Find Divorce Decree in Schuyler County

Schuyler County divorce decree records are filed with the County Clerk in Watkins Glen. This small county in the Finger Lakes area is part of the 6th Judicial District, and the Supreme Court there handles all divorce cases. If you need a copy of a divorce decree from Schuyler County, the clerk's office on Ninth Street is where you start. You can search for a case by name or index number. The office also offers some records through the Cott Portal for online lookups. Divorce decree files in Schuyler County go back to 1847, and the process for getting copies follows the same rules as every other county in New York.

Schuyler County Clerk Divorce Decree Office

The Schuyler County Clerk's Office is in the County Office Building at 105 Ninth Street, Unit 8, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Theresa A. Philbin serves as County Clerk. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Call (518) 535-8133 or fax (607) 535-8130 to reach the staff. The clerk serves as the recording officer and filing officer for Schuyler County. That includes all Supreme Court documents like divorce decree filings, land records, and pistol permits. The DMV office is right down the hall.

Schuyler County offers online records through the Cott Portal. You can search both historical and modern records there. But divorce decree files are not available online because of state privacy laws. DRL Section 235 keeps all matrimonial case files sealed. You have to go in person or send a mail request. Only the parties or their attorneys can get copies of the full divorce decree file.

Divorce Decree Filings in Schuyler County Courts

The Supreme Court in Schuyler County is at 105 Ninth Street, Unit 35, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. You can reach the court at (607) 228-3350. The fax is 646-963-6590. Michele Getman is the Chief Clerk. Hon. Christopher P. Baker presides as the Supreme Court Justice, and his chambers phone is (607) 873-9461. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Every divorce decree in Schuyler County starts as a case in this court. The Supreme Court is the only court in New York with the power to end a marriage. Once the judge signs the judgment of divorce, it gets filed with the County Clerk and becomes the official divorce decree. Family Court in Schuyler County handles child support and custody, but it cannot grant a divorce. That distinction matters if you are trying to figure out where a divorce decree was filed.

The County Court also sits at the same address. Hon. Matthew C. Hayden is the County Court Judge, and Michele Getman also serves as Chief Clerk for that court. Hours are the same. Having both courts in one building makes it easier to deal with related legal matters.

How to Get a Schuyler County Divorce Decree

To get a copy of a divorce decree from Schuyler County, visit the clerk's office with a valid photo ID. You need to be a party to the divorce or an attorney of record. Tell the clerk the names of both spouses and the year the divorce was granted. If you have the index number, bring that too. The clerk will search the files and pull the case. A certified copy costs $5 for the first four pages, then $1.25 per page after that. Plain copies run about $0.65 per page.

Mail requests work too. Write to the Schuyler County Clerk at 105 Ninth Street, Unit 8, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Include the names of both parties, the approximate date, and a check or money order for the fees. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you do not know the index number, the clerk charges $5 for every two-year search period.

For divorces from 1963 or later, you can also get a divorce certificate from the NYS Department of Health. The mail fee is $30. Online or phone orders cost $45. The certificate just has basic info like names and the date the marriage ended. It does not have the full terms that a divorce decree includes.

Schuyler County Divorce Decree Images

The Schuyler County Clerk's official page on the county website shows the office location, hours, and services including divorce decree record access.

Check that page for the most current contact info and any changes to office hours or procedures for getting divorce decree copies.

Divorce Decree Access Laws in Schuyler County

Schuyler County follows the same rules as every county in New York for divorce decree access. Under DRL Section 235, matrimonial files are not open to the public. The parties and their lawyers can see the full file. Anyone else needs a court order. You can always get a certification of disposition, which confirms a divorce happened without showing the details. That costs $5 for every two years searched.

After 100 years, divorce decree records become open to the public. That means any Schuyler County divorce from before 1926 can be viewed by anyone. The New York State Archives has guidance on finding old divorce records. For cases before 1847, upstate records like those from Schuyler County are at the State Archives in Albany. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk must search records and give copies to anyone who pays the right fees and meets the eligibility rules.

Nearby Counties

Divorce decree records may have been filed in a neighboring county if a spouse lived elsewhere at the time.