A certified copy means that the court verified the document, which may be necessary if you're presenting your divorce decree for a legal reason, such as a new marriage. You may also request a copy of your divorce decree from the state or local vital records department where you divorced.
How do I obtain a copy of my divorce or other matrimonial papers? A. To obtain a copy of any divorce or matrimonial documents, please complete the form located on the Suffolk County Clerk's website here. Follow all instructions contained therein and mail same to our office as detailed on the form.
It takes approximately two to four months from the time the divorce papers are submitted to the court to be reviewed and signed off on by the assigned judge.
Remember, the Supreme Court of the State of New York is the only court that handles divorce cases. You should go to the Supreme Court in the county where you or your spouse now live to file your divorce papers. You cannot get a divorce in Family Court.
You can get copies of divorce judgments or other written orders in divorce cases from the County Clerk. Copies of documents, other than the Judgment of Divorce itself, can only be obtained by one of the parties involved or by an attorney who is representing one of the parties.
An UNCONTESTED DIVORCE is essentially a negotiation and agreement between two spouses regarding the dispersal of assets, etc. This agreement, once signed, merges into and becomes the final Judgment of Divorce.
Where do I obtain a copy of my divorce record? In New York State, divorce records are maintained by the County Clerk in the county where the divorce action was heard. You can reach the Suffolk County Clerk's office at 631-852-2000.
Some uncontested divorces are resolved as quickly as six weeks, while others can take six months or more. Since New York does not have a waiting period, a divorce that both parties agree on takes roughly 3 months for the papers to be filed with the court.
The best option for you will depend on your specific circumstances. If you are able to negotiate with your spouse and come to an agreement, that is often the best option. However, if you are unable to reach an agreement, you may need to file a motion for default judgment or hire a local attorney to help you.
MOTIONS/ORDERS TO SHOW CAUSE The Notice of Motion, affirmations, affidavits and exhibits must be filed as SEPARATE documents. A proposed Order To Show Cause is filed in the same manner as a Notice of Motion using document type ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE (PROPOSED) in place of the Notice of Motion.