Pittsburgh Divorce Decree Records
Pittsburgh divorce decree records are filed and maintained by the Allegheny County Department of Court Records in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Allegheny County is the county that serves Pittsburgh residents for all civil and family court matters. When a divorce is final, the decree becomes part of the public court record. You can search and obtain copies of a Pittsburgh divorce decree at the Department of Court Records office or through the online case portal. The Family Division handles all divorce filings for residents of Pittsburgh and the greater Allegheny County area.
Pittsburgh Quick Facts
Where to File for Divorce in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh residents file for divorce at the Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Family Division. This office is the main location for all divorce filings in Pittsburgh. The court processes new complaints, stores all case files, and provides copies of decrees. All divorce cases filed in Pittsburgh go through this office before a judge reviews them.
| Court | Allegheny County Department of Court Records - Family Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 440 Ross Street, Room 328 Pittsburgh, PA 15219 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 64437 Pittsburgh, PA 15264-4437 |
| Phone | (412) 350-4200 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | alleghenycourts.us |
The Department of Court Records also operates a main Civil/Family Division office at the City-County Building nearby. That office is located at 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, phone 412-350-5729, open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Both locations serve Pittsburgh residents. Call ahead to confirm which office handles your specific request.
Note: Divorce Hearing Officers may be assigned by the judge to hear economic claims in Pittsburgh divorce cases. Conciliation may also be available in accordance with each judge's standard procedures.
Search Pittsburgh Divorce Decree Records
You can search for a Pittsburgh divorce decree online or in person at the courthouse. Online access works well when you need basic case details such as party names, filing dates, and case status. In-person visits let you review the full case file and order certified copies. Civil records from 1995 forward are available online. Older case indices prior to 1995 are also searchable online through the Department of Court Records system.
The Unified Judicial System Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you search Pittsburgh divorce cases by party name or case number. The portal is free to use. It shows party names, filing dates, and case status. For copies of actual documents from a Pittsburgh divorce decree, you contact the Family Division office directly.
The Ejectment and Miscellaneous Index, which dates back to 1788, contains the index to Pittsburgh divorce records at the Department of Court Records Civil/Family Division. Staff at the desk can help you locate older case files. Some older records may be stored off-site and need to be ordered in advance, so call before you visit if you need records more than a few years old from Pittsburgh.
To search Pittsburgh divorce records, it helps to have the full name of at least one spouse and an approximate year of filing. A case number speeds up the search. Staff can look up by name if you do not have the number. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting in person.
Note: Recent entries made at the courthouse may not appear online right away. Always confirm with the office if you cannot find a case you expect to be there.
Allegheny County Family Division for Pittsburgh
The official page for the Allegheny County Family Division Divorce Department provides details on how to file and obtain Pittsburgh divorce decree records.
The Family Division at 440 Ross Street handles all filings and certified copy requests for Pittsburgh divorce decree cases in Allegheny County.
Pittsburgh Divorce Filing Process
Filing for divorce in Pittsburgh follows Pennsylvania state law. You file a complaint in divorce at the Allegheny County Department of Court Records. The court assigns a case number. At least one spouse must have been a Pennsylvania resident for six months before filing the complaint. Pittsburgh residents who meet this requirement file in Allegheny County.
Pennsylvania offers two main no-fault paths under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323. The first is mutual consent, where both spouses sign affidavits after a 90-day waiting period. The second is irretrievable breakdown after a one-year separation. Fault grounds also exist under Pennsylvania law. Pittsburgh filers must meet one of these grounds before the court can enter a final decree.
Once all required documents are filed in Pittsburgh, the court reviews and grants the divorce administratively. Economic claims such as property division and support may be addressed separately. The judge assigned to the case may refer economic matters to a Divorce Hearing Officer. A conciliation may be scheduled depending on the judge's procedures for Pittsburgh cases.
Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105, agreements between parties about property rights, alimony, and support are enforceable as court orders. This means a settlement agreement in a Pittsburgh divorce has the force of a court order once the judge approves it. Property is divided through equitable distribution under Pennsylvania law. Courts in Pittsburgh handle property, support, and custody within the same divorce action.
After the court enters the divorce decree in Pittsburgh, it becomes a public record. Certified copies cost $15 to $25 depending on the request. Processing takes 3 to 5 business days for standard requests at the Department of Court Records.
Getting Copies of a Pittsburgh Divorce Decree
Certified copies of a Pittsburgh divorce decree are available from the Allegheny County Department of Court Records. The fee for certified copies is $15 to $25. Processing typically takes 3 to 5 business days. You can request copies in person at 440 Ross Street or contact the office by phone at (412) 350-4200 to ask about mail requests.
Plain uncertified copies cost less than certified ones. Most legal matters such as name changes, remarriage, and property transfers require a certified copy of the Pittsburgh divorce decree. Ask the clerk which type you need before you order. The Marriage License Department at the Courthouse also charges an additional $10 fee per divorce decree when applying for a new marriage license in Allegheny County.
You can also search Pittsburgh divorce decree records through the Allegheny County Department of Court Records online system. Civil records from 1995 to the present are available online. For records before 1995, visit the office in person or call to request older files from off-site storage.
Note: If you need a divorce certificate rather than a copy of the decree, that is a separate document. The PA Department of Health does not issue copies of divorce decrees. Contact the Prothonotary in Pittsburgh directly for the full decree.
Legal Help for Divorce in Pittsburgh
Several organizations provide legal help to Pittsburgh residents going through a divorce. Some offer free services to people who qualify based on income. Others provide referrals to family law attorneys in the Pittsburgh area.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves Allegheny County and can help qualifying Pittsburgh residents with divorce cases. Visit palegalaid.net to find services available in Pittsburgh. The Allegheny County Bar Association also operates a lawyer referral service for those who need a family law attorney in Pittsburgh.
The Pennsylvania court system offers forms and instructions for people who want to handle their own divorce in Pittsburgh. You can find court forms through pacourts.us/public-records. The forms include the complaint in divorce, consent affidavits, and other required papers. Staff at the courthouse can tell you which forms you need but cannot give legal advice.
The Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, Chapter 1920 governs all divorce actions in Pittsburgh and across the state. Reading these rules helps you understand what the court expects at each step of a Pittsburgh divorce case.
Note: Pennsylvania Legal Aid provides free help to income-eligible residents. Income limits apply. Contact them directly to check whether you qualify for free help in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Divorce Records and Vital Statistics
The Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains vital statistics for the state but does not issue copies of divorce decrees. For a Pittsburgh divorce decree, you must contact the Allegheny County Department of Court Records. The PA Department of Health at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records directs all requests for divorce records to the county courthouse where the divorce was granted.
The CDC's guide to Pennsylvania vital records at cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/pennsylvania.htm also confirms that copies of divorce records must be obtained from the Prothonotary or Court Records office in the county of the divorce. For Pittsburgh cases, that means Allegheny County.
For genealogy research on older Pittsburgh divorce records, the Ejectment and Miscellaneous Index at the Department of Court Records goes back to 1788. Divorce records in Pittsburgh date from 1885 and forward. Researchers can visit the Civil/Family Division to look through historical divorce indices. Some records from the 1800s may require additional time to locate.
FamilySearch also maintains a Pennsylvania divorce records guide at familysearch.org that may help with older Pittsburgh genealogy research. The guide explains how divorce records were kept before 1804 and where various early records are held.
County Court for Pittsburgh
All Pittsburgh divorce cases are handled by the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The county courthouse in Pittsburgh is the official filing location for all divorce decrees in the Pittsburgh metro area.