Search Washington County Dissolution Of Marriage
Washington County dissolution of marriage records are managed at the County Clerk's Office on Broadway in Fort Edward. The clerk maintains all case documents for dissolution proceedings handled by the Washington County Supreme Court. If you are looking for a dissolution of marriage record in Washington County, you can start with the state's free online case search or visit the clerk in person. The office holds everything from the initial filing to the final judgment. Washington County sits along the Vermont border in eastern New York and is part of the 4th Judicial District.
Washington County Dissolution Of Marriage Overview
Washington County Clerk and Dissolution Filings
The Washington County Clerk's Office is at 383 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828. Phone: 518-746-2170. This is the sole location for dissolution of marriage records in the county. The clerk stores every document from divorce and annulment cases heard in Washington County Supreme Court. That covers the summons, complaint, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, and the final judgment of dissolution.
Come in with a valid photo ID during regular office hours. You need the full names of both parties and either the index number or the year the case was filed. The clerk can pull the file and let you view or copy the documents you are entitled to see. You can also send a mail request with the same details and your payment to the Broadway address.
Washington County sits in the 4th Judicial District. The Supreme Court has sole power to grant a dissolution of marriage. No other court in the county handles these cases. All matrimonial proceedings must go through this court, whether contested or uncontested. The clerk and court work together to manage every dissolution case file in the county.
Washington County Dissolution Case Search Online
Use the WebCivil Supreme system to search for dissolution of marriage cases in Washington County. Select Washington from the county list, enter a party name, and pick the matrimonial case type. The results show the index number, party names, filing date, and status. You will not see full documents online. Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law keeps all matrimonial files sealed from public access.
WebCivil is free. No account needed. Cases from 1983 forward are in the system for all 62 counties. For Washington County, only basic case data appears. Full files remain sealed at the clerk's office on Broadway in Fort Edward.
Washington County does not have its own online portal for court records beyond WebCivil. For anything more than a case number, call the clerk at 518-746-2170 or visit in person. The staff will check the file and tell you what copies you can get. Your access depends on your relationship to the case, since these records are confidential under state law.
Note: Washington County dissolution files are sealed under Domestic Relations Law Section 235, and only named parties, their attorneys, or those with court orders can access the full case record.
Fees for Washington County Dissolution Records
Filing a new dissolution of marriage in Washington County costs $210 for the index number. Add $95 for the Request for Judicial Intervention and $30 for a Note of Issue. Fee waivers are available if you can show financial hardship. The court will waive all fees with the proper application.
Copy fees for existing dissolution records follow the standard state schedule. Plain copies run $0.65 per page with a $1.30 minimum. Certified copies carry a certification fee on top of the page charges. The search fee is $5.00 per name for each two-year period searched. Contact the Washington County Clerk at 518-746-2170 for exact current rates.
The Washington County Clerk's Office in Fort Edward is where all dissolution record requests are processed.
The office on Broadway handles both in-person visits and mail requests for case documents and certified copies.
The New York State Department of Health issues dissolution certificates for cases from 1963 to the present. Mail orders are $30 per copy. Online orders cost $45 plus processing. These certificates show the names and the date of dissolution. They do not include the terms of the decree. The NYS Courts website has free divorce forms for uncontested cases.
Accessing Washington County Dissolution Records
Dissolution of marriage records in Washington County are confidential under state law. Section 235 of the Domestic Relations Law seals all matrimonial files. Only the parties named in the case, their lawyers, or someone with a court order can view the full record. If you are not a party to the case, you need a notarized letter from one of the spouses that grants you permission. The letter must have your name, the names of both spouses, and the index number.
Anyone can request a Certificate of Disposition. This certificate confirms a dissolution was entered in Washington County. It states the nature and effect of the judgment but does not include details. Town clerks accept it as proof when someone applies for a new marriage license. For dissolution records over 100 years old, the files become fully public and genealogy researchers can access them without restriction.
State Resources for Washington County
The New York State Department of Health keeps dissolution certificates from 1963 forward. Mail orders go to P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602. Phone: 855-322-1022. Processing takes 10 to 12 weeks by mail. These certificates contain basic facts and do not cover the full terms of any divorce decree.
WebCivil Supreme covers Washington County cases from 1983 onward. It is the quickest way to check if a case exists before you make the trip to Fort Edward. The NYS Courts divorce page has forms and guides for self-represented litigants. Legal aid groups serving the eastern New York region can also help with the process.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County includes Fort Edward, Greenwich, Granville, and several other small towns along the Vermont border. No cities in Washington County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All residents file for dissolution of marriage at the Washington County Supreme Court. The clerk on Broadway in Fort Edward handles all record requests for the entire county.
Nearby Counties
If a dissolution of marriage was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's clerk instead. Here are the counties near Washington County.