Southampton Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Southampton dissolution of marriage records are filed and stored at the Suffolk County Clerk's Office in Riverhead. Southampton is a town in Suffolk County on the east end of Long Island, and all divorce cases here go through the Suffolk County Supreme Court. The Southampton Town Clerk does not keep dissolution records. To search for a dissolution of marriage case, get a copy of a judgment, or check on a filing, you need to go through the county clerk. The Suffolk County system handles every town in the county the same way, so the process is straightforward once you know where to look.

Suffolk County Clerk and Southampton Divorce Records

Southampton residents file dissolution of marriage cases through the Suffolk County Supreme Court. The Suffolk County Clerk's Office is at 300 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Phone: 631-852-2000. This office keeps every dissolution case file for the county. That means all papers from the first filing through the signed judgment are stored there. If your case was in Suffolk County, this is where the records live.

To get records in person, visit the clerk's office in Riverhead. Bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties. An index number helps speed things up, but it is not always needed. The staff can pull your file and make copies right there. You can also search for case index data on the public access terminals at the office.

Mail requests are accepted too. Send a written request with your ID and case details to the Court Actions division at the address above. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and your payment. Processing takes a few business days after they get your letter.

The Suffolk County Supreme Court also has Matrimonial Centers in Central Islip and Riverhead. The Central Islip location is at 400 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip, NY 11722. Phone: 631-740-3850. These centers handle active divorce cases and can point you to the right filings.

Online Dissolution Records for Southampton

Suffolk County provides an online records portal where you can search for dissolution of marriage cases. The search is free. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or date range. Full document images are restricted under state law, but the search results give you case numbers and filing dates that help when you request copies from the clerk.

The Suffolk County Clerk provides information about requesting dissolution of marriage records on their website.

This page shows the procedures for requesting divorce records through the Suffolk County Clerk's office.

The WebCivil Supreme system is another free tool. Select Suffolk from the county list and type in a name. Results show the index number, party names, and case status. Full documents are not available online because of the Domestic Relations Law Section 235 confidentiality rules. WebCivil goes back to 1983 and covers all 62 counties in the state.

Southampton Dissolution Of Marriage Fees

The search fee at the Suffolk County Clerk is $5.00 per name for each two-year period searched. This is the standard rate across most New York counties. Copy fees run $1.30 for the first two pages and $0.65 for each page after that. A certified copy costs $5.00 for the first four pages. If you need extra pages certified, there is an added charge per page.

Filing a new dissolution of marriage case in Suffolk County requires $210 for the index number. The Request for Judicial Intervention costs $95. A Note of Issue adds $30. Fee waivers are available for people who cannot afford the costs. Free uncontested divorce packets can be downloaded from the NYS Courts website.

Southampton Town Clerk

The Southampton Town Clerk is at 239 Hampton Road, Southampton, NY 11968. Phone: 631-702-2237. This office handles vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates. It does not keep dissolution of marriage records. If you call about a divorce, they will send you to the Suffolk County Clerk in Riverhead instead.

For a dissolution of marriage certificate from the state level, the New York State Department of Health keeps records for all cases since 1963. Mail orders cost $30 per copy. Online orders are $45 plus a vendor fee. Call the toll-free line at 855-322-1022 with questions. These certificates show basic facts about the divorce but not the full terms or conditions. You need the county clerk for the complete judgment.

The New York State Archives explains where to find older dissolution records. Cases before 1963 only have the divorce decree on file with the county clerk. There is no state-level certificate for those older cases.

Dissolution Record Access Rules

Dissolution of marriage files in New York are sealed. Only the parties to the case, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can view the full file. This rule comes from Domestic Relations Law Section 235. It applies to all counties, including Suffolk County where Southampton cases are filed.

The seal lasts 100 years from the date of filing. After that, the records become public. For genealogy research, the FamilySearch wiki on New York divorce records has tips on finding older cases. The New York State Archives holds pre-1847 divorce records. From 1847 forward, the county clerk where the case was filed keeps the original records on file.

Nearby Cities

These nearby communities also file dissolution of marriage cases through the Suffolk County system.