Suffolk County Divorce Decree Database

Suffolk County divorce decree records are held at the County Clerk's Office in Riverhead. Suffolk is one of the most populated counties in New York and is part of the 10th Judicial District. The clerk at 310 Center Drive maintains all divorce judgments, land records, and other court filings. If you need a copy of a divorce decree from Suffolk County, you can go to the clerk in person, send a mail request, or search for case details online. The Supreme Court at the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip handles all divorce proceedings, and final decrees are filed with the clerk after the judge signs them.

Suffolk County Divorce Decree Office

The Suffolk County Clerk's Office is at 310 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Vincent Puleo serves as the County Clerk. You can call (631) 852-2001 for questions about divorce decree records. The office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours. The clerk holds all Supreme Court records, including divorce decrees, going back to 1847.

Here is the Suffolk County Clerk's website, which provides information about the office's services and how to request court records.

The site lists contact details, office locations, and the types of records maintained by the Suffolk County Clerk.

To get a copy of a Suffolk County divorce decree, you must be a party to the case or the attorney of record. Bring a valid photo ID. You need the full names of both spouses. Having the index number helps speed 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-year period the clerk looks through if you do not have the case number.

Suffolk County is large, and many people live far from Riverhead. Mail requests are common. Send your request to the clerk at 310 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Include both names, the approximate date of the divorce, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for the fees. Do not forget a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return copies.

Search Suffolk County Divorce Decrees

The Suffolk County Supreme Court sits at the Cohalan Court Complex in Central Islip, NY 11722. You can reach the court at (631) 740-3800. All divorce cases in Suffolk County are heard here. The court is part of the 10th Judicial District. Whether a case is contested or uncontested, the Supreme Court is the only court that can grant a divorce in New York.

WebCivil Supreme is a free search tool from the state court system. You can look up Suffolk County divorce cases by party name, index number, or attorney name. The search results show case status, party names, and filing dates. The actual divorce decree is not viewable online due to DRL Section 235 privacy rules. But a search can confirm a case exists and give you the index number to use when you visit the clerk.

The NYSCEF electronic filing system may have documents for some Suffolk County divorce cases. E-filing is mandatory for many new civil cases in the 10th Judicial District. Check with the clerk if you are not sure whether your case is on the system. Not all divorce matters appear in NYSCEF, especially older cases.

Suffolk County Divorce Decree Access

Two types of divorce records exist in New York. The divorce decree is the full court document filed with the Suffolk County Clerk. It has all the terms, property splits, custody arrangements, and the judge's signature. The divorce certificate is a short form kept by the NYS Department of Health. Certificates exist only for divorces after January 1, 1963. They cost $30 by mail or $45 online. The certificate just shows the names and the date the marriage ended.

For Suffolk County divorces before 1963, the clerk's office in Riverhead is the only source. The New York State Archives has information about very old records. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk must search records and provide copies when asked by an eligible person. The law requires the clerk to look through files and dockets and either produce copies or confirm the records were not found.

Help with Suffolk County Divorce Decrees

The NYS Unified Court System has free forms and guides for divorce cases. The Ask a Law Librarian service can answer questions about divorce records and the filing process. The New York State Bar Association has a referral line at 1-800-342-3661 for people who need a lawyer in Suffolk County.

Suffolk County has a large population and many divorce cases each year. The clerk's office in Riverhead handles a high volume of record requests. Plan ahead if you are visiting in person. Bring all your documents, your ID, and payment for fees. If you are requesting records by mail, allow extra time for processing during busy periods. The court system also has self-help resources for people who need to file for divorce on their own without a lawyer.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Suffolk County and keep their own divorce decree records at their County Clerk offices.

Cities in Suffolk County

These cities and towns in Suffolk County have their own divorce decree information pages with details on court filings.