St. Lawrence County Divorce Decree Search

St. Lawrence County divorce decree records are held at the County Clerk's Office in Canton, which sits at 48 Court Street. This is the largest county by land in all of New York, and it falls in the 4th Judicial District. If you need a copy of a divorce decree from St. Lawrence County, you can visit the clerk in person or send a written request by mail. The clerk also serves as the clerk of the Supreme Court, so all divorce judgment files pass through that office. Online tools like WebCivil Supreme let you search for case details from home, though full decree documents are not viewable on the web due to state privacy rules.

St. Lawrence County Divorce Decree Office

The St. Lawrence County Clerk's Office at 48 Court Street in Canton, NY 13617 is where all divorce decree records are kept. You can call them at (315) 379-2237 for questions. The office maintains Supreme Court records, land records, and other public filings. As the clerk of the Supreme Court, this office has every divorce judgment filed in St. Lawrence County going back to 1847. The Supreme Court is the only court in New York with the power to grant a divorce, so every final decree ends up in the clerk's files.

To get a copy of a St. Lawrence County divorce decree, you must be a party to the case or an attorney of record. Bring a valid photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. The clerk will need the full names of both spouses. If you have the index number, that speeds things up. A certified copy costs $5 for the first four pages and $1.25 for each page after that. Plain copies are about $0.65 per page. There is a $5 search fee for every two years the clerk has to look through if you do not have the case number.

Under Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law, divorce files in New York are sealed for 100 years. Only the parties, their lawyers, or someone with a court order can see the full file. After 100 years, the records open to the public. This rule applies to all divorce decree records in St. Lawrence County.

Find Divorce Decrees in St. Lawrence County

The St. Lawrence County Supreme Court is at 48 Court Street in Canton. You can reach the court at (315) 379-2215. It is part of the 4th Judicial District. All divorce cases in St. Lawrence County go through this court. The court hears both contested and uncontested divorce matters. Once a judge signs the judgment of divorce, the decree gets filed with the County Clerk's Office in the same building.

WebCivil Supreme is a free state tool that lets you search for divorce cases by party name, index number, or attorney. You can confirm a case exists and get its index number through this system. The full decree is not available online. But having the index number saves time when you request the physical file from the clerk. The NYSCEF electronic filing system may also have documents for some St. Lawrence County cases, though not all divorce matters are filed electronically there.

St. Lawrence County is a large rural county. Many residents live far from Canton. If you cannot visit in person, a mail request is the best option. Write to the clerk at 48 Court Street, Canton, NY 13617. Include the names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, your ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send a check or money order for the fees.

St. Lawrence County Divorce Records Access

The NYS Department of Health keeps divorce certificates for cases after January 1, 1963. This is different from a divorce decree. The certificate is a short form with just the names and the date the marriage ended. It does not include the full terms of the decree. You can order one by mail for $30 or online for $45 plus a processing fee. The Department of Health mailing address is P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Their phone number is (855) 322-1022.

The New York State Department of Health vital records page provides details on how to order a divorce certificate by mail or online.

This page covers who can request a certificate and what documents you need to include with your order.

For divorces before 1963, the County Clerk's Office in Canton holds the only record. The New York State Archives has information about very old divorce records. Cases before July 1, 1847 may be at the State Archives in Albany. From 1847 onward, St. Lawrence County kept its own files. Genealogy researchers often use these older records. Once a divorce decree is more than 100 years old, the privacy seal lifts and anyone can view the document.

Divorce Decree Laws for St. Lawrence County

Section 255 of the Judiciary Law says the county clerk must search records and provide copies when asked by an eligible person. The clerk looks through files, papers, and dockets and either gives you copies or tells you the records cannot be found. For divorce cases in St. Lawrence County, the clerk checks your ID first. This law applies to every county in New York.

New York adopted no-fault divorce in 2010. Before that, you had to prove grounds like cruelty, abandonment, or adultery. Now, either spouse can file by stating the marriage has been broken for at least six months. This change affects how newer St. Lawrence County divorce decree records read compared to older ones. The older files often have more detail about the grounds for the divorce.

The NYS Unified Court System has free divorce forms and guides. These can help if you are looking to file for divorce in St. Lawrence County or if you need to understand what documents are in a divorce decree file.

Getting Help with St. Lawrence County Divorce Decrees

The Ask a Law Librarian service can help answer questions about divorce records and the court process. It is free and run by the court system. The New York State Bar Association also has a referral line at 1-800-342-3661 if you need a lawyer for a divorce case in St. Lawrence County.

Legal aid is important in St. Lawrence County because of its large rural area. Many people live far from the courthouse in Canton. The court system has self-help resources for people who cannot afford a lawyer. The Unified Court System website has step-by-step guides for both contested and uncontested divorce. These guides walk you through the forms, the filing process, and what to expect at court. If you are just looking for an old divorce decree, the clerk's staff can help you figure out what you need to bring and how much it will cost.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Lawrence County and also maintain divorce decree records through their own County Clerk offices.