Franklin County Dissolution Of Marriage Lookup
Franklin County dissolution of marriage records are filed with the County Clerk's Office in Malone, New York. The clerk keeps all Supreme Court case files for the county. If you need to search for a dissolution of marriage case or get copies of a divorce decree, the Malone office is your starting point. Franklin County sits in the northern part of the state near the Canadian border. You can also use the statewide WebCivil Supreme tool to look up basic case info for dissolution of marriage filings in this county going back to the early 1980s.
Franklin County Dissolution Of Marriage Overview
Franklin County Clerk Dissolution Records
The Franklin County Clerk's Office is at 355 West Main Street in Malone. Call 518-481-1681 with questions about dissolution of marriage records. The office handles both walk-in visits and mail requests.
Getting copies of dissolution of marriage records from Franklin County follows the same rules as every other county in New York. You must be a party to the case, an attorney of record, or have notarized permission from one of the spouses. A valid photo ID is required for all requests. Bring the names of both parties and either the index number or the approximate year the case started. Without the index number, the clerk can still search by name but narrowing the time frame helps.
For mail requests, send a written letter to the Franklin County Clerk at 355 West Main Street, Malone, NY 12953. Include the same details you would bring in person. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for any applicable fees. The office will process the request and mail copies back to you.
Franklin County also issues Certificates of Disposition. This is a one-page document that confirms a dissolution of marriage judgment was entered. It does not show the terms of the divorce. Anyone can request this form.
The Franklin County government website provides contact details and service information for the County Clerk's Office.
Check the website or call ahead to confirm office hours before visiting for a dissolution of marriage record request.
How to Search Franklin County Dissolution Cases
Franklin County has limited online access for dissolution of marriage records. The primary digital tool is WebCivil Supreme, run by the New York State Unified Court System. Select Franklin County from the list. Type in a spouse's name. Results show case index numbers, party names, case type, and filing dates. It goes back to 1983 and is free to use.
The actual documents are not available online. Under Domestic Relations Law Section 235, dissolution of marriage papers are sealed for 100 years. WebCivil shows you enough to find the case number. Then you contact the Franklin County Clerk for copies.
Visit the clerk's office in person for the most complete search. Staff can check records that may not appear in the online system. Older files might be on microfilm or in storage. If the case used NYSCEF e-filing after April 2012, it may only be in that system.
Filing a Dissolution Of Marriage in Franklin County
Franklin County Supreme Court is the only court that can grant a dissolution of marriage. The court sits in Malone. To start a case, you need an index number that costs $210. The RJI fee is $95 and a Note of Issue is $30. These are state-wide fees.
Free dissolution of marriage forms are available from the NYS Courts website. There are packets for uncontested cases with children and without children. You can also get forms at the Malone courthouse. The no-fault ground under DRL Section 170(7) is the most used. Either spouse can state the relationship has broken down for at least six months. This replaced the old system that required proving fault.
New York residency requirements must be met. At least one spouse needs to live in the state for one year before filing. If both spouses are New York residents at the time of filing, one year of continuous residency by either party satisfies the rule. Franklin County handles cases for people living in the Malone area and surrounding communities.
Note: Fee waivers are available for those who cannot pay filing costs, and the court will review your income before approving a waiver request.
Franklin County Dissolution Record Access
Dissolution of marriage records are confidential in Franklin County. Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law seals all matrimonial files for 100 years from the filing date. The clerk cannot show the pleadings, financial disclosures, or judgment to anyone who is not a party, their attorney, or someone with a court order.
The one exception is the Certificate of Disposition. This short document confirms that a dissolution of marriage was granted. It shows the nature of the judgment but none of the private details. Municipal clerks who issue marriage licenses accept this as proof of a prior dissolution. After 100 years, the full dissolution of marriage file in Franklin County becomes public and anyone can review it.
Franklin County Dissolution Record Fees
Contact the Franklin County Clerk at 518-481-1681 for the current fee schedule. Most New York counties charge $0.65 per page for plain copies with a $1.30 minimum. Certified copies run about $5.00 per certification. Search fees are typically $5.00 per name for each two-year period searched.
The Department of Health keeps dissolution of marriage certificates for all New York cases from 1963 onward. A copy by mail costs $30. Online orders cost $45 plus a processing fee. These certificates have basic information like names and dates. They do not include the terms of the decree.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders several counties in northern New York. If a dissolution of marriage was filed in a neighboring county, you need to reach out to that county's clerk for records.