Divorce records in New York (Manhattan) are available through several channels — online tools, the court that issued the decision, the county clerk's office, and the state office of vital records. NewYorkCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information regarding divorce records in the county. Additionally, you can contact the New York State Supreme Court, the New York County Clerk's Office, or the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which maintains vital records.
New York Divorce Records Search
In New York State, divorce cases are handled by the Supreme Court — a court of general jurisdiction, not an appellate court as the name might suggest. After a decision is made, the court case is stored in the clerk's office of the court where the proceedings took place. For divorces filed in Manhattan, this is the Supreme Court, New York County.
In addition to court materials, there is a separate document — the divorce certificate. It is issued by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Vital Records. This document confirms the fact of divorce but does not contain details of property division or custody arrangements.
The court case includes:
- Judgment of Divorce
- Settlement Agreement, if the parties reached an agreement
- Orders regarding child custody and alimony
- Accompanying motions and procedural documents
Main office for obtaining court copies:
New York County Clerk's Office
For divorce certificates:
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene — Office of Vital Records
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in New York
Divorces in New York go through the Supreme Court of the respective county. If the case was filed in Manhattan, the court's decision is stored in the New York County Clerk's Office. This is where you should go if you need a full copy of the court decision, property division agreement, or any procedural documents from the case.
At the same time, the county clerk's office provides records only for divorces that took place within New York City — Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island. Divorces outside the city require contacting the respective county.
The state-level record-keeping is provided by the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section. You should contact them for a certificate if the divorce took place in any county of the state after 1963.
Where to Contact Depending on Your Needs
| What You Need | Where to Contact |
|---|---|
| Full court decision, property division agreement, custody order | New York County Clerk's Office (Supreme Court Clerk's Office) |
| Divorce certificate (confirmation of fact) | NYC Department of Health — Office of Vital Records or NYS Department of Health |
| Divorce outside NYC | Clerk of the county where the decision was made or NYS Department of Health |
New York County Clerk's Office (Supreme Court Records)
NYS Department of Health — Vital Records Section
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in New York
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce certificate (NYC Vital Records) | $15.00 | 2–6 weeks by mail |
| Divorce certificate (NYS Department of Health) | $30.00 | up to 6 weeks by mail |
| Registry search (NYS DOH, for each additional 2 years) | $15.00 | included in the overall term |
| Copy of court decision (County Clerk) | $1.25 per page (uncertified); $6.00 — certification | usually on the day of visit in person |
| Expedited processing (NYS DOH, Priority Handling) | $15.00 additional | reduces time to 2–3 weeks |