Bronx County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Bronx County dissolution of marriage records are handled by the Matrimonial Clerk's Office at the Bronx County Courthouse on Grand Concourse. As one of the five boroughs of New York City, the Bronx processes a high volume of divorce cases each year through its Supreme Court. Searching for a dissolution of marriage record here starts with knowing the right office to contact. The Bronx has its own Matrimonial Department separate from the general civil clerk. You can also check the statewide WebCivil system for basic case details or visit the courthouse in person for full file access.
Bronx County Dissolution Of Marriage Overview
Bronx County Matrimonial Clerk's Office
The Bronx County Matrimonial Clerk's Office handles all dissolution of marriage filings and record requests for the county. It is at 851 Grand Concourse, Room 118, Bronx, NY 10451. The phone number is 718-618-3300. The Matrimonial Department has its own line at 718-618-1340. This office is separate from the general Supreme Court Clerk's Office, which sits in Room 217 of the same building at 718-618-1400.
To get a dissolution of marriage record in person, visit the Matrimonial Clerk's Office during business hours. Bring a valid state-issued photo ID. You need the names of both parties and the case index number or the year the case was filed. A written request is required even for in-person visits. If you are not one of the parties, you must provide an original notarized letter from a party or their attorney giving you permission. That letter needs to include your name, the names of both parties, the index number or year, and contact information for the authorizing party.
Fees for searching Bronx County dissolution records are $10.00 per two-year period. Certification costs $8.00 per document. Additional per-page charges apply for copies. These rates are set by state law and are consistent across all five boroughs of New York City.
Searching Bronx County Dissolution Cases
The Bronx County Matrimonial Clerk's Office provides self-represented litigant resources and divorce forms on their court page.
Uncontested divorce packets are available at the Help Center in the courthouse. The packets come with step-by-step instructions.
For online case searches, the WebCivil Supreme system covers Bronx County. Select Bronx from the county list and enter a party name to search. Results show the index number, party names, case type, and filing date. Full documents are not visible online because of Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law. But you can get the index number you need to request copies at the clerk's office.
The WebCivil Supreme search page lets you look up dissolution of marriage cases across all New York counties including the Bronx.
WebCivil is free and does not need an account. It goes back to 1983.
Note: Only basic case data shows on WebCivil for Bronx County dissolution cases, as full matrimonial files are sealed under Domestic Relations Law Section 235.
Bronx County Dissolution Of Marriage Access
The Bronx County Court divorce records page gives an overview of how the dissolution of marriage system works in the Bronx. Section 255 of the Judiciary Law grants public access to most superior court records in the Bronx, but Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law carves out an exception for divorce files. These two laws work together to keep dissolution cases confidential while other civil matters stay open.
The Bronx County Court website provides additional details about accessing dissolution of marriage records and the rules that apply.
The site explains eligibility rules and how to order certificates of dissolution through the state Department of Health.
There are limited options for the public to find Bronx County dissolution records online. Under state law, divorce files are confidential documents. Only the parties, their attorneys, the courts, and people with court orders can access them. However, anyone can order a Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage from the New York Department of Health for Bronx County divorces from 1963 to the present. This certificate has basic facts but not the full terms of the decree.
Filing for Dissolution in Bronx County
Filing a dissolution of marriage case in Bronx County costs $210 for the index number. The RJI fee is $95 and the Note of Issue is $30. These are the same fees in every county across the state. The Matrimonial Clerk at Room 118 handles the filing. You can also e-file through the NYSCEF system for some case types, though not all matrimonial cases are eligible for electronic filing in the Bronx.
The 12th Judicial District page on the court system website has information about Bronx County court services. The Supreme Court, Civil Term handles matrimonial matters in the Matrimonial Part at Room 118. All dissolution of marriage proceedings for Bronx County residents go through this court.
For records before 1963, the Bronx County Clerk has the only copy of the divorce decree. For records from 1963 onward, the NYS Department of Health also has a certificate on file. The clerk's office maintains the full case file either way. Older records may be on microfilm or in storage, which can add time to retrieval.
Note: The public can access names of parties, case index numbers, Certificates of Disposition, and Appellate Court decisions from Bronx County dissolution cases without authorization.
Cities in Bronx County
Bronx County is coextensive with the Borough of the Bronx, one of five boroughs that make up New York City. All dissolution of marriage cases for Bronx residents are filed at the Bronx County Supreme Court.
Nearby Counties
If a dissolution of marriage was filed in a different county, you need that county's clerk for records. These counties border or are near Bronx County.