorce certificate from the Department of Health is $30 per copy.

Divorce Decree Laws in Albany County

Two main laws control how divorce decree records work in Albany County. DRL Section 235 makes all matrimonial files confidential. The clerk cannot let anyone see the pleadings, testimony, findings, or the divorce decree itself unless you are a party or an attorney of record. There is one exception. Subdivision 3 of Section 235 says any person can ask for a "certification of disposition." This is a short document that confirms what happened in the case without giving away the details. It costs $5 for every two years searched.

Section 255 of the Judiciary Law says the clerk must search records and make copies when asked by an eligible person and paid the right fees. The clerk has to look through the files, papers, records, and dockets and then either provide copies or say the records cannot be found. For divorce cases in Albany County, the clerk checks your ID before letting you see anything. The law is firm on this point.

The New York State Archives has information about older divorce decree records. For cases before July 1, 1847, upstate county records are held at the State Archives in Albany. For Albany County, this means very old divorce records may actually be right in town at the Archives building. Records from 1847 forward are at the County Clerk's office.

Albany County Divorce Decree Help

If you need help with a divorce case in Albany County, there are several resources. The NYS Unified Court System offers free divorce forms and instruction booklets. The court system strongly suggests using a lawyer, even for an uncontested case. The New York State Bar Association has a referral line at 1-800-342-3661. For people who cannot afford a lawyer, Ask a Law Librarian is a free service that can help answer questions about divorce decree records and the filing process.

The Albany County Supreme Court Matrimonial Center helps with specific questions about divorce proceedings. Staff there can assist with procedural matters, court forms, and legal requirements. The center is designed for low-income and modest means self-represented people. It does not provide full legal representation or ongoing case management. You can reach the courthouse at 518-285-8989.

For genealogy work, the New York State Library has vital records information. Albany County divorce decree records that are more than 100 years old are open to anyone. The County Hall of Records at 95 Tivoli Street also has Albany City Directories from 1830 and tax rolls from 1850, which can help track down family members connected to old divorce cases.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Albany County and also maintain their own divorce decree records through their County Clerk offices.

Cities in Albany County

The following city in Albany County has its own divorce decree information page with details on which court handles filings and how to get copies.