Introduction to New York Divorce Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a New York State Divorce certificate.  Divorce Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Divorce Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Divorce Certificates is that states have not been registering Divorces for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register Divorces.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the Divorce took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Divorce Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Divorce Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Divorce certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Divorce certificate by following the correct procedure.  

New York Divorce certificates have been maintained by the New York State Department of Health for individuals divorced in the state of New York and outside of New York City since 1880. The New York State Department of Health does not file records of births and deaths that occurred in New York City and Divorce licenses that were obtained in New York City. To obtain information about genealogy services available for New York City records, please visit the New York City Municipal Archives web page.  However, for the period 1881 through 1897 the New York State Department of Health does have records of Divorce for the City of New York boroughs of Queens and Richmond.

The New York State Department of Health does not file records of New York Divorce certificates from the Cities of Albany, Buffalo and Yonkers prior to January 1, 1963. To obtain records from these municipalities contact the Local Registrar for Divorce and death record requests or the City Clerk for Divorce record requests.

New York Divorce Certificate Authorized Persons

By New York state law, New York Divorce certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the New York Divorce Certificate
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the New York Divorce Certificate

New York Divorce Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Anyone can obtain a New York Divorce Certificate, 50 years or later from the date of the Divorce and the person whose name is on the New York Divorce certificate is known to be deceased, for genealogy or other reasons.

The time periods are waived for direct-line descendants. A direct line descendant is a person in the direct line of descent, i.e., the child, grandchild, great grandchild of the person whose record is requested. The direct-line descendant applicant must provide the following:

• Proof of their relationship to the person whose record they are requesting.
• Proof of the death of the person whose birth certificate they are requesting.
• Proof of the death of the bride and groom whose Divorce certificate they are requesting.

New York Divorce Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order New York Divorce Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your New York Divorce Certificate.  Order online and you will get your New York Divorce Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – Order New York Divorce Certificate through the Mail

Follow the instructions below, if you are not ordering your New York Divorce certificate online.  It usually takes 2-3 weeks upon receipt of request to be sent to you.  For genealogy requests it may take 5 months or longer:

Step 1: Download Mail-In Application

Step 2: Please provide as much of the following information as possible to locate the New York Divorce certificate:

• Full name of husband on the New York State Divorce certificate
• Full maiden name of wife on the New York State Divorce certificate
• Date of Divorce on the New York State Divorce certificate
• County (or city) of Divorce on the New York State Divorce certificate
• Your name 
• Your signature 
• Your relationship to the person whose New York State Divorce certificate you are requesting 
• Address where the New York State Divorce certificate is to be mailed 
• Self addressed stamped envelope
• Your daytime phone number
• By Mail: Send the above information and the appropriate fee to:

 

New York State Department of Health

Vital Records Section

Certification Unit

800 North Pearl Street

Menands, NY 12204

Option 3 – In Person

In Person in New York: You may go to any county health department in the State of New York to obtain a certified copy of a New York Divorce certificate. Most New York Divorce certificates can be issued while you wait.

New York Divorce Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a New York Divorce certificate is $15.00, which includes one certified copy of the New York Divorce certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the New York Divorce certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $15.00. Checks or Money Orders should be made payable to "New York State Department of Health." Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.