A divorce decree is the court paper that ends a marriage, and New York courts call it a judgment of divorce. The Supreme Court hears these cases in Onondaga County, and the County Clerk keeps the file at 401 Montgomery Street in Syracuse. This page shows how to find a decree, request a copy, and check the record for errors. It is basic information, not legal advice.
This page starts with Divorce Decree Search and points to the court or County Clerk that holds the file. Use the case number and court name, then confirm sealed records, copies, and fees with the clerk. A docket entry is an index, not a certified record.
Divorce Decree Search
Use these key points and the official source below.
- Official source: https://onondaga.gov/clerk/
- Court office: Onondaga Supreme & County Courts, 401 Montgomery St, Syracuse, NY 13202.
- Start with: Both spouses’ full names and the year the case ended.
- Ask for: The index number, the entry date, and a certified copy of the judgment.
- Note: State law limits who may inspect a matrimonial file.
Decree Terms & Custody Provisions
A judgment of divorce can cover money, property, debts, children, and support. The judge approves the written terms and signs the order at the end of the case. Some cases settle by stipulation, and the judgment then repeats or attaches that agreement. Read the judgment with any later orders, since one paper alone may not show the current rule. Clerks can find papers but cannot interpret them or give legal advice.
Property Division & Debt Allocations
New York divides marital property under equitable distribution. The signed judgment or a settlement can award a house, a pension, bank accounts, and vehicles, and it can assign mortgages and credit card debt. Retirement accounts often need a separate domestic relations order to transfer funds. Financial exhibits may be sealed or redacted. Ask the County Clerk which papers are open to view and which need a court order.
Child Custody, Support & Visitation Orders
Custody, parenting time, and child support can be part of the divorce judgment. The judge decides legal custody, physical custody, and a schedule, and sets child support under state support rules. A later change needs a new petition in Supreme Court or Family Court in Syracuse. Each court keeps its own file and docket number. Ask the clerk which order is current before you rely on an older decree.
Spousal Support & Post-Judgment Modifications
New York calls spousal support maintenance. The judgment can order payments for a set term or until a stated event, and it can require life insurance or health benefits. Either party can ask for a modification later if circumstances change. The written request is a new motion or petition, not a change to the old paper. A judge reviews the facts before ruling. The court can enforce unpaid support through a violation filing.
Judicial Approval & Decree Dates
A judge signs the written judgment after the case is ready. The County Clerk then enters it, and the entry stamp gives the date the record shows. The signing date, the filing date, and the entry date can differ by days or even weeks. Read the first page and the last page for those three dates. The entered judgment controls the case, and an earlier draft does not.
Official Copies & Request Procedures
The County Clerk issues copies of papers in a matrimonial file. Ask for the signed judgment of divorce by title and date, and give both names and the index number. A party or an attorney of record can request a certified copy, and other people need a court order. The clerk confirms what the file allows before copying. Bring current photo identification to the counter in Syracuse.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours or note | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onondaga County Clerk | 401 Montgomery St, Room 200, Syracuse, NY 13202 | (315) 435-2227 | Mon-Fri 8:30-4:00 | https://onondaga.gov/clerk/ |
| Onondaga Supreme & County Courts | 401 Montgomery St, Syracuse, NY 13202 | See official site | Judge, part, and court date questions | https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/5th-judicial-district/onondaga-supreme-county-courts |
| Onondaga Family Court | See official site | See official site | Custody, support, and Family Court dockets | https://www.nycourts.gov/ |
| New York Courts | See official site | See official site | Forms, rules, and statewide case information | https://www.nycourts.gov/ |
Call before a visit when the case is old. A file can be stored off site, and a clerk may need time to pull it. The Supreme Court clerk answers questions about a judge, a part, or a date, and about the court calendar. Family Court answers for its own docket. No clerk can give legal advice or change an order.
Certified & Uncertified Copy Distinctions
A certified copy carries the County Clerk’s seal and a signature that states the paper matches the file. Agencies often require it for a name change, benefits, immigration, or a property transfer. An uncertified copy is a plain copy for reading or keeping. Ask for the certified version when another office will rely on the paper. The clerk’s seal and signature are what prove the copy.
Required Applicant Identification & Uses
Bring a current photo ID and the case details. The clerk may ask for the names of both parties, the index number, the judgment date, and the county where the case was heard. A party or the attorney of record can request the judgment. A lender, an heir, or a researcher may need a court order. State the use, since the clerk can refuse a request that state law limits.
Copy Fees & Fulfillment Timelines
Copy fees are set by law, and the amount can differ by page count. The County Clerk quotes the fee before copying, so ask for the total and payment methods. For a mail request, send a cover letter with the case details, payment, and a return envelope; ask the clerk what to include. Processing time depends on the age of the file and where it is stored. Confirm the details with the office.
Public Availability & Confidentiality
New York treats matrimonial files as confidential. State law limits inspection to the parties, their attorneys, and people with a written court order. The County Clerk can confirm that a case exists but cannot show the papers to anyone who asks at the counter. Some documents are sealed by a judge, and personal data may be redacted. Ask what the file allows before you travel to Syracuse.
| File or paper | Rule | What the clerk can confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Whole matrimonial file | Confidential under state law | That the file exists and its index number |
| Sealed order | Judge’s order | That the paper is sealed |
| Financial statement | May be redacted | Whether a public version exists |
| Custody or support paper | Often confidential | The court and docket number |
| Judgment of divorce | Released to a party or attorney, or by court order | Whether you may receive a copy |
| Family Court file | Confidential by law | The status of the case |
A sealed file is not lost. The clerk can state that it exists and give the index number, and a judge can allow release by written order. A party who needs the judgment for a bank, a passport, or an insurer should ask the clerk what proof the office will accept. Plan for a delay when a court order is required.
Open Directory Files & Sealed Record Rules
Some websites collect court index data and sell reports. Those pages are not the official file, and they can be months out of date. A sealed matrimonial file will not appear in a public directory, and a redacted paper may show blank fields. Use a directory or a case search as a hint, then confirm every fact with the County Clerk in Syracuse. The clerk’s record is the one that counts.
Protected Personal & Financial Data
Court papers can list a Social Security number, a bank account, a home address, and the names of children. Clerks redact some of that data before release, and a judge can seal a whole paper. A public copy may leave out the figures you need. Ask the clerk which version is available and whether an unredacted copy requires a court order. Do not post a decree online.
Correcting Clerical & Name Errors
A misspelled name or a wrong date can come from a typing error in the file. A party can ask the court to correct a clerical mistake, and a judge signs an amended judgment or a correction order. The County Clerk cannot change what a judge signed. Bring the paper with the error, the correct spelling, and any proof. Ask the clerk which filing the court requires.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
Names, dates, and index numbers are the three facts that decide a search. A maiden name, a prior married name, or a hyphen can change the result. An index number copied with one wrong digit points to a different case. Start with the paper you hold, then compare each detail with the clerk’s index before you order a copy. A very recent judgment may not be listed online yet.
| Problem | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No match by name | Spelling or a name change | Try both parties and maiden names |
| Wrong person | Same name, different party | Compare birth date and address |
| Wrong court | Case from another county | Call the clerk in that county |
| Recent case missing | Index not updated | Give the filing date and index number |
| File sealed | Court order | Ask the clerk what can be confirmed |
| Copy differs | Draft or a later order | Ask for the entered judgment |
Keep a written note of each call. Record the clerk’s name, the date, the index number, and the answer. That note saves time if a request is denied or a paper is missing. If a court order is needed, ask which judge or part handles the file. A second call with the index number is faster than a new name search.
Matching Case Numbers & Issuing Courts
A divorce case gets an index number when it starts, and the number stays with the file. The caption shows the plaintiff and the defendant, and the court that issued the judgment. A Family Court support or custody case has a separate docket number, so use a case lookup. Check the number against the judgment and the clerk’s index. Do not use a number from a lawyer’s letter without confirming it.
System Delays for Recent Decrees
A judgment signed last week may not appear in the index or in an online docket. Papers go to the clerk, get stamped, and are entered in steps. A holiday, a backlog, or a paper filing adds time. Keep the stamped copy the court gave you and give the clerk the index number and the signing date. Confirm the entry before you order a certified copy.
Unlisted Decree File Resolution
Start in the county where the judge signed the judgment. A divorce granted in another New York county or another state stays with that court. Check both parties’ names and the year, then ask the clerk to search by index number. A sealed file can exist with no public entry. Ask the clerk to confirm the status and to name the court that holds it.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions cover the points readers ask most about Onondaga County divorce papers. Each answer names the office that holds the record and the step that confirms a fact. Court and clerk staff speak for their own offices, and their answer controls when a website or an old copy differs. Bring the names, the index number, and every paper you hold before you call or visit.
How do I locate a final divorce decree in Onondaga County?
Search the County Clerk index for the Supreme Court case. Give both spouses’ names and the year the case ended, then ask for the index number. With that number, the clerk can pull the file and find the judgment of divorce. If the names are common, add a birth date or an address. Call (315) 435-2227 before you visit. The office is at 401 Montgomery Street, Room 200, in Syracuse.
What is required to obtain a certified divorce decree?
Ask the County Clerk for a certified copy of the judgment of divorce. Provide both names, the index number if you have it, and the judgment date. A party or the attorney of record can request it; another person may need a court order. The office may ask for photo identification and quotes its fee before copying. Confirm the seal and the page count at the counter before you leave.
Are financial terms and custody orders open to the public?
Usually not. New York law keeps matrimonial files confidential, and a judge can seal a paper or a whole file. Statements of net worth, settlement terms, and details about children often stay out of a public copy. A party or an attorney of record can view the file, and other people need a court order. Ask the County Clerk what the file allows before you travel to Syracuse.
Who confirms missing or unlisted dissolution decrees?
The Onondaga County Clerk confirms a Supreme Court divorce file. Call (315) 435-2227 with both names, the year, and the index number if you have one. When the judgment came from another county or state, call that county’s clerk. A sealed file can be confirmed but not shown. Write down the clerk’s name, the date, and the answer. The office is at 401 Montgomery Street, Room 200, Syracuse, NY 13202.