Find Allegany County Divorce Decrees
Allegany County divorce decree records are held at the County Clerk's Office in Belmont, New York. The clerk serves as the clerk of the Supreme Court for the 8th Judicial District, which is the court that grants all divorces in this part of the state. You can search for Allegany County divorce decree records online through the county's records search portal or visit the clerk's office in person at the courthouse. The office has court records dating back to 1806, and divorce decree files from 1847 forward are on hand for eligible requesters.
Allegany County Divorce Decree Overview
Allegany County Clerk Divorce Decree Files
The Allegany County Clerk's Office sits at 7 Court Street in Belmont, NY 14813. Call them at 585-268-5800. The clerk holds deeds, mortgages, civil court cases, and divorce records. Marriage records from 1908 to 1935 are also on file, along with land records from 1807 and court records from 1806. Census books are available for various years from 1850 through 1925. A census certificate costs $5.00.
Starting in October 2022, the Allegany County Clerk accepts electronically recorded documents through CSC Recording and Simplifile vendors. This does not apply to divorce decree filings directly, but it shows the office has moved toward more digital access. For divorce decree copies, you still need to contact the clerk in person or by mail. Bring a valid photo ID. Only parties to the divorce, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can get copies under DRL Section 235.
A certified copy of the divorce decree runs $5 to $8 for the first four pages. Extra pages cost $1.25 each. If you lack the index number, the clerk charges $5 for every two-year search period. Plain copies are about $0.25 to $0.65 per page.
Search Allegany County Divorce Records Online
Allegany County offers an online records search through its website. You can look up deeds, mortgages, judgments, federal liens, building loan agreements, civil court records, and divorces. The online system covers a range of document types. For divorce decree records, the search can tell you if a case exists and give you basic filing information. The full decree is not viewable online because of the confidentiality rules that apply to all matrimonial files in New York.
WebCivil Supreme is another free tool. It covers all 62 counties, including Allegany County. You can search by party name, index number, or attorney name. The system shows active and disposed civil cases in the Supreme Court. It will list the case status, party names, and dates. You will not see the full divorce decree text, but you can get the index number you need to make a formal request to the clerk.
Note: Documents filed before 1964 may not appear in online search systems and require an in-person visit to the Allegany County Clerk's Office.
Allegany County Divorce Decree Court
The Allegany County Supreme and County Courts are at 7 Court Street in Belmont. The phone number is 585-449-3416. The office is open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. It closes on all state holidays. Jenise Cicirello is the Supreme and County Chief Clerk. Miranda Forshee is the Deputy Chief Clerk. The Supreme Court handles all divorce cases in Allegany County. The County Court deals with criminal cases and some limited civil matters up to $25,000.
Judges who sit in Allegany County include Hon. Ian M. Jones, who covers County, Family, and Surrogate Court duties, and Hon. Terrence M. Parker, who serves as County Court Judge. When a judge signs a divorce decree, that document gets filed with the County Clerk. The clerk then keeps the divorce decree as part of the Supreme Court case file. The Surrogate's Court, headed by Chief Clerk Dorine Jacobs at 585-449-3464, handles estate and probate matters but not divorce cases.
Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk must search files and make copies for eligible people who pay the correct fees. For Allegany County divorce decree records, the process is straightforward. Submit your request in writing. Include the names of both parties and the year of the divorce if you know it. The clerk will search and let you know what they find.
Getting a Divorce Decree in Allegany County
If your Allegany County divorce took place before 1963, the divorce decree at the County Clerk's office is the only record that exists. The NYS Department of Health only has divorce certificates for cases from January 1, 1963 onward. The certificate is a simpler document. It lists the names and the date the marriage ended. It does not have the full terms and conditions found in the decree. A divorce certificate from the state costs $30 by mail or $45 online.
For older records, the New York State Archives has information about where to find divorce decree files before 1847. Since Allegany County is an upstate county, pre-1847 records would be at the State Archives in Albany. For cases from 1847 forward, the Allegany County Clerk's office is the place to go.
The NYS Unified Court System has free divorce forms if you need to file a new case. The New York State Bar Association referral line is 1-800-342-3661. The Allegany County Family Court handles custody and support issues that may come up during or after a divorce, but it does not grant divorces. For the Commissioner of Jurors, call Jennifer Johnson at 585-449-3461.
Note: After 100 years from the date of the final decree, Allegany County divorce decree records become open to the public for genealogy and other research.
Nearby Counties
These counties neighbor Allegany County. Each has its own County Clerk who maintains divorce decree records.
Cities in Allegany County
Allegany County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. Divorce decree records for residents of towns and villages in Allegany County are handled by the Allegany County Clerk's Office in Belmont.