Find Dissolution Of Marriage in Broome County
Broome County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk's Office at the courthouse in Binghamton. Located in the Southern Tier region of New York, Broome County is part of the 6th Judicial District. All divorce proceedings in the county go through the Supreme Court, and the clerk keeps the complete case file. Whether you need to search for a dissolution of marriage case or get a certified copy of a decree, the Binghamton office is the place to start. You can also check the state's WebCivil system for basic case details before making the trip.
Broome County Dissolution Of Marriage Overview
Broome County Clerk and Dissolution Records
The Broome County Clerk's Office is at 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901. The phone number is 607-778-2130. This office keeps all dissolution of marriage case files for Broome County. When the Supreme Court grants a divorce, the clerk files the judgment and stores all related papers. That includes the summons, complaint, answer, financial affidavits, and the final decree.
You can request records in person or by mail. For in-person visits, bring a valid photo ID and the names of both parties. The index number helps, but the clerk can search by name if you do not have it. Only the spouses, their attorneys, or someone with written permission from a party can access the full file. This is because of Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law.
Contact the office for the current fee schedule. Standard New York fees apply in most cases: $0.65 per page for plain copies, $8.00 for certification, and a search fee per name for each two-year period. Broome County follows these general guidelines.
Note: Broome County does not offer extensive online access to divorce records, so contacting the clerk's office directly is the most reliable way to get dissolution of marriage documents.
Broome County Supreme Court and Divorce Cases
The Broome County Supreme Court is part of the 6th Judicial District. It is the only court that can grant a dissolution of marriage in Broome County. All matrimonial cases are filed here, and the records go to the County Clerk for storage. The court handles contested and uncontested divorces, annulments, and legal separations.
The Broome County courts page has general information about the court system in the county. It covers the Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, and local courts. Only the Supreme Court deals with dissolution of marriage cases. The Family Court handles custody and support after a divorce is final, but it does not grant divorces.
The Broome County courts page on the county government website provides details about the different courts and their roles in the county.
The Supreme Court is the only court in the county with the authority to end a marriage through dissolution.
Searching Broome County Dissolution Records Online
Online options for Broome County dissolution of marriage records are limited. The county does not run a dedicated search portal for divorce cases. Your best online tool is the statewide WebCivil Supreme system. Go to the site, pick Broome County from the dropdown, and type in a party name. The results will show index numbers, filing dates, and case status. You will not see any documents because of the state's confidentiality rules for matrimonial cases.
WebCivil goes back to 1983 and is free to use. No registration is needed. It covers all 62 counties. For Broome County cases, the search can help you confirm a dissolution was filed and get the index number you need before visiting the clerk's office.
If you need the actual divorce decree with all the terms and conditions, you have to go through the clerk. For a basic certificate showing names and dates, the Department of Health has dissolution certificates for cases from 1963 forward. Mail those requests to the Vital Records office in Albany at P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602.
Dissolution Of Marriage Filing in Broome County
Filing for a dissolution of marriage in Broome County starts at the County Clerk's Office. The index number fee is $210 across all New York counties. You also pay $95 for the Request for Judicial Intervention and $30 for the Note of Issue. These fees are set by state law.
New York added a no-fault ground for dissolution in 2010. Either spouse can now state that the relationship broke down irretrievably for at least six months. You do not have to prove fault. Before 2010, New York required one of several fault grounds like cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment, or adultery. The no-fault option made the process simpler for many Broome County residents.
Residency requirements apply. At least one spouse must have lived in New York continuously for one year before filing if the marriage took place here or the grounds arose here. Divorce forms are available from the clerk's office or from the NYS Courts website. Uncontested packets cover cases with and without children.
Note: Broome County residents who cannot afford filing fees may apply for a fee waiver through the Supreme Court by filling out the court's financial disclosure form.
Broome County Dissolution Record Confidentiality
All dissolution of marriage files in Broome County are confidential under Domestic Relations Law Section 235. The clerk cannot show the papers to anyone other than a party or their attorney. If you are not named in the case, you need a notarized letter from one of the spouses or a court order. This rule covers every document in the file: the petition, the financial statements, the testimony, and the judgment.
A Certificate of Disposition is the one exception. Anyone can ask the Broome County Clerk for this one-page document. It confirms a dissolution was entered and shows the nature of the judgment. It does not reveal the details of the case. Marriage license clerks across the state accept it as proof of a prior dissolution.
After 100 years, Broome County dissolution records open up to the public. The confidentiality rules in Section 235 expire, and anyone can inspect the files. Some of the county's oldest records may already be past this mark and available for genealogy research.
Cities in Broome County
Broome County includes Binghamton, Endicott, Johnson City, and several other communities. Residents across the county file dissolution of marriage cases at the Broome County Supreme Court in Binghamton. The clerk at 44 Hawley Street handles all record requests.
Nearby Counties
Dissolution of marriage records stay with the county where the case was filed. If the filing happened in a neighboring county, reach out to their clerk for records.