Dutchess County Divorce Records

In Dutchess County, divorces are adjudicated and finalized exclusively by the Supreme Court, which is the only court with the legal authority to dissolve a marriage. The Supreme Court also serves as the official custodian of divorce case files.

Under §235(1) of the Domestic Relations Law, divorce case records are confidential and excluded from public inspection. Unlike most court filings, access is strictly limited to the parties to the action or to individuals who present a valid court order authorizing disclosure. Members of the general public are therefore prohibited from obtaining full divorce files.

Although complete records are sealed, the county clerk makes divorce index information available to the public. These indices provide limited, non-confidential data, typically including:

• The full names of both spouses
• The county in which the divorce was granted
• The date the divorce was entered

Divorce case files themselves contain substantially more comprehensive material. Depending on the matter, these records may include

• Identifying information for both spouses
• Pleadings, affidavits, motions, findings of fact, and the final judgment of divorce
• Court determinations regarding child custody and support, equitable distribution of marital assets, and spousal maintenance

Individuals who are legally entitled to obtain a divorce judgment or related court documents should direct their request to the Supreme Court in the county. Alternatively, certificates of dissolution of marriage or civil annulment certificates may be requested from the New York State Department of Health, either by mail or through approved online submission methods.

County	Court Name	Address	Phone Number	Office Hours
Dutchess County	Dutchess County Supreme Court	10 Market Street Poughkeepsie, NY 12601	(845) 431-1710	9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday