Yates County Divorce Decree

Yates County divorce decree records are stored at the County Clerk's Office in Penn Yan, the county seat. County Clerk Molly K. Linehan manages all Supreme Court filings, land records, and divorce decrees. Yates County is one of the smaller counties in New York, part of the 7th Judicial District. The clerk's office at 417 Liberty Street handles all requests for divorce decree copies, whether you visit in person or send a letter by mail. The county also has a Surrogate's Court and a Historian's office that can help with related records and older filings from the area.

Yates County Divorce Decree Office

The Yates County Clerk's Office is at 417 Liberty Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527. Call at (315) 536-5120 or fax at (315) 536-5545. The email is countyclerk@yatescounty.org. County Clerk Molly K. Linehan runs the office. The clerk holds all Supreme Court records for Yates County, which includes every divorce decree filed in the county. The office also handles land records, mortgages, liens, and other court documents.

To get a certified copy of your Yates County divorce decree, you need to show a valid photo ID. A driver's license, passport, or state-issued card will work. You must be a party to the divorce or the attorney of record. The clerk asks for the full names of both spouses. If you have the index number, bring it along. Without the index number, the clerk can run a search at $5 per two-year period. Certified copies cost $5 for the first four pages and $1.25 per additional page, with a $40 maximum. Non-certified copies are about $0.65 each page. Payment is by check or money order to the Yates County Clerk.

Mail requests are welcome. Write a letter with the names of both parties, the approximate date of the divorce, and the index number if you know it. Include your payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send it to 417 Liberty Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527. Processing times vary, but the office usually handles requests within a few weeks.

Search Yates County Divorce Decrees

The New York State Association of County Clerks listing includes information about the Yates County Clerk and the services offered. This is a good starting point if you are looking for general information about county clerk offices across the state, including Yates County.

Here is the NYSAC county clerk listing page, which provides a directory of all New York State county clerks including Yates County.

This directory can help you find contact information for the Yates County Clerk and other county clerks across New York State.

The Yates County records guide from the New York Family History organization covers the types of records held in the county. It includes information about court records, vital records, and other historical documents that can help with genealogy work or older divorce decree research.

Here is the Yates County records and genealogy guide with details on court records and vital records held in the county.

This guide is a good resource for anyone doing family history research involving Yates County divorce decree records or related court filings.

WebCivil Supreme is a free online tool from the New York State court system. Search Yates County divorce cases by party name, index number, or attorney. The results show case status and filing dates. The full divorce decree is not viewable online because of DRL Section 235 privacy rules. But the search can give you the case details and index number you need for your records request.

Yates County Divorce Decree Court

The Yates County Supreme Court is part of the 7th Judicial District. All divorce cases in Yates County are heard there. The court building is at 415 Liberty Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527, right next to the clerk's office. When a judge signs the final judgment of divorce, it becomes the official decree. That decree is filed with the County Clerk at 417 Liberty Street. The clerk stores it as part of the permanent court records.

Family Court does not handle divorces in New York. That is true in Yates County and every other county in the state. The Supreme Court is the only court that can end a marriage. If you have a Family Court case for custody or support, those are separate proceedings even if they are connected to a divorce.

The Yates County Surrogate's Court is at 415 Liberty Street. Call (315) 536-5130. It handles wills, estates, and probate matters, not divorces. The Office of Public History and Historian is at 417 Liberty Street. Call (315) 536-5147 or email history@yatescounty.org. The historian can help with older records and genealogy questions about Yates County.

Divorce Decree Laws in Yates County

Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law seals all Yates County divorce files for 100 years. The pleadings, testimony, findings, and the divorce decree itself are confidential. Only the parties to the case, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can view the full file. A certification of disposition is available to anyone. It confirms the case outcome without sharing the private terms.

Under Judiciary Law Section 255, the clerk must search records and provide copies when asked by a qualified person and paid the right fees. The clerk checks ID before releasing any Yates County divorce decree records.

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

Help With Yates County Divorce Decrees

The NYS Unified Court System website has free divorce forms and instruction booklets for both uncontested and contested cases. The New York State Bar Association referral line is 1-800-342-3661 if you need a lawyer in the Finger Lakes area.

For free help, Ask a Law Librarian answers questions about divorce decree records and court procedures. Legal Assistance of Western New York covers the 7th Judicial District and may be able to help qualifying Yates County residents with family law matters that come up during or after a divorce. They do not handle the divorce itself, but they can assist with related issues like custody, support, and property division.

Yates County is a small community. The clerk's office staff are generally helpful and can walk you through the request process. If you are not sure what you need, call (315) 536-5120 before you visit. They can tell you what documents to bring and what the fees will be for your specific request.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Yates County and maintain their own divorce decree records.