Records of divorce in Kings County, New York, are available through several channels. KingsNYCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about divorce records in this county. Additionally, you can contact the court that issued the divorce decree, the County Clerk's office, or the New York State Department of Health, which serves as the state's vital records office. Online tools, phone inquiries, and in-person visits are all viable options for obtaining copies.
Kings Divorce Records Search
In New York State, divorce cases are handled by the Supreme Court — despite the name, it is a court of general jurisdiction of first instance. Kings County is part of New York City, so court records are maintained by the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term. The New York State Department of Health maintains a separate registry of divorce certificates starting from January 1963.
The collection of records includes:
- Judgment of Divorce
- Settlement agreements
- Custody orders
- Associated procedural documents — complaints, answers, motions
The divorce certificate issued by the state is a brief document confirming the fact of divorce, without details of property division or custody.
Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term — County Clerk's Office
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Kings
To understand where to go, you need to distinguish between two types of documents: the court record and the state certificate.
Supreme Court, Kings County
All divorce cases in the county are handled by the Supreme Court. After a Judgment of Divorce is issued, the original is stored in the court's office — Kings County Clerk's Office. Here you can obtain a certified copy of the full court decision, including the settlement agreement and custody orders. If you need a specific procedural document from the case, contact here.
New York State Department of Health — Vital Records Section
The state maintains divorce certificates for divorces filed after January 1, 1963. This document confirms the fact of divorce — name, date, place — but does not include the terms of the agreement. It is usually needed for remarriage, name change, or confirmation of marital status.
For divorces prior to 1963, records are exclusively kept by the office of the court that issued the decision. In the case of Kings County, this is the County Clerk's Office at the address above.
Requests for public records from city agencies can also be submitted through the OpenRecords portal in accordance with the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). However, court cases are usually requested directly through the court's office, not through FOIL.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Kings
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of Judgment of Divorce — Kings County Clerk | $1.30 per page + $5.00 for certification | During visit or 5–10 business days by mail |
| Divorce Certificate — NYS Department of Health | $30.00 | Up to 6 weeks by mail |
| State registry search fee (if exact date unknown) — NYS DOH | Included in $30.00 | Up to 6 weeks |
| Expedited processing — NYS DOH | Additional $15.00 | Approximately 15 business days |