Montgomery County Divorce Decree Records

Montgomery County divorce decree records are filed at the County Clerk's Office in Fonda, the county seat. The county is part of the 4th Judicial District, and the Supreme Court at the Montgomery County Courthouse handles all divorce proceedings. You can search for case information online, visit the clerk's office, or send a written request by mail. The courthouse sits at 58 Broadway in Fonda and serves as the hub for all court records in the county. Whether you need a certified copy or want to verify that a case exists, the clerk's office is where you start.

Montgomery County Divorce Decree Office

The Montgomery County Clerk's Office is in the courthouse at 58 Broadway, Fonda, NY 12068. The clerk holds all Supreme Court records, including divorce decree files. You need to visit in person or send a mail request to get copies. Bring a valid photo ID. The staff will ask for the full names of both parties in the divorce. Having the index number helps speed things up.

Certified copies of a Montgomery County divorce decree cost $5 for the first four pages. Each additional page after that is $1.25. Plain copies are $0.25 to $0.65 per page. The search fee runs $5 for every two-year period the clerk searches. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and a letter with your name, the names of both parties, and the approximate year the divorce was finalized. Montgomery County is a smaller county, so the office tends to have shorter wait times than urban areas.

Under Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law, all divorce files in Montgomery County are sealed. Only parties to the case, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can view the full record. The seal lasts 100 years from the date of the final decree. Anyone can request a certification of disposition, which confirms the case outcome in brief without sharing the actual terms of the divorce decree.

Search Montgomery County Divorce Decrees

The Montgomery County Supreme Court at 58 Broadway in Fonda handles all divorce cases. You can reach the court at 518-853-4516 or email montgomerysandc@nycourts.gov. The court is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. The Chief Clerk is Judith Klotz, and the Deputy Chief Clerk is Tara Martin. Supreme Court Judge Hon. Rebecca A. Slezak and County Court Judge Hon. Lorraine C. Diamond preside over cases in Montgomery County.

E-filing is mandatory for certain case types in the 4th Judicial District. Matrimonial filings may or may not require electronic filing depending on the specifics. Check with the clerk if you are not sure. The NYSCEF system handles all electronic filings for Montgomery County. You need an account to use it.

WebCivil Supreme is a free tool to look up Montgomery County divorce cases online. Search by party name, index number, or attorney name. Results show case status and filing dates. The full divorce decree is not available online. Privacy rules keep those files sealed. But the search can tell you whether a case exists and give you the index number to use when requesting the actual record from the clerk's office in Fonda.

Montgomery County Divorce Decree Access

Amsterdam City Court is at One Guy Park Avenue Extension, Public Safety Building Room 208, Amsterdam, NY 12010. You can reach them at 518-842-9510 or email amsterdamcitycourt@nycourts.gov. The court is open 8 AM to 4 PM. Judges Hon. Lisa W. Lorman and Hon. William J. Mycek handle cases there. While the city court does not grant divorces, it can deal with related matters. All divorce decree records are handled through the Supreme Court and filed with the county clerk.

For divorces finalized after January 1, 1963, the NYS Department of Health also has a divorce certificate on file. This short form shows the names and the date the marriage ended. It does not include the full terms. A copy from the state costs $30. For the complete divorce decree, you must go to the Montgomery County Clerk in Fonda.

The New York State Archives holds information about very old divorce records. Cases before 1847 may be at the state archives in Albany, which is less than an hour from Fonda. Montgomery County records from 1847 forward are at the local clerk's office. Divorce decree records over 100 years old are open to anyone, which is helpful for genealogy research.

Here is the NYSCEF electronic filing system, which handles some Montgomery County Supreme Court filings.

NYSCEF is the statewide system for electronic court filings. Not all Montgomery County divorce cases are filed electronically, so check with the clerk if your case is not in the system.

Divorce Decree Laws in Montgomery County

DRL Section 235 controls who can see divorce decree files in Montgomery County. The law makes all matrimonial records confidential. The clerk cannot let anyone view the pleadings, testimony, findings, or the divorce decree unless that person is a party or attorney of record. This seal lasts 100 years. After that, the records open up for public access.

Judiciary Law Section 255 requires the clerk to search through records and provide copies when asked by an eligible person who pays the correct fees. The clerk checks ID before releasing any divorce file. If you do not have party status or a court order, you can only get a certification of disposition. Montgomery County follows these same rules as every other county in New York.

Montgomery County Divorce Decree Help

The NYS Unified Court System provides free divorce forms and instructions for people filing in Montgomery County. The court recommends hiring a lawyer, but the forms are available for those who want to file on their own. The New York State Bar Association referral line is 1-800-342-3661 for finding a local attorney.

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York serves the Montgomery County area. They can help with family law matters for people who cannot afford private legal services. Ask a Law Librarian from the court system is another free resource for research questions about divorce decree records and the process of getting copies. The 4th Judicial District covers a wide area in the Capital Region and the Mohawk Valley.

The New York State Library has vital records guides for genealogy researchers. Montgomery County divorce decree records that are more than 100 years old can be viewed by anyone. The Mohawk Valley has a long history, and some of these older records date back to the earliest days of the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Montgomery County and maintain their own divorce decree records at their County Clerk offices.