Statements are sometimes made by clerks that divorce records are sealed forever, as I was told again today, but that is not true. New York State divorce records which are 100 or more years old are available to genealogists, according to the County Clerk's Offices in the counties of Albany, Rensselaer, and Columbia, all of which have divorce records on microfilm or in some other form. They may not be indexed, and it would be a lot easier to find a divorce decree if you knew its date, but you can search for one by visiting the county clerk's office. A divorce decree tells the terms of the divorce and property settlement. "The divorce certificate contains basic information about the husband and wife, and the date and place the marriage ended." They began being issued in 1963. "Who is eligible to obtain a divorce certificate copy? * The husband * The wife * Other persons with a New York State Court Order " A divorce decree from 1909-1962 may only be available the same way. I could get no information specifically about that time period. The Albany County Hall of Records does not have any divorce records. http://www.health.state.ny.us/vital_records/divorce.htm Cliff Lamere