Search Berks County Divorce Decrees
Berks County divorce decree records are kept by the Prothonotary's Office at the Berks County Courthouse in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Prothonotary is the elected civil clerk for the Court of Common Pleas and holds all civil case records including divorce filings dating back to 1878. Requests for divorce decree copies in Berks County can be made in person during regular business hours, by mail, or through the online case search system. Providing the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the divorce will help staff locate the correct record quickly.
Berks County Quick Facts
Berks County Prothonotary and Divorce Decree Records
The Berks County Prothonotary is the elected civil clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and is responsible for recording all civil procedures before the court. This office holds divorce records going back to 1878 and handles all requests for copies of divorce decrees filed in Berks County. The office is located on the second floor of the Berks County Courthouse at 633 Court Street in Reading, PA 19601. The phone number is 610-478-6970, and hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
To request a divorce decree copy from the Berks County Prothonotary, you need to provide the full names of both parties to the divorce, the approximate date of filing or finalization, and the case number if you have it. Staff can search the records and locate the correct file based on this information. Cases from more recent years may be searchable online, while older records may require a direct search at the office.
If you are submitting payment by check, make it payable to PROTHONOTARY OF BERKS COUNTY. Note that returned checks are assessed a $50.00 service charge, so confirm account funds before submitting. Cash and other accepted payment methods can be confirmed by calling the office directly at 610-478-6970 before your visit.
The Berks County Prothonotary's website at co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Prothy provides the full fee schedule, office hours, and guidance on requesting copies of civil records including divorce decrees. It is worth reviewing before you submit your request.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania State Archives website, which provides background on how Pennsylvania's county-level divorce records have been maintained since 1804 and where older records may be located.
The Pennsylvania State Archives at pa.gov/agencies/phmc/pa-state-archives preserves older statewide court records, while Berks County's own Prothonotary maintains divorce records from 1878 to the present in Reading.
| Office |
Berks County Prothonotary Berks County Courthouse 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor Reading, PA 19601 Phone: 610-478-6970 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Prothy |
| Records Start | 1878 to present |
| Checks Payable To | PROTHONOTARY OF BERKS COUNTY |
Divorce Decree Fees in Berks County
The Berks County Prothonotary charges $10.00 for a certified copy of a document or divorce decree, effective January 1, 2026. This fee applies per certification, meaning if you need a multi-page certified copy, you pay the $10.00 base fee plus any per-page copy fees. Confirm the exact total when you contact the office, as the number of pages in a given decree can vary.
Filing a new divorce complaint in Berks County costs $225.00 under the civil action complaint category. This filing fee is separate from any copy or certification fees. It is paid at the time you file the complaint with the Prothonotary. Fees can change, so call 610-478-6970 before filing to confirm the current rate and accepted payment methods at the time of your visit.
Checks made payable to PROTHONOTARY OF BERKS COUNTY are accepted for payment. Returned checks are assessed a $50.00 service charge. If you are not certain about your payment method, call ahead or ask the office about alternative options including cash or credit card payments before you arrive.
Note: All fees at the Berks County Prothonotary are subject to change. Always confirm current rates before submitting a request or attending the office to file documents.
How to Search Berks County Divorce Records
Searching for divorce records in Berks County starts with the online case search system. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free public access to docket information for all Pennsylvania courts, including the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. You can search by party name or case number. The portal returns docket sheets showing case dates, filed documents, and party names without requiring you to visit the courthouse.
For in-person access, visit the Berks County Prothonotary at 633 Court Street, second floor, in Reading. Bring a photo identification and the names of both parties to the divorce. If you have the case number or the approximate date of the divorce, include that as well. Staff can search the records and provide copies on the same visit for records that are in the office. Requests for older records that may be archived offsite can take additional time.
Mail requests are also accepted at the Berks County Prothonotary. Write a request letter identifying the parties, the date, and the case number if known. Include a check made payable to PROTHONOTARY OF BERKS COUNTY. The office will process the request and provide the copies along with a receipt. Allow extra time for mail requests compared to in-person visits.
For genealogical research into older Berks County divorce records, the FamilySearch Pennsylvania Divorce Records wiki offers context on how records were kept before 1804 and how to navigate older Pennsylvania court archives. Berks County divorce records from 1878 onward are held at the county courthouse in Reading.
What Berks County Divorce Filings Include
A divorce case file in Berks County contains the complete set of documents submitted to the Court of Common Pleas throughout the proceedings. The case starts with the complaint in divorce, which identifies both parties, states the grounds for divorce, and sets out what the plaintiff is requesting. The defendant may file a response. Both of these initial filings, along with everything added afterward, form the official court record maintained by the Berks County Prothonotary.
Other documents typically found in a Berks County divorce file include financial disclosure statements, income affidavits, property lists, and any settlement agreement the parties reached before or during the case. If the case involved child custody or support issues, those related filings are also part of the record. If a hearing was held before a master or judge, the hearing report and subsequent orders are included as well.
The final divorce decree, entered by the judge, is the most important document in the file. It formally dissolves the marriage under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 and must include a beneficiary designation notice as required by Act 106 of 2022. Certified copies of the decree carry the court's official seal and are needed for name changes, remarriage applications, estate proceedings, and other legal matters. They are available from the Berks County Prothonotary.
Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, Berks County divorce records are generally accessible to any member of the public. Informational copies can be provided to anyone who requests them. Certified copies are typically issued to parties named in the record, their attorneys, or others with a legal interest. Some details involving minor children or sealed financial matters may be redacted from public copies.
Pennsylvania Divorce Law in Berks County
All divorce cases in Berks County are governed by Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Section 3301 defines the available grounds for divorce. The most commonly used no-fault grounds are mutual consent under § 3301(c) and irretrievable breakdown under § 3301(d). Mutual consent requires both parties to sign affidavits of consent after a 90-day waiting period from service of the complaint. Irretrievable breakdown requires the parties to have been separated for at least one year.
To file for divorce in Berks County, at least one spouse must have been a resident of Pennsylvania for at least six months. The complaint is filed with the Berks County Prothonotary at the courthouse in Reading. After filing, the plaintiff must serve the defendant with the divorce papers using an approved method of service under Pennsylvania law. Proof of service is filed with the Prothonotary and becomes part of the court record.
The procedural steps for divorce in Berks County follow Chapter 1920 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. These rules govern every step from how complaints are formatted to what must happen before the court enters a final decree. Any party who needs guidance on the rules can review them through the Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin website. Standard forms are also available through the UJS Portal at no cost.
Property division in Berks County divorce cases follows the equitable distribution standard under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. This means the court divides marital property fairly, though not always equally, based on a range of factors including the length of the marriage and each party's financial situation. Any settlement agreement reached by the parties and filed with the court becomes enforceable as a court order under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105.
Divorce Certificates and Berks County Divorce Decrees
There are two different documents people may seek when they need proof of a past divorce in Pennsylvania. The first is the divorce decree from the Berks County Prothonotary. This is the complete court order and the official legal record of the divorce. It includes all the terms the court ordered, such as property division, support, and custody. Certified copies are available from the courthouse in Reading.
The second document is a divorce certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. This is a shorter, summary-level document that confirms the divorce took place but does not include the terms. The Division of Vital Records in New Castle, PA issues these certificates for divorces recorded in Pennsylvania from 1906 onward. They are not the same as a certified copy of the court decree, and many legal purposes require the full decree from the Berks County courthouse rather than the state certificate.
The VitalChek service can be used to order Pennsylvania vital records including divorce certificates online. However, for a certified copy of the full Berks County divorce decree, you must contact the Prothonotary's Office in Reading directly. VitalChek does not have access to county court records.
The image below is from the VitalChek website, which offers online ordering for Pennsylvania vital records certificates, which are distinct from the full divorce decree copies held at the Berks County courthouse.
VitalChek at vitalchek.com handles state-level vital records including divorce certificates, but certified copies of the full Berks County divorce decree must be requested directly from the Prothonotary at 633 Court Street in Reading.
Legal Help for Divorce in Berks County
Residents of Berks County who need legal assistance with a divorce case have several options. Pennsylvania Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying residents. Their website at palegalaid.net lists the programs and offices that serve Berks County. Services may include help with court forms, understanding procedural requirements, and representation in appropriate cases.
The Berks County Bar Association offers a lawyer referral service for people who want to hire a private attorney. A family law attorney familiar with Reading and the Berks County Court of Common Pleas can be valuable for contested divorces or complex property and custody matters. Self-represented litigants can also access standard divorce forms and procedural guidance through the UJS Portal, which is maintained by the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System.
The Pennsylvania Courts public records page explains the statewide Public Access Policy, which determines what Berks County divorce records are accessible remotely and what requires an in-person visit. Under that policy, most civil divorce records are public and can be requested by any member of the public. Some court-ordered seals or redactions may limit access to certain parts of a file.
Note: Free legal help in Berks County through Pennsylvania Legal Aid is based on income eligibility. Contact palegalaid.net to check eligibility and find the nearest office before your court date in Reading.
Nearby Counties
Divorce cases in Pennsylvania must be filed in the county where at least one spouse resides. Berks County borders several densely populated counties. If you are unsure which county holds the divorce records you need, check the address of the filing party at the time the case was filed.