Pennsylvania divorce records are official court documents maintained by the Unified Judicial System chronicling the legal dissolution of marriages, including divorce decrees, divorce certificates, and associated case files containing information about property division, spousal support, child custody arrangements, and other matters resolved during divorce proceedings. Since 1804, Pennsylvania divorce records have been kept in the Prothonotary's Office (also called the Office of Judicial Records) in the county Courts of Common Pleas where divorces were granted, with public access available through both county courthouses and the statewide Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal providing free online searches of divorce case dockets while certified copies required for legal purposes must be obtained directly from the appropriate county office.
Pennsylvania divorce records encompass various documents generated throughout the legal process of dissolving marriages, each serving different purposes and containing different levels of detail.
What Divorce Records Include
A comprehensive court document issued by judges summarizing the complete dissolution of marriage. Divorce decrees state that divorce has been granted and detail the court's decisions on:
- Spousal support or alimony amounts and duration
- Division of marital assets and liabilities
- Child support obligations
- Child custody arrangements and parenting time
- Restraining orders if applicable
- Penalties for non-compliance with court orders
Divorce decree terms are legally binding on both parties, and failure to comply can trigger enforcement actions including contempt of court proceedings.
A concise one-page document declaring individuals as divorced. Certificates provide:
- Names of divorced parties
- Date divorce was granted
- County courthouse where divorce occurred
- Official certification
Divorce certificates serve as proof of divorce status for purposes like remarriage, name changes, or updating legal documents.
Case Docket and Associated Documents: Complete case files include:
- Original divorce complaints
- Responses and counter-complaints
- Financial disclosure statements
- Property inventories
- Settlement agreements
- Court orders and motions
- Hearing transcripts
- Final judgments
Historical Context of Pennsylvania Divorce Records
Pennsylvania's divorce record-keeping evolved significantly over time:
1682-1773: The Legislature or Governor could grant divorces subject to royal veto by Royal Council
1773: British Parliament forbade royal governors from granting divorces, leaving the Legislature as the sole governing body
1785-1804: Either the Supreme Court or Legislature could act on divorce matters
1804-1874: The Legislature, Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, and Courts of Common Pleas all handled divorces
1874-Present: Courts of Common Pleas alone govern divorce actions
Since 1804, divorce records have been maintained in Prothonotary's Offices in counties where divorces were granted. Early Pennsylvania divorces were rare, with some records from the Legislative Assembly and Supreme Court preserved in the Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania and Record Group 33 at Pennsylvania State Archives.
Public Access to Pennsylvania Divorce Records
Pennsylvania divorce records are generally public records accessible to interested members of the public, subject to certain restrictions and confidentiality provisions.
Pennsylvania's Public Access Policy
The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania's Public Access Policy governs access to court records including divorce files. Under this policy, most divorce records are publicly accessible unless specifically sealed by court order or containing confidential information protected by law.
What's Publicly Available:
- Case docket information including party names, case numbers, filing dates, and case status
- Court orders and judgments
- Final divorce decrees (with some personal information redacted)
- Hearing schedules and outcomes
What's Restricted:
- Records sealed by court order
- Confidential financial information beyond what's in public filings
- Certain information about minor children
- Domestic violence victim addresses and contact information
- Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
Difference Between Public Information and Certified Copies
Informational Copies (Plain Copies): Printed on regular white paper without legal seals, available to any member of the public for informational or genealogical purposes. These copies cannot be used for legal proceedings or official business requiring certified documentation.
Certified Copies: Printed on special security paper bearing raised seals validating them as exact copies of originals. Certified copies are required for:
- Remarriage license applications
- Name change petitions
- Social Security benefits claims
- Immigration proceedings
- Legal matters requiring proof of divorce
Certified copies are issued only to:
- Parties named in the divorce record
- Legal representatives of named parties
- Persons granted access by court order
- Individuals authorized in writing by named parties
Accessing Pennsylvania Divorce Records Online
Pennsylvania provides free online access to divorce case information through the Unified Judicial System's web portal, though actual document copies require county contact.
Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal
The statewide UJS Web Portal (ujsportal.pacourts.us) provides free public access to court case information including:
- Divorce case docket sheets showing case numbers, party names, attorneys, filing dates, and case activity
- Court calendars and hearing schedules
- Case status and disposition information
- Links to filed documents (availability varies by county)
How to Search:
- Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us
- Select "Public Access" or appropriate court level (Courts of Common Pleas for divorces)
- Choose search method:
- Search by participant name
- Search by docket number if known
- Search by attorney name
- Search by date range
- Review results showing matching cases
- Click on specific cases to view detailed docket sheets
The portal requires current browsers with Javascript and cookies enabled. Pop-up blockers may prevent viewing all pages and reports.
PAeDocket Mobile App
Pennsylvania recently launched PAeDocket, a free mobile application providing quick searches of court cases and dockets available for both Android and iOS devices.
Features:
- Search by case number
- Search by participant name
- Search by organization name
- Search by offense tracking number
- Search by police incident or complaint number
- Search by state ID number
Download PAeDocket from app stores by searching "PAeDocket."
Limitations of Online Access
While online portals provide valuable case information, they have important limitations:
- Recent entries made in court offices may not immediately reflect online
- Not all documents are available electronically—older records may exist only on microfilm or in book form
- Sealed cases don't appear in public searches
- Some counties provide more complete online access than others
- Actual certified copies must be obtained from county offices
- Confidential information is redacted from online documents
Obtaining Divorce Records from County Courthouses
For official copies of divorce records, including certified copies required for legal purposes, you must contact the Prothonotary's Office in the county where the divorce was granted.
Contacting the Prothonotary's Office
Each Pennsylvania county maintains its own Prothonotary's Office (also called Office of Judicial Records or Clerk of Courts in some counties) responsible for maintaining civil court records including divorces.
What to Provide When Requesting Records:
- Case number (if known)
- Full names of both parties to the divorce
- Approximate date of divorce
- County where divorce was granted
- Type of copy needed (certified or informational)
- Your relationship to the case (for certified copies)
- Government-issued photo ID (for certified copies)
Request Methods:
- In person: Visit the Prothonotary's Office during business hours
- By mail: Send written requests with specific case information
- By phone: Call to inquire about fees and procedures (some offices don't accept phone requests for records)
- Online: Some counties offer online request forms or portals
Fees for Divorce Records
Fees vary by county but typically include:
- Per-page copy fees: Generally $0.25 per page for informational copies
- Certified copy fees: Vary by county, typically $5-$25 for certification plus per-page fees
- Search fees: Some counties charge for record searches
- Postage fees: If requesting records by mail
Contact the specific county Prothonotary's Office for current fee schedules and accepted payment methods.
County-Specific Considerations
While all Pennsylvania counties follow statewide rules, individual counties may have:
- Different office names (Prothonotary vs. Office of Judicial Records vs. Clerk of Courts)
- Varying hours of operation
- Different procedures for requesting records
- County-specific forms
- Different levels of online access
Always verify current procedures with the specific county where the divorce occurred.
When Access May Be Denied
Occasionally, requests for divorce records may be denied for legitimate reasons:
Volume and Workflow Concerns: The record is voluminous and processing would significantly impede the court's orderly workflow
Off-Site Storage: Case files for closed cases have been moved to off-site storage facilities and retrieving them requires additional time
Active Use: The file is currently in use by a judge or court staff member
Sealed Records: The court has sealed the record from public access by court order
Confidential Information: Requested information falls under confidentiality protections
When denied access, requesters should ask:
- The specific reason for denial
- When records might become available
- Alternative methods for accessing information
- Appeal procedures if denial seems improper
Special Considerations for Historical Divorce Records
Accessing older Pennsylvania divorce records presents unique challenges and opportunities.
Pre-1804 Divorce Records
Divorces granted before 1804 by the Legislature or Supreme Court may be found in:
- Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania
- Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania State Archives Record Group 33 containing:
- Supreme Court Divorce Papers, Eastern District, 1786-1815 (arranged alphabetically)
- Supreme Court General Motions, 1750-1837
- Divorce Docket, 1800-1805 (arranged by date)
Newspaper Records
Local newspapers historically published notices of divorce actions. Pennsylvania newspapers from various time periods are available through:
- Pennsylvania State Library newspaper collections
- County historical societies
- Genealogical societies
- Online newspaper archives
Using Third-Party Websites for Divorce Record Searches
Various third-party websites offer divorce record searches, though their accuracy, completeness, and currency cannot be guaranteed.
Advantages of Third-Party Sites
- Consolidated searches across multiple jurisdictions
- User-friendly search interfaces
- No geographic limitations
- Broader search parameters
- Historical records compilations
Limitations and Cautions
- Independence from Government Sources: Third-party sites aren't sponsored by government agencies and cannot guarantee record accuracy or completeness
- Currency Issues: Information may not be current or recently updated
- Incomplete Coverage: Not all counties or time periods may be included
- Fee Structures: Many charge subscription fees or per-record charges
- Privacy Concerns: Some sites aggregate personal information beyond public records
- No Legal Standing: Records obtained from third-party sites typically aren't acceptable for legal purposes requiring certified copies
Always verify important information found on third-party sites by obtaining official records from appropriate government sources.
Practical Uses for Divorce Records
Pennsylvania divorce records serve various legitimate purposes:
Legal Proceedings:
- Proving marital status for remarriage
- Updating legal documents and beneficiary designations
- Establishing property ownership after divorce
- Enforcing divorce decree terms including support and custody
Financial Matters:
- Processing insurance claims
- Updating Social Security records
- Dividing retirement accounts
- Resolving credit and debt issues
Genealogical Research:
- Tracing family histories
- Understanding family structures and relationships
- Documenting ancestral information
Background Checks:
- Verifying marital history
- Confirming divorce status
- Due diligence for business or personal relationships
Looking Forward
Pennsylvania divorce records maintained by the Unified Judicial System provide comprehensive documentation of marriage dissolutions, available through both the statewide Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal offering free online access to case dockets and individual county Prothonotary's Offices where official certified copies can be obtained for legal purposes.