Access Westchester County Dissolution Of Marriage

Westchester County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the County Clerk at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in White Plains. The clerk holds all Supreme Court case files for divorce, annulment, and separation actions filed in the county. Westchester County is part of the 9th Judicial District and is one of the most populated counties in the Hudson Valley. Whether you need to look up a case number, request a copy of a decree, or check on a dissolution of marriage filing, the White Plains office handles all of it.

Westchester County Clerk Dissolution Records

The Westchester County Clerk's Office is at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, White Plains, NY 10601. Phone: 914-995-3080. The clerk handles all requests for dissolution of marriage case files, copies, and certified documents. You can visit in person or submit a mail request. Either way, you will need valid photo ID and as much case detail as you can provide. The index number is the fastest way to pull a file. Without it, the clerk runs a search by name and date range.

Westchester County charges $1.25 per page for certified copies, with a minimum of $5 and a maximum of $40. There is also a $5 search fee. These rates are a bit different from the standard state rates that many other counties use. The search fee covers looking up the case in the county's records. If the clerk finds your case, you pay the copy fees on top of the search fee. If no case is found, you still pay the search fee and get a negative search certificate.

The WebCivil Supreme search tool lets you look up Westchester County dissolution of marriage case data online for free.

Select Westchester County from the list and search by party name to find case index numbers and basic filing dates going back to 1983.

Westchester County Supreme Court

The Westchester County Supreme Court is at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, White Plains, NY 10601. Phone: 914-824-5400. Chief Clerk Lisa D'Angelo oversees the office. The Supreme Court handles all dissolution of marriage proceedings in the county. When someone files for divorce in Westchester County, the case goes to the Supreme Court's matrimonial part.

The court and the clerk share the same building in White Plains. This makes filing and record requests more convenient. You can drop off papers with the clerk and check in with the court office without going to a second location. After a judge signs a dissolution of marriage judgment, the decree is filed with the County Clerk for permanent storage.

Westchester County is one of the busier courts in the 9th Judicial District. The district also includes Rockland, Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess counties.

Dissolution Of Marriage Access in Westchester

Dissolution of marriage files in Westchester County are sealed for 100 years. This is state law under Domestic Relations Law Section 235. It applies to all matrimonial case documents: the summons, complaint, answer, stipulation of settlement, and the judgment of divorce. The public cannot inspect or copy these files. The seal is not optional and the clerk cannot waive it.

Who can see the records? The list is short.

• The plaintiff in the dissolution of marriage case
• The defendant in the case
• The attorney of record for either party
• A person with a notarized authorization letter from a party or attorney
• Anyone who obtains a court order from a judge

Valid photo ID is required at all times. The Westchester County Clerk will not pull a file or make copies without seeing your identification first.

Filing for Dissolution Of Marriage in Westchester

To file for dissolution of marriage in Westchester County, you bring your papers to the County Clerk at 111 Dr. MLK Jr. Boulevard. The index number fee is $210. A Request for Judicial Intervention costs $95. Free uncontested divorce packets are available at the courthouse and online through the NYS Courts divorce forms page. Packets come in two versions, one for cases with children and one for cases without.

New York's no-fault ground under DRL Section 170(7) is the most common basis for filing. One spouse states that the relationship has been irretrievably broken for at least six months. Before 2010, only fault-based grounds were available. Now, most people in Westchester County use the no-fault option. Residency requirements under DRL Section 230 still apply. At least one spouse must have lived in New York for a full year before filing.

Other Sources for Westchester Dissolution Records

Beyond the County Clerk, there are a few other ways to find dissolution of marriage information for Westchester County. WebCivil Supreme is a free statewide tool that shows case index numbers and basic filing data for cases from 1983 forward. No account is needed. For e-filed cases, check NYSCEF. E-filed dissolution of marriage cases will not show up on WebCivil.

The New York State Department of Health sells dissolution of marriage certificates for $30 by mail. These cover cases from 1963 onward and contain basic facts: names, date, and place of the divorce. For the full decree with all terms and conditions of the dissolution, you must go through the Westchester County Clerk. The decree is the document signed by the judge and filed with the clerk.

Westchester County Divorce Decree vs Certificate

People often mix up the divorce decree and the divorce certificate. They are two different documents. The decree is the court order that ends the marriage. It is signed by a judge and filed with the Westchester County Clerk. The decree spells out all the terms: property division, custody, support, and everything else. Only the County Clerk has the original decree on file.

The certificate is a one-page document from the Department of Health. It shows the names of the parties, the date of the divorce, and the county. It does not have any details about the terms. Many people need the decree, not the certificate. If you are dealing with property, banks, insurance, or immigration, you usually need the decree. For a simple proof that the marriage ended, the certificate may be enough.

Cities in Westchester County

Westchester County has several large cities and towns. All dissolution of marriage records for these areas go through the County Clerk in White Plains. Residents file at the Westchester County Supreme Court regardless of which city or town they live in.

Nearby Counties

Westchester County borders several Hudson Valley and New York City counties. If the dissolution of marriage was filed in a neighboring county, contact that clerk for records.