Nassau County Divorce Decree Records

Nassau County divorce decree records are kept at the County Clerk's Office in Mineola. The clerk serves as the clerk of the Supreme Court, which is the sole court in New York that can grant a divorce. If you need to find a divorce decree from Nassau County, you can visit the office at 240 Old Country Road, send a written request by mail, or check for case details through WebCivil Supreme online. The county has a large Matrimonial Center with six justices who handle divorce proceedings. Nassau County sits in the 10th Judicial District and has been filing divorce decree records since 1847.

Nassau County Divorce Decree Office

The Nassau County Clerk's Office is where you go to get a copy of a divorce decree in Nassau County. Maureen O'Connell is the County Clerk. The office sits at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola, NY 11501. Call them at 516-571-2664 for questions. Divorce decree records are in Records Room 106. The clerk holds all Supreme Court files, including divorce judgments, land records, and other court documents. You can also search some land records on their site, but divorce files still need an in-person or mail request.

To get a certified copy, you must show valid photo ID and be a party to the case or an attorney of record. The fee for a certified copy is $5 for the first four pages and $1.25 for each page after that. If you do not have the index number, the clerk will search for it at a cost of $5 per two-year period. Mail requests go to Nassau County Clerk's Office, Records Room 106, 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, NY 11501. Include a notarized signature with your written request. Plain copies cost about $0.25 to $0.65 per page.

Under Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law, divorce decree records in Nassau County are not open to the general public. Only parties, their lawyers, or someone with a court order can see the full file. This rule holds for 100 years from the date of the decree. A "certification of disposition" is available to anyone, though. It confirms the outcome of the case without showing the details.

Search Nassau County Divorce Decrees

The Nassau County Matrimonial Center is at 101 County Seat Drive, 3rd Floor, Mineola, NY 11501. You can call them at 516-493-3444. Six justices sit in the Matrimonial Center and hear divorce cases. The center has courtrooms for the justices and hearing rooms for Judicial Hearing Officers. There is also a Model Custody Part. The center helps people with questions about contested divorce cases, but it does not give full legal advice. Staff can point you to the right forms and explain procedures.

WebCivil Supreme lets you look up Nassau County divorce decree cases for free online. Search by party name, index number, or attorney name. The tool shows case status, party names, and filing dates. You will not see the full divorce decree on the screen because of privacy laws. But a search can tell you if a case exists and give you the index number. That number speeds up the process when you ask the clerk for records.

Here is the Nassau County Clerk's Office page, which handles all divorce decree filings and certified copy requests for the county.

The clerk's site has contact details and office hours. For divorce decree copies, you still need to visit Room 106 or send a mail request.

The NYSCEF electronic filing system is another tool for Nassau County. Some divorce cases have documents filed through NYSCEF. You need an account to use it. Not every case shows up there, so check with the clerk if you are not sure about a particular filing.

Nassau County Divorce Decree Access

The Nassau County Clerk's website provides an overview of the types of public records on file in the county. Court records, property records, vital records, and other documents are listed there. For divorce decree records, you need to reach out to the County Clerk's office directly at 240 Old Country Road in Mineola. The clerk can tell you which documents are available and what steps to take next.

Here is the Nassau County Court Records portal, which lists the types of records available in the county.

This portal covers court filings, property records, and vital records information for Nassau County residents.

If your divorce took place before January 1, 1963, the divorce decree filed with the Nassau 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. It lists names and the date the marriage ended but 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 Nassau County

DRL Section 235 controls access to divorce decree files in Nassau County. The clerk cannot let anyone see the pleadings, testimony, findings, or the decree itself unless you are a party or an attorney of record. One exception exists. Subdivision 3 of Section 235 says any person can ask for a "certification of disposition." This short document confirms what happened in a case without giving away details. The search fee is $5 for every two years the clerk looks through.

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 files, papers, records, and dockets and then provide copies or say the records cannot be found. In Nassau County, you need valid ID before the clerk will hand over anything. This law is clear on the point.

The New York State Archives has information about older divorce decree records. For cases before July 1, 1847, records from downstate counties are held at the New York County Clerk's Office at 31 Chambers Street. Records from 1847 forward are at the Nassau County Clerk's office in Mineola.

Nassau County Divorce Decree Help

The NYS Unified Court System offers free divorce forms and 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. It can help with questions about divorce decree records and the filing process.

The Nassau County Matrimonial Center at 101 County Seat Drive has staff who can assist with procedural matters and court forms. The center is designed for low-income and self-represented people. It does not offer full legal representation or ongoing case management. Call 516-493-3444 to reach them. The Matrimonial Center also helps with questions about contested divorces, custody parts, and related matters in Nassau County.

For genealogy work, the New York State Library has vital records information. Nassau County divorce decree records that are more than 100 years old are open to anyone. Older records can be useful for tracing family lines and confirming dates of dissolution.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Nassau County and also keep their own divorce decree records through their County Clerk offices.

Cities in Nassau County

These cities and towns in Nassau County have their own divorce decree information pages with details on courts and filing procedures.