Orleans County Dissolution Of Marriage Lookup
Orleans County dissolution of marriage records are filed and maintained by the County Clerk's Office in Albion. The clerk stores all case files from divorce proceedings handled in the Orleans County Supreme Court. If you are looking for a dissolution of marriage record in this county, the clerk's office at Courthouse Square is the place to go. Orleans County is a smaller county in western New York, and the clerk's office handles all court record requests in person or by phone. There is no online portal for searching dissolution records in this county, so direct contact with the office is the best route.
Orleans County Dissolution Of Marriage Overview
Orleans County Clerk and Dissolution Records
The Orleans County Clerk's Office is at 3 South Main Street, Suite 1, Courthouse Square, Albion, NY 14411. The phone number is 585-589-5334. The fax is 585-589-0181. You can email the clerk at Nadine.Hanlon@orleanscountyny.gov. County Clerk Nadine Hanlon runs the office and oversees all court record filings. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. During the summer months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, hours shift to 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The clerk keeps dissolution of marriage files going back many years. That includes divorce decrees, separation agreements, and all other court papers filed in matrimonial cases. If you need a copy, call the office first. They can tell you what fees apply and what documents you need to bring. In-person visits are the most common way to get records since the county does not have an online search portal for dissolution cases.
One important thing to know about Orleans County is that the clerk does NOT maintain vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates. Those are held at the town and village level. So if you need a marriage certificate (as opposed to a dissolution record), you contact the town clerk where the marriage license was issued. The county clerk only handles court records, land records, and related filings.
Looking Up Orleans County Dissolution Cases
Orleans County does not have its own online search portal for court records. This means you cannot look up dissolution of marriage cases through the county website. For online searching, the best option is the state's WebCivil Supreme system. Pick Orleans County from the drop-down, type in a name, and the tool returns basic case data. It covers cases from 1983 to the present. You get the index number, filing date, and case status. No full documents show up because of the confidentiality rules.
The Orleans County Clerk's Office website provides information about their services and contact details.
For actual dissolution documents, you must contact the clerk by phone or visit the office in Albion.
If you want forms for filing a new dissolution case, the NYS Courts divorce forms page has free packets. You can download them and fill them out yourself. The clerk's office also has packets available. These come in versions for couples with and without children under 21. The forms include instructions on how to complete and file the paperwork.
Orleans County Dissolution Fees and Process
Filing for dissolution of marriage in Orleans County follows the same process as every other New York county. The case goes to the Supreme Court. The clerk assigns an index number when you submit your papers. The standard index number fee is $210. You also pay $95 for the Request for Judicial Intervention. The Note of Issue costs $30. Fee waivers are available if you qualify based on income. You can file a fee waiver request with the court to have all costs reduced or eliminated.
For copies of existing dissolution records, call the clerk at 585-589-5334 to ask about current fees. Standard New York fees apply. Certified copies run $5.00 for the certification plus page charges. The search fee is typically $5.00 for every two-year period searched. If you know the index number, you can skip the search fee and just pay for the copies you need.
The New York State Department of Health issues dissolution certificates for cases from 1963 to the present. Mail orders cost $30 per copy. Online and phone orders are $45 plus a processing fee. The DOH certificate has the names of both spouses and the date the marriage ended. It does not include the full judgment terms. You can reach the DOH Vital Records office at 855-322-1022.
Access to Orleans County Dissolution Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Orleans County are confidential under Domestic Relations Law Section 235. This means only the parties named in the case, their attorneys, or someone with a court order can see the full file. The records stay sealed for 100 years from the date of filing. After that, they become public and anyone can view them.
A Certificate of Disposition is the one document that anyone can request. It confirms a dissolution was granted without showing the details of the case. This is useful for people who need to prove a prior marriage ended. It works for things like applying for a new marriage license or updating records with a government agency.
As of February 2025, CPLR 515 has new requirements about matrimonial venue. If you are filing a new dissolution case, check with the clerk's office to make sure you are filing in the right county. The venue rules determine which county has jurisdiction over your case based on where you and your spouse live.
Note: Orleans County vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates are held at the town and village level, not at the County Clerk's Office.
State Resources for Orleans County
The New York State Department of Health Vital Records office handles dissolution certificate orders for Orleans County cases from 1963 forward. Mail your request to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Include a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check for $30 made out to the NYS Department of Health. Processing takes 10 to 12 weeks. The toll-free number is 855-322-1022.
For older records, the New York State Archives has dissolution files from before July 1, 1847, for upstate counties including Orleans. Cases from 1847 onward are at the Orleans County Clerk's Office in Albion. After 100 years, any dissolution record opens to the public without restriction.
Nearby Counties
Orleans County does not have any cities with pages on this site. All dissolution of marriage cases file through the Orleans County Supreme Court in Albion. If a case was filed in a bordering county, you need to contact that county's clerk.