Find Divorce Decree in Rockland County

Rockland County divorce decree records are kept at the County Clerk's Office in New City, the county seat. The clerk serves as the keeper of all Supreme Court records, which includes every divorce decree filed in the county. If you need a certified copy or want to search for a case, you can visit the office at 1 South Main Street or send a written request by mail. Rockland County falls in the 9th Judicial District, and the Supreme Court there handles all divorce proceedings. Online case lookups are possible through the state court system, though the full decree is not viewable on the web due to privacy rules.

Rockland County Divorce Decree Office

The Rockland County Clerk's Office is the main place for divorce decree records in this county. The office is at 1 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956. You can call them at (845) 638-5070. The clerk serves as the clerk of both the Supreme Court and County Court. That means all divorce decree records pass through this office before they are stored for good.

When you visit to get a copy of a Rockland County divorce decree, bring a valid photo ID. You must be a party to the divorce or an attorney of record. The clerk will need the full names of both spouses. Having the index number saves time. If you do not have it, the clerk can search for it at a fee of $5 for each two-year period they look through. A certified copy of the divorce decree costs $5 for the first four pages, and then $1.25 for each page after that. The maximum fee for a certified copy is capped at $40. Plain copies cost about $0.65 per page. You can pay by check or money order made out to the Rockland County Clerk.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send a written letter with the names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, and the index number if known. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and your payment. The clerk will process the request and mail back the copies.

Search Rockland County Divorce Decrees

The Rockland County Supreme Court is part of the 9th Judicial District. The courthouse is at 1 South Main Street in New City, and you can reach the court at (845) 638-5100. All divorce cases in Rockland County are heard here. A Supreme Court justice reviews the filing, hears the case if it is contested, and signs the final judgment of divorce. That judgment is then filed with the County Clerk as the official divorce decree.

You can look up Rockland County divorce decree cases through WebCivil Supreme, a free online tool from the New York State court system. Search by party name, index number, or attorney. The results show basic case information like status, filing dates, and party names. You cannot view the actual divorce decree online because DRL Section 235 keeps matrimonial files sealed. But a search can confirm that a divorce case exists and give you the index number to use when you go to the clerk for copies.

The NYSCEF electronic filing system is used for some civil cases in Rockland County. Newer divorce filings may appear there. Not all cases are in the system, so check with the clerk if NYSCEF does not have what you need. E-filing has become more common in the 9th Judicial District over the past few years.

Rockland County Divorce Decree Records

For divorces granted on or after January 1, 1963, the New York State Department of Health has a divorce certificate on file. This is not the same as the full divorce decree. The certificate is a short form that lists names and the date the marriage ended. It does not include the terms of the divorce. Mail orders cost $30 per copy. Online and phone orders are $45 plus a vendor fee. For divorces before 1963, the Rockland County Clerk is the only source for the record.

Here is the NYS Department of Health page that explains how to order divorce certificates for any county in the state, including Rockland County.

The health department handles certificates for divorces from 1963 forward. For the full divorce decree with all the details, you still need to go through the Rockland County Clerk.

The New York State Archives is another resource for older records. Divorce decree records that are more than 100 years old become open to the public. For Rockland County, that means records from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s may be available for genealogy research without the usual access restrictions.

Divorce Decree Laws in Rockland County

Two state laws shape how Rockland County handles divorce decree records. Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law makes all matrimonial files confidential for 100 years. The pleadings, testimony, findings, and the decree itself are sealed. Only the parties, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can view them. Anyone can request a certification of disposition, which confirms the outcome of the case without private details.

Judiciary Law Section 255 requires the clerk to search records and make copies when asked by an eligible person. The clerk verifies your identity first. If you are not a party to the divorce, you will need a court order to see the file. This applies across all of New York, not just Rockland County.

Rockland County Divorce Decree Assistance

The NYS Unified Court System website has free divorce forms and instruction packets. These cover both uncontested and contested cases. The court system recommends hiring a lawyer, but the forms are there for people who want to handle it on their own. The New York State Bar Association lawyer referral line is 1-800-342-3661.

For residents who cannot afford legal help, Ask a Law Librarian is a free service that can answer questions about divorce decree records, court forms, and the filing process. Legal Aid of Rockland County also provides free legal services to qualifying residents. They can help with family law issues that often come up alongside a divorce case, like custody and child support.

Rockland County sits just north of New York City, and some residents may have cases filed in other counties. If you are not sure where your divorce was filed, the clerk can help point you to the right county. Divorce cases in New York must be filed where at least one spouse lives, so the county of residence at the time of filing is what matters.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Rockland County and maintain their own divorce decree records at their respective clerk offices.

Cities in Rockland County

The following cities and towns in Rockland County have their own divorce decree information pages.