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How to get New York divorce records

In New York, order a certified divorce record from the New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Section.1 Divorce decree: County Clerk (usually county where the plaintiff resided).2 Each certified copy costs $302. You can order online, by mail, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What New York divorce records cost
  3. Who can order New York divorce records
  4. ID you need
  5. What the application asks for
  6. Decree or certificate
  7. Forms
  8. Years held and older records
  9. Special situations
  10. Warnings from the office
  11. The state office
  12. Questions people ask
  13. Sources

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.$452, plus a vendor processing fee per transaction, not per copy, amount not published–Card and ACH2
By mail$302–Check and money order2
At a local office–––
By phone$452, plus a vendor processing fee per transaction, not per copy, amount not published–Card and ACH2

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.

Vendor
VitalChek Network, Inc.1
Fees
  • Per copy $452
Expedited service
DOH mail forms direct expedited order placement and processing to VitalChek (online at www.VitalChek.com or by phone at 877-854-4481)1
Payment
Card and ACH2

Good to know

  • Do not order online for an apostille unless you select the long form3

Go to the ordering site2

By mail

Run by
New York State Department of Health2
Fees
  • Per copy $3021
Expedited service
$45. Expedited processing by mail; required when DOH forwards the certificate to the Department of State for an apostille3
Payment
Check and money order2
Make payable to
NYS Department of Health2
Mail to
New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602
4

Good to know

  • Delivery to a P.O. Box or a third party requires a notarized statement and a copy of the applicant's driver license1

Open the application or mail instructions2

At a local office

By phone

Run by
VitalChek Network, Inc.1
Fees
  • Per copy $452
Payment
Card and ACH2

What New York divorce records cost

First certified copy
$302
Each additional copy
$301
Expedite fee
$453
If no record is found
The fee is kept as a search fee1

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage (divorce certificate)2–$302
No Record Certification1–$301

Who can order New York divorce records

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

  • Spouse2
  • Person named in a court order2
    Proof: Copy of New York State court order1

ID you need

Photo ID
Required2
Accepted ID
  • Driver's license
  • State-issued, nondriver photo-ID card
  • Passport
  • U.S. Military-issued, photo-ID2
Without that ID
  • Utility or telephone bill
  • Letter from a government agency dated within the last six months
2
Notarization
Required only when the certificate is to be delivered to a P.O. Box or a third party1
ID copy with a mail order
Include a copy of your ID1

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.1

  • Names of both spouses (and birth names)
  • Addresses at time of decree
  • Date of final decree or search period
  • Date of marriage
  • Place where marriage license was issued
  • County in which divorce decree was filed
  • Divorce certificate no. (if known)
  • Purpose
  • Relationship

Decree or certificate

The decree, the court's judgment with the terms of the divorce, comes from the clerk of the court that granted it. New York also keeps a state record of divorces at its vital records office5; it shows that the divorce happened, not its terms. Divorce certificate vs decree explains which one an agency usually wants.

Forms

Years held and older records

Years held
1963 to today (all of New York State including New York City)5
Older records
County Clerk (decree only before 1963)2

Special situations

If no record is found
A No Record Certification is issued and the fee is kept1
Dual citizenship
Relatives seeking records for a foreign citizenship claim must follow DOH dual-citizenship rules (affidavits, POA or NYS court order)6 Details
Use abroad
DOH can forward a mail order to the Department of State for an apostille3 Details

Warnings from the office

  • Common denial reasons: Applications without proper ID; Failure to submit a copy of their U.S. passport in addition to the required identifications when applying from a foreign country that requires a passport for travel2
  • Only for divorces granted on or after January 1, 1963 (New York State including New York City)1

The state office

Office
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records7
Mailing address
New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602
4
Walk-in address
800 North Pearl Street
9

Questions people ask

How much is a certified New York divorce record?

Each certified copy costs $30.21

Can I order New York divorce records online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.1

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: NYS Department of Health.2

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Driver's license; State-issued, nondriver photo-ID card; Passport; U.S. Military-issued, photo-ID.2

Where are older New York divorce records kept?

County Clerk (decree only before 1963).2

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Doh 4378 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2011
  2. Divorce Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  3. Apostille for Vital RecordsNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  4. Birth Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  5. Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Records - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  6. Dual Citizenship and Vital RecordsNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  7. Doh 4380 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated September 1, 2019
  8. NYS Vital Records - Birth AmendmentsNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2013
  9. Genealogy Records & Resources - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023