Queens County Divorce Records

Queens County divorce records are official documents relating to marriage annulments by the Matrimonial Part of the Queens County Supreme Court in Queens County. How to find divorce records in Queens County depends on the type of documents and the information they contain. Queens County divorce records are part of New York City court documents. They are accessible through the Queens County Clerk's Office - Matrimonial Division and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Vital Records Section.

Divorce records (including those of Queens County) play important roles in some family law cases, such as child support and alimony claims. Individuals can also use Queens County divorce records for other purposes, such as remarriage, visa application, and name change.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2023, 6.0% of male and 9.3% of Queens County residents were divorcees. Additionally, data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics annual reports show a steady increase in New York's divorce rate between 2020 and 2023; similar trends may apply across the state, including Queens County.

Are Divorce Records Public in Queens County?

Divorce records are not fully public in Queens County and other parts of New York.

Section 235 of the New York Domestic Relations Law restricts public access to documents on matrimonial actions, including Queens County divorce case files, decrees, and court documents. This law limits access to sensitive divorce information, such as custody arrangements, financial settlements, and personal allegations, to either spouse named in the divorce, their attorneys of record for the parties, or persons with a court order authorizing access.

Nonetheless, the public can access basic divorce information, such as:

• case index number
• Names of parties
• Type of divorce case
• Appellate Court's decisions on divorce cases.

How to Find Divorce Records in Queens County

How to look up divorce records in Queens County depends on the document's type. The Queens County Clerk's Office - Matrimonial Division is the custodian of the county's divorce decrees or full Case records. Individuals who seek access to these documents should mail or visit the Queens County Clerk - Matrimonial Division at:

Individuals seeking copies of Queens County divorce certificates (proof of divorce) from 1963 to the present should order them online through the New York Department of Health's (NYS DOH) website or mail a completed Application for Copy of Divorce Certificate (DOH-2168 form) to:

The New York Department of Health also permits walk-in requests for Queens County divorce certificates through its Vital Records Office at:

Note that access to Queens County divorce records requires valid government-issued photo identification documents and fee payments. Additionally, the costs for copies of a Queens County divorce record vary with the record's custodian. Accessing Queens County divorce records through the Queens County Clerk's Office - Matrimonial Division may incur the following costs:

• $8.00 for the first two pages
• $5.00 for each additional page
• Certification fee - $8.00 per document

By comparison, Queens County court divorce search through the NYS DOH costs $30.00 per copy, and an optional $15.00 per copy surcharge for online orders or by phone through the affiliate third-party link.

Overview of the Queens County Court System

The Queens County court system includes several courts with varying jurisdiction, such as the Supreme Court (with its Civil, Criminal, and Civil Term Divisions), Family Court, Surrogate's Court, Civil Courts, and Criminal Court. Under the New York unified trial system, the Supreme Courts handle cases beyond the authority of other county-level courts.

In Queens and other New York City counties, the Matrimonial Part within the Civil Term Division of the Supreme Courts handles divorce cases. Access to Queens County Supreme Court records is through the Queens County Clerk's Office.

Interested individuals can contact the Queens County Supreme Court - Civil Term at:

Online Access to Queens County Divorce Records

In Queens County and across New York State, there is limited public access to divorce records. New York laws classify most family law case files as confidential documents. Hence, there is no free online divorce lookup in Queens County. However, the public can access basic divorce information, including:

• Case index number
• Party names
• Case type
• Filing date
• Case status.

Interested individuals can access details of their Queens County divorce records online through the New York Unified Court System's WebCivil Supreme Access Portal if they filed dissolution petitions through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF). Additionally, individuals can request copies of Queens County divorce records for marriage dissolutions within the county from 1963 to the present.

Record seekers should note that full access to Queens County divorce decrees/case files online or offline is restricted to the spouses in the divorce and individuals with legal interests.

What's Typically Included in a Queens County Divorce Record

The content of a Queens County divorce record depends on the requester or the type of document. Per New York laws, only the spouses in a divorce, their attorneys of record, and persons with court orders can have full access to divorce records. However, divorce certificates or proof of divorce are publicly disclosable. Hence, Queens County divorce records typically contain the following information.

Queens County divorce certificates (publicly accessible)

• Names of both parties
• Date of divorce
• Place of divorce (Queens County)
• Index or case number
• Court name (Queens County Supreme Court - Matrimonial Division)
• Certification statement
• Seal of the New York Department of Health, and signature of the State Registrar or authorized official

Queens County divorce decree (restricted access)

• Case details
• Marriage & divorce information
• Division of property & assets
• Spousal support/alimony
• Child-related orders (if it applies)
• Restoration of name
• Abuse claims
• Judge's signature and date of judgment
• Seal of the Queens County Supreme Court.

How to Get Certified Copies of Queens County Divorce Records

The specific method for accessing a certified copy of Queens County divorce records depends on the type of documents. In Queens County, there are two custodians of divorce records: the New York State Department of Health (the keeper of divorce certificates) and the Queens County Supreme Court - Matrimonial Division (custodian of Queens County divorce decrees).

Access to certified copies of Queens County divorce records is by mail or in-person visits to their custodian agencies. In addition, the NYS DOH also provides online access to certified Queens County divorce certificates through an affiliate third-party link on its website.

To access a certified copy of Queens County divorce decrees, write to or visit the Queens County Clerk's Office (Matrimonial Office) at:

Record seekers should note that access to certified copies of Queens County divorce records is restricted to the individuals whose names are on the documents, their legal representatives, and persons with court orders. Hence, requesters are required to provide valid government-issued photo identification. In addition, the Queens County Clerk's Office charges $8.00 for the first two pages of a document, and an additional $5.00 for each subsequent page.

For certified copies of Queens County divorce certificates from 1963 to the present, order them online on the New York Department of Health's Divorce Records Page. Alternatively, send a completed Mail-in Application for Copy of Divorce Certificate Form along with a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and a check or money order to cover the $30.00 order fee to:

Certified copies of Queens County divorce records are official documents and, unlike informational copies, play important legal roles. Individuals can use certified copies of Queens County divorce records for remarriage, name change, visa applications, and child support claims.

Why People Request Queens County Divorce Records

Individuals request access to Queens County divorce records for various personal reasons. A request for Queens County divorce records may be for:

• A change of name
• Remarry
• Legal or financial matters
• Genealogy or education research
• Personal reference.

In some cases, the reasons to request divorce records in Queens County may be to determine a person's eligibility for certain job types.

Queens County Divorce Records Summary