Kings County, New York Divorce Records

Kings County divorce records are government files about divorce events within the county. These records are vital in legal processes and research, such as remarriage applications, loan applications, and name changes.

Divorce records in Kings County, New York, are mainly accessible to the public. Interested parties can contact official record custodians for guidelines on how to find divorce records in Kings County. The record custodians may also provide options for accessing the record. However, record custodians may limit confidential divorce information to legally eligible parties, like the case party and their legal representatives.

Kings County, NY Divorce Rate: In 2022, New York recorded a divorce rate of 5.7 per 1,000 women above 15 years old. Meanwhile, 15% of Kings County residents were divorced as of 2023.

Are Divorce Records Public in Kings County?

The majority of divorce information is accessible to the public. Under the New York Freedom of Information Law, public members have the legal right to inspect and obtain copies of divorce documents from designated record custodians. Record custodians must generally legally provide copies of the stored divorce files to interested parties.

However, custodians also retain the right to refuse access to records whose disclosure is not in the public interest. Such records typically contain information that violates the safety or privacy of concerned parties. For example, personal financial statements are exempt from publicly accessible divorce records.

How to Find Divorce Records in Kings County

Interested parties can look up divorce records in Kings County using resources provided by local- and state-level agencies. At the local level, the Kings County Clerk's Office is the official custodian of divorce records. However, state-level custodians of divorce records include the New York State Department of Health and the New York Unified Court System.

Access Kings County Records Online

The New York Unified Court System hosts online repositories for divorce records generated in Kings County. Inquirers may use any of these repositories to locate records:

• WebCivil Supreme search platform.
• WebFamily search platform.
• Kings County Clerk's search portal.

To find records on these platforms, inquirers must provide relevant information about the divorce case. Relevant search information for accessing divorce records includes the case party name, number, attorney name, docket number, and case index.

Inquirers may choose to search as a guest or create an account on Kings County's search platform. The latter option offers additional information about divorce records.

In-person access to Kings County divorce records

The Kings County Clerk's Office allows in-person requests for divorce records generated in the county Supreme and Family Courts. To access records, inquirers must visit the court clerk's office during business hours at:

Mail-in access to Kings County divorce records

The New York Department of Health allows mail-in requests for divorce certificates in its custody. Note that the agency only issues divorce certificates to the record subjects or persons backed by a court order. Persons interested in obtaining Kings County divorce certificates may follow these steps:

• Fill out the agency's record request form.
• Attach a valid, government-issued ID or a utility bill that shows your name and address.
• Include a $30 money order or check made payable to the NYS Department of Health.
• Mail the required documents and fees to:

Overview of the Kings County Court System

The Kings County Supreme Court and Family Court oversee all divorce-related cases and filings. Interested parties can find the courthouses at these locations:

The Kings County Clerk's Office is the official record custodian of judicial records, including divorce case files and decrees. As the record custodian, the entity maintains and issues divorce records upon request from the public.

Online Access to Kings County Divorce Records

Interested parties can find Kings County divorce records online via these official repositories:

• WebCivil Supreme search platform.
• WebFamily search platform.
• Kings County Clerk's search portal.

To find records on these platforms, inquirers must select a preferred search option and provide relevant details. Online searches are free on these platforms.

Third-party search websites are an alternative means of accessing free online divorce records in Kings County. Such websites typically have simple user interfaces that enable users to conveniently locate divorce court documents. Some platforms might offer perks like free downloads of court documents in different formats. Despite these perks, third-party search websites are not reliable options for locating Kings County divorce records.

What's Typically Included in a Kings County Divorce Record

Kings County divorce records may reveal the following information:

• The case parties' names.
• Divorce year and court location.
• Marriage date and duration.
• Number of minors in the union.
• Court-related information, such as summaries, dockets, case numbers, status, and final judgments.
• Custody arrangement.
• Marital property and debt data.

Note that divorce certificates and decrees may contain different information. Divorce decrees include court-related information, while certificates only contain basic divorce information.

How to Get Certified Copies of Kings County Divorce Records

You can obtain certified divorce decrees from the Kings County Clerk of Court's Office. The court clerk may request a valid ID and fees before releasing a certified divorce record. That being said, you may access the record by visiting the clerk of court during business hours at:

Certified copies are not the same as informational copies. The former bears a court seal, and it's necessary for legal processes, such as remarriage, mortgage refinancing, and name changes.

Why People Request Kings County Divorce Records

There are multiple reasons for requesting divorce records in Kings County. Some of these reasons may include the following:

• To remarry.
• For loan applications, such as mortgage refinancing.
• To change names.
• To conduct background checks.
• For genealogy research.

Kings County Divorce Records Summary