N.Y. Laws » CHAPTER Domestic Relations / ARTICLE Provisions Applicable to More Than One Type of Matrimonial Action
New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. Domestic Relations Law § 235 (2026)

Information as to details of matrimonial actions or proceedings

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 235. Information as to details of matrimonial actions or
proceedings. 1. An officer of the court with whom the proceedings in a
matrimonial action or a written agreement of separation or an action or
proceeding for custody, visitation or maintenance of a child are filed,
or before whom the testimony is taken, or his clerk, either before or
after the termination of the suit, shall not permit a copy of any of the
pleadings, affidavits, findings of fact, conclusions of law, judgment of
dissolution, written agreement of separation or memorandum thereof, or
testimony, or any examination or perusal thereof, to be taken by any
other person than a party, or the attorney or counsel of a party, except
by order of the court.
  2. If the evidence on the trial of such an action or proceeding be
such that public interest requires that the examination of the witnesses
should not be public, the court or referee may exclude all persons from
the room except the parties to the action and their counsel, and in such
case may order the evidence, when filed with the clerk, sealed up, to be
exhibited only to the parties to the action or proceeding or someone
interested, on order of the court.
  3. Upon the application of any person to the county clerk or other
officer in charge of public records within a county for evidence of the
disposition, judgment or order with respect to a matrimonial action, the
clerk or other such officer shall issue a "certificate of disposition",
duly certifying the nature and effect of such disposition, judgment or
order and shall in no manner evidence the subject matter of the
pleadings, testimony, findings of fact, conclusions of law or judgment
of dissolution derived in any such action.
  4. Any county, city, town or village clerk or other municipal official
issuing marriage licenses shall be required to accept, as evidence of
dissolution of marriage, such "certificate of disposition" in lieu of a
complete copy of the findings of fact, conclusions of law and judgment
of dissolution.
  5. The limitations of subdivisions one, two and three of this section
in relation to confidentiality shall cease to apply one hundred years
after date of filing, and such records shall thereupon be public records
available to public inspection.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 53 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1985–2026 · leading case: Anonymous v. Anonymous, 28 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2402 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000).
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Anonymous v. Anonymous, 28 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2402 (N.Y. App. Div. 2000). · cites it 4× “In this matrimonial action between, as described by plaintiff father, “well-known public figures of great wealth and prominence!,] * * * [e]ach * * * covered extensively by the media,” the hearing court, over defendant mother’s objection, granted the father’s motion, made…”
Merrick v. Merrick, 154 Misc. 2d 559 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1992). · cites it 4× “First, addressing the wife’s privacy concerns: Domestic Relations Law § 235 (1) provides that in matrimonial actions, court personnel may not permit anyone other than a party or attorney for a party to take or see a copy of "any of the pleadings, affidavits, findings of fact,…”
Janecka v. Casey, 121 A.D.2d 28 (N.Y. App. Div. 1986). · cites it 3× “Special Term granted the motion to the extent of striking the demand for the matrimonial action pleadings, finding that their materiality and necessity had not been shown so as to except them from the protection of Domestic Relations Law § 235. Special Term did, however, leave…”
Applehead Pictures LLC v. Perelman, 80 A.D.3d 181 (N.Y. App. Div. 2010). “As a practical matter, if Perelman had filed those documents separately, and sought a limited order requesting that the confidentiality of those documents be maintained, such relief could appropriately have been granted (see Domestic Relations Law § 235 [1]). Since Perelman…”
P. B. v. C. C., 25 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1027 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996). · cites it 2× “The court-appointed guardian ad litem for the children moved pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 235 (2) for an order directing, inter alia, that the proceedings be closed, and that the papers in the proceedings be sealed.”
Solomon v. Meyer, 103 A.D.3d 1025 (N.Y. App. Div. 2013). · cites it 2× “In response to the motion, plaintiff asserted that the documents sought by defendants were privileged (see Domestic Relations Law § 235; CPLR 3101 [b]).”
Parker v. Parker, 124 A.L.R. 5th 791 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2003). · cites it 2× “(supra) commented upon the inherent private nature of matrimonial proceedings, noted that Domestic Relations Law § 235 (1) prohibits an officer or clerk of the court from permitting anyone other than a party or a party’s counsel from copying, examining or perusing papers filed…”
In re the Adoption of Doe, 16 Misc. 3d 714 (N.Y. Sur. Ct. 2007). · cites it 8× “) 6 In the realm of family law, the Legislature has carved out additional exceptions to those found in the Judiciary Law, namely: custody proceedings (Domestic Relations Law § 235 [2]), support proceedings (Family Ct Act § 433 [a]), paternity proceedings (Family Ct Act § 531),…”
Flynn v. Flynn, 175 A.D.2d 51 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991). “This statement was filed in plaintiff’s second divorce action and would be inadmissible in an unrelated action pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 235 (1). In any event, it was not a written acknowlegdment addressed to defendant-creditor and therefore was insufficient to start…”
Silberman v. Flaum, 225 A.D.2d 985 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996). · cites it 2× “Plaintiff alleged five causes of action, to wit: abuse of process, intentional infliction of emotional distress, prima facie tort, conduct in violation of the Domestic Relations Law § 235 and fraud. .”
Pejo v. Pejo, 213 A.D.2d 918 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995). “than half of the parties’ property, including coins, furs, jewelry, gold, silver and collectibles valued at $100,000 to $150,000, a $1 million share of defendant’s pension, available with no tax consequences to plaintiff at the end of approximately seven years, and at least…”
Leo Hurwitz v. The United States of Am. & the Cent. Intelligence Agency, 884 F.2d 684 (2d Cir. 1989). “The published documents were statutorily protected from disclosure, see N.Y. Domestic Relations Law § 235 (McKinney 1986), and plaintiff sought, inter alia, to assert a cause of action sounding in tort for the invasion of his right to privacy which was allegedly infringed when…”
Show all 53 citing cases →
— N.Y. Domestic Relations Law § 235(1) — 4 cases
Matter of Morancie, 2024 NY Slip Op 33058(U) (N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. 2024).
J. Doe 1 v. Trs. of Columbia Univ. in the City of N.Y., 2026 NY Slip Op 26034 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., New York Cty. 2026).
M.R. v. D.R., 2024 NY Slip Op 50295(U) (N.Y. Sup. Ct., Westchester Cty. 2024).
F.L. v. J.M., 2022 NY Slip Op 05590 (N.Y. App. Div. 2022).
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