Suffolk County, New York Divorce Records

Suffolk County divorce records refer to official files from the County Supreme Court (Matrimonial Center). Such documents provide proof and details of dissolved marriages in the county. They contain basic information such as the parties' names, grounds for the divorce, court details, filing date, judge's name, and more. Records are typically maintained by the Suffolk County Clerk's Office, where requesters can be guided on how to find divorce records in Suffolk County. As of 2021, the New York State Department of Health, Suffolk County, reported 2,584 divorce decrees, a notable increase from the 2019 figure of 2,227.

Are Divorce Records Public in Suffolk?

Suffolk County divorce records generally fall under the umbrella of public records. According to the New York Freedom of Information Law, such records are considered open because they are created and maintained by public institutions such as the courts. These laws guide the public's access to documents created and maintained by public agencies. Residents may obtain publicly accessible divorce records through the Suffolk County Supreme Court, Matrimonial Division.

The general public can access basic details of divorce. Some examples of publicly accessible information include the parties' names, the docket or case number, grounds for the divorce, and more. However, record custodians may restrict access to sensitive details such as victim information and financial affidavits. Such details may only be accessed by the parties to the case, their legal representatives, and anyone granted access by a court.

How to Find Divorce Records in Suffolk County

Qualified individuals can use in-person or mail-in requests to access and obtain divorce records in Suffolk County. The Suffolk County Clerk's Office provides in-person access to divorce decrees and separation agreements. Mail-in access is also available through the county clerk's office using a notarized request. Members of the public or qualified persons can order these records through the New York State Department of Health's Divorce Certificates website or use the New York State Unified Court System website to look up divorce records in Suffolk County.

Follow these steps for Suffolk County court divorce searches:

In-person Access

• Go to the Suffolk County Clerk's Office
• Obtain and fill out the request form in the required format
• Attach further documents, such as the evidence of payment of filing or copy fees
• Submit the request and wait for the records to be produced

Mail-in Access

• Obtain the request form from the County Clerk's website
• Fill out the form with all details
• Attach additional documents and add a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of copies.
• Proceed to your preferred postal service to send the mail

Online Access

Requesters can conduct Suffolk County court divorce searches online or order these records. For online viewing, follow these steps:

• Go to the New York State eCourts website
• Click on the WebCivil Supreme link
• Select your preferred search parameter between Index Search, Party Search, Attorney/Firm Search, Justice Search, Document Search, and more
• Enter the required case details to run the search

To order divorce records online, follow these steps:

• Go to the New York State Department of Health website
• Click on the Birth, Death, Marriage, & Divorce Records link to access the Divorce Certificate webpage
• Click on Order Online and follow the instructions

Overview of the Suffolk County Court System

Suffolk County divorces are filed and heard at the Suffolk County Supreme Court's Matrimonial Center. This center handles family law cases, such as child custody, equitable distribution, and child support. Suffolk County Supreme Court records are managed and maintained by the Suffolk County Clerk's Office. However, the Supreme Court maintains motions, hearings, and trials records, while the clerk's office maintains divorce records. The public can access Suffolk County Supreme Court Matrimonial Center filings through these offices.

Online Access to Suffolk County Divorce Records

Suffolk County divorce records can be accessed online through the New York State Unified Court System WebCivil Supreme website. This website links to a search portal for a free online divorce lookup. Simply agree to the terms and select the type of search you want, which may be a party search, justice search, document search, attorney or firm search, index search, or more. Requesters can also find Suffolk County divorce records online from the New York State Department of Health's Divorce Certificates. This website provides access to a service for ordering divorce certificates, while the WebCivil Supreme portal allows access to divorce case documents and judgments.

What's Typically Included in a Suffolk County Divorce Record

Suffolk County divorce records are publicly accessible and generally contain basic details about the case, such as the court location, filing date of the case or the divorce, the case or docket number, names of parties, name of the judge, attorneys or law firms on record, the case disposition, custody outcome, and a general outline of property allocation.

Nevertheless, some records are restricted due to their sensitive nature. These restrictions include the children's full identification details, financial affidavits, psychological or medical records, parties' date of birth, adoption records, substance abuse details or treatment information, and protective orders.

How to Get Certified Copies of Suffolk County Divorce Records

Certified copies of divorce records are official copies that carry an authorized officer's signature and a court seal. They are legally valid and can be used for official processes such as name changes, social security updates, and remarriage. Informational copies are less formal without certification or an official seal. They generally carry basic case details for personal records, general reference, or genealogy. Due to their lack of authorization, informational copies cannot be used for official purposes.

Certified divorce decrees in Suffolk County can be obtained from the Suffolk County Clerk's Office. Requesters must provide details like the date of the divorce, index number, or parties' names to access these records by bail or in person. However, certified copies may not be available online except they are ordered from the court or the New York State Department of Health.

Requesters can submit their record requests or mail them to the Suffolk County Clerk's Office with a valid ID. Payment of the certified copy fees must be made after submitting the request. A certification fee of $% plus $1 per page of divorce record. Mail-in requests may take up to 4 weeks to be processed, while in-person requests are processed the same day.

Why People Request Suffolk County Divorce Records

Divorce records provide details of marriage dissolutions and agreements between spouses. There are various reasons for requesting divorce records in Suffolk County. They include:

• For proof of dissolved marriage
• For name changes
• Alimony verification
• Genealogy or family research
• For appeal purposes
• For pension or insurance claims
• For Child support or custody enforcement
• For immigration applications

Suffolk County Divorce Records Summary