Montgomery County Dissolution Of Marriage Records

Montgomery County dissolution of marriage records are maintained at the County Clerk's Office in Fonda. The clerk keeps the full case file for every dissolution action processed through the Montgomery County Supreme Court. If you want to search for a dissolution of marriage record in Montgomery County, you can contact the clerk by phone, visit in person, or send a request by mail. This county in the Mohawk Valley has specific procedures and a detailed fee schedule for dissolution record requests. The clerk's office is your starting point for any search or copy request.

Montgomery County Clerk and Dissolution Records

The Montgomery County Clerk's Office handles all dissolution of marriage records for the county. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1500, Fonda, NY 12068. Phone: 518-853-8111. The clerk stores every document filed in a dissolution of marriage case, from the initial summons through the signed judgment. This is the only office in Montgomery County where you can get copies of a dissolution of marriage file.

In-person requests require a photo ID with your signature, such as a driver's license. You must be a party to the case or their attorney on record. The clerk will look up the file by name and index number. If you are not in the system as a party, you will not be allowed to view the file unless you have a court order or a notarized letter from one of the spouses.

Mail requests follow a specific process. Send a letter with your name at the time of the dissolution, your former spouse's name, a copy of your photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check payable to "Montgomery County Clerk." The clerk processes mail requests and sends copies back by return mail. Include payment for the search fee and copy costs.

Searching Montgomery County Dissolution Cases

Montgomery County does not have a dedicated online search portal for dissolution of marriage records. The county's court records are not available through SearchIQS or a similar local system. The best online tool is the statewide WebCivil Supreme system. Select Montgomery County, enter a party name, and review the results. WebCivil goes back to 1983 and shows the case index number, party names, filing date, and case status. Full documents are restricted under Section 235.

The Montgomery County government website provides contact information and details about the clerk's office and its services.

For full dissolution documents, you need to submit a request directly to the clerk's office by mail or in person.

Montgomery County Dissolution Fee Schedule

Montgomery County has a detailed fee schedule for dissolution of marriage record requests. Plain copies cost $1.00 per page with a maximum of $40.00. Certified copies are $4.00 plus $1.00 per page, also capped at $40.00. The mail search fee is $5.00 plus the cost of copies. If you want a certified copy by mail, add $4.00 to the total. These rates are specific to Montgomery County and differ from the standard fees in many other counties.

Filing a new dissolution of marriage case in Montgomery County costs $210 for the index number. The Request for Judicial Intervention adds $95. A Note of Issue is $30. Fee waivers are available for those with financial hardship. The NYS Courts website has the waiver forms along with the dissolution forms themselves. Packets are available for uncontested cases with and without children.

Who Can Access Montgomery County Dissolution Files

Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law makes dissolution of marriage records in Montgomery County confidential. Only the parties to the dissolution or their attorney of record can view or obtain copies. The clerk checks ID before releasing any file. If you are not a named party, you need either a court order or written notarized permission from one of the spouses.

Records may take extra time to retrieve if they are not immediately available. Older files may be stored off-site or in archive storage. The clerk will let you know the wait time when you make your request.

A Certificate of Disposition is the exception. Anyone can get one. It confirms a dissolution was entered in Montgomery County without showing what the case involved. The Department of Health also issues dissolution certificates for cases from 1963 to the present. Those cost $30 by mail or $45 online. After 100 years from filing, all dissolution records become public.

State Resources for Montgomery County

Montgomery County residents can get dissolution of marriage certificates from the Department of Health Vital Records office. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. The toll-free line is 855-322-1022. Processing takes 10 to 12 weeks by mail. These certificates show names and dates but not the terms of the decree.

The New York State Archives holds dissolution records from before 1847 for upstate counties including Montgomery. For cases between 1847 and the present, the Montgomery County Clerk is the source. The WebCivil Supreme system is the fastest free way to confirm a case exists before contacting the clerk.

Nearby Counties

If your dissolution of marriage was filed in a neighboring county, you need to contact that county's clerk instead. Here are the counties near Montgomery County.