Blair County Divorce Decrees
Blair County divorce decree records are maintained by the Prothonotary's Office at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. The office serves as the official custodian of all divorce records for proceedings conducted within the county and holds filings going back to 1804. Requests for certified copies of divorce decrees filed in Blair County can be made in person, by phone, or through the online case portal maintained by the Pennsylvania Judiciary. The Prothonotary is located at 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 144, and the office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Blair County Quick Facts
Blair County Prothonotary and Divorce Records
The Blair County Prothonotary's Office is the official custodian of all civil court records in the county, including divorce proceedings. The office holds records going back to 1804. Blair County divorce records include divorce complaints, financial disclosures, settlement agreements, custody agreements, and final divorce decrees. Each of these documents is part of the permanent court record maintained by the Prothonotary in Hollidaysburg.
The Prothonotary is located at Suite 144 in the Blair County Courthouse at 423 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. The office number is (814) 693-3080. Hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff can search the records by name or case number and provide certified or plain copies of divorce documents. Online case verification is also available through the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal for more recent filings.
One important note for Blair County researchers: records prior to 1968 may be held at the Pennsylvania State Archives rather than at the courthouse. If you are looking for a divorce decree from before 1968, contact the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg at (717) 783-3281 to determine whether the records have been transferred. For post-1968 records, the Blair County Prothonotary in Hollidaysburg is the correct office.
The Blair County Prothonotary's page at blaircountypa.gov provides current fee information, office hours, and guidance on how to submit requests for civil records including divorce decree copies.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania CDC vital records guide, which confirms that divorce record copies must be obtained from the county Prothonotary rather than any state agency in Pennsylvania.
The CDC guide at cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/pennsylvania.htm directs anyone seeking a Pennsylvania divorce copy to the county Prothonotary, confirming that the Blair County Prothonotary in Hollidaysburg is the correct source for Blair County divorce decree records.
| Office |
Blair County Prothonotary Blair County Courthouse 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 144 Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 Phone: (814) 693-3080 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | blaircountypa.gov/departments/prothonotary |
| Records Start | 1804 to present (pre-1968 records may be at PA State Archives) |
Blair County Divorce Decree Fees and Costs
The Blair County Prothonotary charges $20.00 per name for a record search. This fee covers the cost of searching the office's records index to locate the correct case. Once the case is found, copies cost $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies of divorce decrees cost $10.00 per certification. The certification fee is in addition to any per-page copy costs.
For most requests, you will pay the $20.00 search fee, the per-page copy rate, and the $10.00 certification fee for a certified copy. The total depends on how many pages your document contains. Call (814) 693-3080 before submitting your request so staff can confirm the current fee schedule and estimate the total for your specific case. Payment methods accepted at the office can also be confirmed during that call.
These fees apply to requests made in person or by mail. If you are submitting a mail request, call first or review the office's website at blaircountypa.gov to confirm the correct payment address and what to include with your check. Sending the wrong amount can delay processing of your request.
Note: The Blair County search fee of $20.00 per name applies regardless of whether a record is found. This is a standard search fee for the time spent locating files. It is not refunded if the search does not return a result.
What Blair County Divorce Decree Files Include
Blair County divorce case files are comprehensive records of every document filed in a case from start to finish. The complaint in divorce opens the file and states the grounds for divorce, the names of both parties, and the relief being sought. The defendant may file an answer or other response. All early filings become part of the permanent record at the Blair County Prothonotary's Office in Hollidaysburg.
As a Blair County divorce case moves forward, additional documents are typically added to the file. Financial disclosure statements are common in contested divorces, where both parties must report assets, income, and debts. Settlement agreements detail how property will be divided and whether alimony will be paid. Custody agreements set out parenting arrangements if minor children are involved. All of these documents are held by the Prothonotary and are part of the public court record in Blair County.
The final divorce decree, entered by the judge, is the central document most people need from the Blair County court file. It formally ends the marriage under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 and must include the beneficiary designation notice required by Act 106 of 2022. The court retains jurisdiction over any unresolved claims until a final order is entered on each one. Certified copies of the Blair County divorce decree are available from the Prothonotary.
The PennsylvaniaCourtRecords.us divorce guide explains that certified copies of Pennsylvania divorce records are available to parties named in the record, their legal representatives, and attorneys of record. Informational copies are available to any member of the public who requests them from the Blair County Prothonotary.
Online Access to Blair County Divorce Records
Blair County divorce case dockets are accessible through the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal and the Unified Judicial System at ujsportal.pacourts.us. The portal is a free public tool that lets you search for court cases by party name or case number. It returns docket sheets showing basic case information, filed dates, and document listings. No account is required. The portal covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Blair County.
Online access through the UJS Portal is useful for locating a case number before you contact the Prothonotary. Once you have the case number, you can include it in your records request to speed up processing. The portal does not show the content of filed documents, only that they exist. For the full text of a Blair County divorce decree, you must contact the Prothonotary in Hollidaysburg directly.
A mobile app called PAeDocket is available for Android and iOS and provides the same docket search capability as the web portal. It can be a useful tool when you are researching Blair County records on the go. Find the case number through the app, then contact the office by phone at (814) 693-3080 or in person to arrange for copies of the documents you need.
The Pennsylvania Courts public records page explains the statewide Public Access Policy that governs which portions of Blair County court records are available for remote viewing and which require an in-person request. The policy is designed to balance public access with privacy protections for sensitive information in court files.
Pennsylvania Divorce Law and Blair County Court
All divorce cases in Blair County follow the Pennsylvania Divorce Code found in Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Section 3301 establishes the grounds for divorce, including mutual consent, irretrievable breakdown after one year of separation, and fault grounds. The procedural rules in Chapter 1920 govern how cases are filed and processed in Blair County as in every other Pennsylvania county.
To file for divorce in Blair County, at least one spouse must have lived in Pennsylvania for at least six months before the complaint is filed. The complaint is filed with the Blair County Prothonotary. The plaintiff must then serve the defendant using an approved method under Pennsylvania law. Once the required waiting periods have passed and the grounds are established, the court can enter the final divorce decree.
Property division in Blair County divorce cases follows equitable distribution under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. Marital property is divided fairly based on factors including the length of the marriage, each party's income and contributions, and the economic circumstances of both parties. Any agreement between the parties about property or support that is filed with the Blair County court is enforceable as a court order under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105. The full text of Pennsylvania divorce law is available through the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes on Westlaw.
Divorce Certificates vs. Blair County Divorce Decrees
A divorce certificate and a divorce decree are not the same document. The full divorce decree is the court order issued by the Blair County Court of Common Pleas. It contains the complete terms of the dissolution, including property division and any custody or support arrangements. It is available from the Blair County Prothonotary. A divorce certificate is a brief state-level summary issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. It confirms the divorce occurred but does not include the terms.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health does not issue copies of divorce decrees. Their office handles birth and death records and issues divorce certificates only as summaries. For the actual court order, you must go to the county court. In Blair County, that means contacting the Prothonotary at (814) 693-3080 or visiting the courthouse at 423 Allegheny Street in Hollidaysburg.
Many legal matters require the full decree rather than just the certificate. Name changes, new marriage license applications, estate proceedings, and property transactions often require a certified copy from the Blair County Prothonotary. The certificate from the state is useful only for basic verification purposes. Confirm what document is required before you request either one.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania Department of Health vital records page, which explains the difference between state-issued certificates and county-level divorce decree documents like those held at the Blair County courthouse.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records confirms that divorce copies must be obtained from the county courthouse, directing Blair County residents to the Prothonotary in Hollidaysburg for certified decree copies.
Legal Assistance for Blair County Divorce Cases
Residents of Blair County who need help with a divorce case can contact Pennsylvania Legal Aid for free civil legal services. Visit palegalaid.net to find the office that serves Blair County and check income eligibility for free services. Pennsylvania Legal Aid can help with court forms, procedural guidance, and in some cases, direct representation.
Self-represented litigants in Blair County can access standard divorce forms through the UJS Portal. The forms are free to download and use. Instructions are available through the portal as well. The Blair County Court of Common Pleas follows the statewide procedural rules that apply across Pennsylvania, so standard forms work in Blair County the same way they do in other counties.
The Blair County Bar Association can connect you with a private family law attorney if you need individual legal representation. An attorney familiar with the Blair County Court of Common Pleas can help with contested divorce matters, property disputes, and custody issues. Consulting an attorney early in the process can help you understand your rights and what documents you may need from the Blair County Prothonotary's records.
Note: Pre-1968 Blair County divorce records may be located at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg rather than at the courthouse. Contact the State Archives at (717) 783-3281 to verify availability before requesting copies for very old cases.
Nearby Counties
Pennsylvania divorce cases must be filed in the county where at least one party resides. Blair County borders several other counties in central Pennsylvania. If you are not sure whether your case belongs in Blair County or a nearby county, confirm the current address of both parties before filing the complaint.