Warren County Divorce Decree

Warren County divorce decree records are maintained at the County Clerk's Office in Lake George. The clerk, Carrie Black, oversees all Supreme Court civil files, which includes every divorce decree granted in the county. You can visit the Municipal Center at 1340 State Route 9 to search records in person or request copies by mail. Warren County is part of the 4th Judicial District, and the Supreme Court there handles all divorce cases. The clerk's office also has an online records search tool and a public records room where you can look through indexes and court filings during business hours.

Warren County Divorce Decree Office

The Warren County Clerk's Office is the main source for divorce decree records. The office is at the Warren County Municipal Center, 1340 State Route 9, Lake George, NY 12845. You can call at (518) 761-6426 or (518) 761-6484. The fax number is (518) 761-6551. Email the office at countyclerk@warrencountyny.gov. County Clerk Carrie Black and her staff handle all records requests. The front counter is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with recording available until 3:30 PM.

To get a copy of a Warren County divorce decree, you need to be a party to the divorce or an attorney of record. Bring a valid photo ID. You will need the full names of both spouses. If you have the index number, that helps speed things up. Without it, the clerk can run a search at $5 per two-year period. Certified copies cost $5 for the first four pages and $1.25 for each page after that, up to a cap of $40. Non-certified copies are about $0.65 per page.

The public records room is open during business hours. You can reach it at (518) 761-6432 or (518) 761-6433. Staff there can help you search through court indexes and locate your divorce decree file.

Search Warren County Divorce Decrees

Warren County has an online records search through Search IQS. This tool is linked from the clerk's online records page. You can search land records, court records, and other filings by name or document type. For divorce decree cases, the search can help you find the index number and confirm that a filing exists. The full divorce decree is not available online because of privacy rules, but the basic case information can save you a trip to the office.

Here is the Warren County Clerk's online records page, which links to the search tools for court and land records in the county.

This page provides access to Search IQS and other resources for looking up Warren County court filings, including divorce decree records.

WebCivil Supreme is another free tool from the New York State court system. You can search Warren County divorce cases by party name, index number, or attorney. The results give you case status, filing dates, and party names. Again, the full divorce decree is sealed under DRL Section 235, so you cannot view the document online.

Warren County Divorce Decree Services

The Warren County Clerk Services page lists everything the office handles. Beyond divorce decree records, the clerk deals with land recordings, mortgage tax, business name certificates, judgments, and liens. E-filing has been mandatory for newly commenced civil court cases in Warren County since May 23, 2018. That means newer divorce filings may be in the NYSCEF system.

Here is the Warren County Clerk's services page with information about recording, filing, and court record services.

The services page covers the range of records the clerk maintains, with links to fees and procedures for each type.

The Deputy County Clerk, Linda Morgan, can be reached at (518) 761-6516 for questions about record requests. The Record Room staff are at (518) 761-6573, (518) 761-6433, and (518) 761-6432. If you need help with the Supreme or County Courts office, call (518) 480-6336.

Divorce Decree Court in Warren County

The Warren County Supreme Court is part of the 4th Judicial District. The court is at the Municipal Center in Lake George. You can reach the Supreme and County Courts office at (518) 480-6335 or by email at WarrenSupremeCo@nycourts.gov. Supreme Court Justices Hon. Martin D. Auffredou and Hon. Robert J. Muller hear divorce cases in Warren County. County Court Judge Hon. Robert Smith handles related matters.

All divorces in Warren County go through the Supreme Court. This is true across all of New York. Family Court does not have the power to grant a divorce. When the judge signs the final judgment of divorce, it becomes the official divorce decree. That decree gets filed with the County Clerk. The clerk's copy is the one you request when you need a certified copy for legal or personal use.

The Surrogate's Court in Warren County handles wills and estates, not divorces. You can reach it at (518) 480-6351 if you need estate-related records. Hon. John S. Hall, Jr. serves as the Surrogate.

Warren County Divorce Decree Laws

Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law seals all divorce files for 100 years. Only the parties, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can see the full Warren County divorce decree. Anyone can ask for a certification of disposition, which confirms the outcome without sharing private details. Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk must search and copy records for qualified requesters who pay the fees.

For divorces after January 1, 1963, the NYS Department of Health also has a divorce certificate. The mail fee is $30. Online orders are $45 plus a vendor fee. For divorces before 1963, the Warren County Clerk is the only source. The New York State Archives has information about very old records that may be available for genealogy research.

The NYS Unified Court System provides free divorce forms and instructions. The New York State Bar Association referral line is 1-800-342-3661. For free help with questions about divorce decree records and court procedures, try Ask a Law Librarian.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Warren County and keep their own divorce decree records at their clerk offices.