Tioga County Divorce Decree Lookup

Tioga County divorce decree records are kept at the County Clerk's Office in Owego. Andrea L. Klett serves as the County Clerk, and Suellen Griffin is the Deputy County Clerk. The office is at 16 Court Street and is part of the 6th Judicial District. To search for or get a copy of a Tioga County divorce decree, you can visit the office in person, send a mail request, or call ahead to check on a case. Divorce records are not available through the county's online search portal. You must contact the clerk's office directly. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Tioga County Divorce Decree Office

The Tioga County Clerk's Office is at 16 Court Street, P.O. Box 307, Owego, NY 13827. The phone number is (607) 687-8660 and the email is CountyClerk@tiogacountyny.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The building entrance is through the Court Annex at 20 Court Street. Security closes at 4:30 PM, so plan to arrive by 4:15 PM.

Here is the Tioga County Clerk's official website, which lists office services and contact details for record requests.

The site covers hours, location, and how to reach the clerk for divorce decree copies and other court records.

Tioga County divorce records are protected and not available online. Even the county's eSearch portal blocks divorce images. You must contact the clerk's office directly. A Certificate of Divorce on File costs $5.00. Copy fees are $0.65 per page. To certify a document, the fee is $5.00. To exemplify a record, it costs $10.00. The maximum charge for any single document is $40.00.

Under Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law, divorce files are sealed for 100 years. Only the parties to the divorce or their attorney of record can access the full file. A valid photo ID is required. If you are not a party, you need a court order.

Tioga County Divorce Decree by Mail

Tioga County has a Certificate of Divorce on File Request Form for mail requests. Before you send the form, call (607) 687-8660 first to confirm the divorce is on file and get the Index Number. The form needs your $5.00 payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Mail requests go to: Tioga County Clerk, 16 Court Street, P.O. Box 307, Owego, NY 13827. Include a check or money order payable to Tioga County Clerk. Make sure to include the full names of both parties and the index number the clerk gives you over the phone. Without the index number, the search takes longer and may cost more.

Find Divorce Decrees in Tioga County

The Tioga County Court is at 16 Court Street in Owego. Hon. Adam Schumacher serves as County Court Judge. The Chief Clerk is Janean Cook. The phone number is (607) 689-6102. All divorce proceedings go through the Supreme Court in the 6th Judicial District. Once the judge signs the judgment of divorce, the decree is filed with the County Clerk.

WebCivil Supreme is a free state tool for searching cases. You can look up Tioga County divorce cases by party name, index number, or attorney. The search shows case status and filing dates. The actual decree is not viewable online. The NYSCEF system may have some electronic documents for newer Tioga County cases, but not all divorces are filed through NYSCEF.

Tioga County Divorce Decree Laws

Judiciary Law Section 255 requires the clerk to search records and provide copies to eligible people who pay the proper fees. The clerk checks your ID and looks through files, papers, and dockets. If the records are found, you get your copies. If not, the clerk tells you so.

The NYS Department of Health keeps divorce certificates for cases after January 1, 1963. A certificate is a short form with just the names and the date. It costs $30 by mail or $45 online. For divorces before 1963 in Tioga County, the clerk's office in Owego is the only source. The New York State Archives has details on very old records.

Getting Tioga County Divorce Decree Help

The NYS Unified Court System has free forms and guides for divorce cases. The Ask a Law Librarian service can help with questions about records and procedures. The New York State Bar Association referral line is 1-800-342-3661.

Tioga County is a small rural county. The clerk's staff are helpful and used to walking people through the process by phone. If you are unsure what you need or how much it will cost, call ahead. They can tell you if a record exists before you make the trip to Owego or send a mail request. The office handles matrimonial actions and can explain what forms you need and what fees to expect.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Tioga County and maintain their own divorce decree records at their County Clerk offices.