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    Email: [email protected]
    Phone: (646) 386 – 5395
    Location: 31 Chambers Street, 7th floor, Room 703, New York, NY 10007.

    Restricted Files

    • Matrimonial (Divorce) Cases: Pursuant to section 235 of the Domestic Rela- tions Law, documents filed in a Matrimonial case are restricted. Matrimonial files are also sealed for 100 years.

    • Name Change Cases: Pursuant to New York Civil Rights Law section 64-a (1), these records can be sealed pursuant to court order.

      In-person requests for certified copies of documents in a divorce by listed par- ties and/or an attorney of record must provide the following:

      • A non–expired, government issued photo I.D. (e.g., State or City ID, Driver’s license, passport).
      • The parties first and last names at the time the divorce was filed.
      • An index number and/or approximate year the divorce began.

      Payment can be made in cash, or by certified check, attorney check, credit card, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County
      Clerk in the amount of .25 cents per page plus $8.00 per certification. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks.
      A Certificate of Non-Appeal can be requested at the Judgment Department at 60 Centre Street, Room 141B for an additional $5.00 fee.

      A Search Certificate is proof that a Judgment of Divorce was not recorded within
      New York County. It can be requested at the Judgment Department at 60 Centre Street, Room 141B for a fee of $5 for every two years the record is searched.

      Only certified documents can be requested by mail.

      *All files must remain in our office and shall not be removed. Tampering or altering documents is not allowed pursuant to section 175.25 of the Penal Law.

      In-person requests by non-parties must provide the following:

      • An original notarized letter of request from a party or attorney of record that grants access to the record.
      • The letter of request must have the first and last name of the bearer.
      • The letter of request should include the first and last name of the parties at the time the divorce was filed
      • an index number or approximate year the divorce began,
      • a contact phone number and/or email address.
      • A non–expired, government issued photo I.D. (e.g., State or City ID, Driver’s license, passport) to the clerk.

      Payment can be made in cash, or by certified check, attorney check, credit card, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County
      Clerk in the amount of .25 cents per page plus $8.00 per certification. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks.

      A Certificate of Non-Appeal can be requested at the Judgment Department at 60 Centre Street, Room 141B for an additional $5.00 fee.

      A Search Certificate is proof that a Judgment of Divorce was not recorded within New York County. It can be requested at the Judgment Department at 60 Centre Street, Room 141B for a fee of $5 for every two years the record is searched.
      Only certified documents can be requested by mail.

      All files must remain in our office and shall not be removed. Tampering or altering documents is not allowed pursuant to section 175.25 of the Penal Law.

      Mail in requests for certified Divorce Records should be handled as follows:

      1. Send in a notarized request letter with a copy of one of the parties ID.
      2. Include an $8.00 money order, payable to “New York County Clerk”
      3. Mail to:
        New York County Clerk’s Office
        60 Centre Street, room 161
        New York, NY 10007

    • Sealed or Impounded Records:

      These records are sealed by the court.  To be granted access, you must obtain a court order from a Judge.

    • Incompetency:

      These records are sealed for 75 years as per MHL 33:14. After the sealing time as elapsed, you can view the file.

      Payment for copies of the record can be made in cash, or by certified check, attorney check, credit card, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk in the amount of .25 cents per page plus $8.00 per certification. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks.

      Only certified documents can be requested by mail.

      All files must remain in our office and shall not be removed. Tampering or altering documents is not allowed pursuant to section 175.25 of the Penal Law.

     

    Hard Copy Files

    The Archive department has the following records available as individual files on site at 31 Chambers Street, 7th Floor,  Room 703: 

    • 1998 - 2003: All case files
    • 1985-1992: Divorce cases starting with 6, 7, or 8
    • 1993-1997: Divorce cases starting with 3 only

    For Divorce cases you will need proper ID for access or an Authorization letter from one of the parties.

    • 1988: General asbestos litigation (Case #400000 / 1988)

    Records can be accessed from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. No pictures can be taken of these records, but copies can be made via copy machine for 35 cents per page. There are privately owned copy machines for public use in our office. The copying machine accepts cash, credit/debit at $0.35 per page. To certify copies of the documents, a clerk will scan the documents, and these can be retrieved at 60 Centre Street, room 141B after payment.

    Payment can be made in cash, or by certified check, attorney check, credit card, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk in the amount of .25 cents per page plus $8.00 per certification. The New York County Clerks Office does not accept personal or company checks.

    Only certified documents can be requested by mail.

    All files must remain in our office and shall not be removed. Tampering or altering documents is not allowed pursuant to section 175.25 of the Penal Law.

     

    Off-Site Warehouse Storage:

    The Archive Department has records from 1800 – 1997. These records are stored offsite and can be requested for viewing and copying. The approximate wait time is 6 to 8 weeks for processing. To place an order for an offsite file, email the request to [email protected] or come to 31 Chambers, room 703 and fill in a request form. A phone call or an email will be made regarding the record when the file is in our office. Please note the following guidelines for viewing a record:

    Records can be accessed from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. No pictures can be taken of these records, but copies can be made via copy machine for 35 cents per page. The copy machines are privately owned, and we are not responsible for refunds, etc. Cash is needed: the machines take bills in denominations of 1s, and 5s. To certify copies of the documents a clerk will scan them into the system, and they can be retrieved at 60 Centre Street, room 141B.

    Payment can be made in cash, or by certified check, attorney check, credit card, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk in the amount of .25 cents per page plus $8.00 per certification. The New York County Clerks Office does not accept personal or company checks.

    Only certified documents can be requested by mail.

    All files must remain in our office and shall not be removed. Tampering or altering documents is not allowed pursuant to section 175.25 of the Penal Law. 

     

    Historic Court Records

    The Archive Department has historical court records for New York County. These records are as follows:

    • Corporation Certificates (1804-1920)
    • Court of Chancery (1754-1847)
    • Court of Common Pleas (1786-1895)
    • Limited Partnership Agreements (1822-1910)
    • Name Change (1848-1934)
    • Petitions and Court Orders (1910-1997)
    • Superior Court of NYC (1828-1895)
    • Supreme Court (1799-1910)

    These documents can be ordered in person at 31 Chambers, room 703 by information from a card file. An order will be placed, and the documents are available within 6 – 8 weeks for review. Notification will be given by a phone call or an email.

    Records can be accessed from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. No pictures can be taken of these records, but copies can be made via copy machine for 35 cents per page. The copy machines are privately owned, and we are not responsible for refunds, etc. Cash is needed: the machines take bills in denominations of 1s, and 5s. To certify copies of the documents a clerk will scan them into the system, and they can be retrieved at 60 Centre Street, room 141B. The payment for Certified copies is as follows:

    Payment can be made in cash, or by certified check, attorney check, credit card, money order or official bank check in U.S. dollars payable to the New York County Clerk in the amount of .25 cents per page plus $8.00 per certification. The New York County Clerk’s Office does not accept personal or company checks.

    Only certified documents can be requested by mail.

    All files must remain in our office and shall not be removed. Tampering or altering documents is not allowed pursuant to section 175.25 of the Penal Law.