Bradford County Divorce Decrees
Bradford County divorce decree records are held by the Prothonotary at the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda, Pennsylvania. The Prothonotary maintains all civil court records including divorce filings, custody matters, protection from abuse cases, and support orders. Divorce records in Bradford County go back to 1879, and the office holds two volumes of divorce indexes covering cases from 1879 through 1977. These records are available to the public during regular business hours. Anyone needing a certified copy of a Bradford County divorce decree can contact the Prothonotary at 301 Main Street in Towanda.
Bradford County Quick Facts
Bradford County Prothonotary and Divorce Decree Records
The Bradford County Prothonotary records and maintains all civil suits and family court actions filed in the county. This includes divorce cases, custody matters, protection from abuse petitions, support proceedings, civil judgments, and liens. The Prothonotary's office is located at the Bradford County Courthouse, 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848. The office phone number is (570) 265-1721. Records are available for public review during regular business hours.
Bradford County divorce records date back to 1879. The office holds two volumes of divorce indexes covering cases from 1879 through 1977. These index volumes allow researchers to locate specific cases by name before requesting the actual file. For cases filed after 1977, more standard electronic or folder-based indexing applies. The Prothonotary can walk you through how to locate older records when you call or visit the office.
One distinctive feature of Bradford County divorce practice is the requirement for a local cover sheet. The Bradford County Court of Common Pleas Divorce/Custody Cover Sheet must be completed and included with all new divorce filings. This local form is required in addition to the standard Pennsylvania statewide forms. Anyone filing a divorce complaint in Bradford County should obtain this form before visiting the courthouse or submitting paperwork.
The Bradford County Prothonotary website at bradfordcountypa.gov/323/Prothonotary provides contact information, office hours, and details on the records maintained by the office. Review it before visiting to confirm what you need to bring and whether the record you need is held in Towanda or has been archived elsewhere.
The following image is from the Bradford County Prothonotary's Office website, which is the primary source for divorce decree records and civil case filings in Towanda, Pennsylvania.
The Bradford County Prothonotary page at bradfordcountypa.gov shows office contact details, hours of operation, and a description of the civil records including divorce decree filings maintained at the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda.
| Office |
Bradford County Prothonotary Bradford County Courthouse 301 Main Street Towanda, PA 18848 Phone: (570) 265-1721 |
|---|---|
| Records Start | 1879 to present |
| Divorce Indexes | 1879-1977 (two volumes) |
| Website | bradfordcountypa.gov/323/Prothonotary |
Bradford County Divorce Indexes and Historical Records
Bradford County holds two volumes of divorce indexes covering the years 1879 through 1977. These volumes are physical index books that allow researchers and staff to search for divorce cases by name within that date range. Having these dedicated indexes available is a significant resource for genealogical research and historical record searches. If you are researching a family history involving a divorce in Bradford County before 1977, the index volumes are an important starting point.
To use the divorce indexes, visit the Bradford County Prothonotary's Office in Towanda during business hours. Staff can assist you in searching the volumes. Once you find an entry in the index, you can request the corresponding case file and any copies you need. Cases from 1977 onward are indexed through other means, and recent filings are also searchable through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System online portal.
The FamilySearch Pennsylvania Divorce Records wiki provides context on how Pennsylvania divorce records have been organized since 1804. It notes that the Prothonotary is the official source for county-level divorce records and that formal divorces in Pennsylvania have a high rate of record-keeping compliance. Bradford County's dedicated index volumes for 1879 to 1977 reflect that tradition of careful record maintenance.
For records before 1879 in Bradford County, the Pennsylvania State Archives may hold relevant materials. The State Archives in Harrisburg preserves older court records and can be consulted for any divorce matters predating the Bradford County Prothonotary's earliest records. Contact the Archives at (717) 783-3281 or ra-statearchives@pa.gov for research assistance.
Note: Bradford County divorce indexes from 1879 to 1977 are available in two physical volumes at the Prothonotary's Office in Towanda. For cases within this period, having the approximate year of the divorce will speed up your search through the index.
Filing a Divorce Decree in Bradford County
Filing a divorce complaint in Bradford County requires following both statewide Pennsylvania rules and a local requirement specific to this county. Every new divorce filing must include the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas Divorce/Custody Cover Sheet. This local form is required alongside the standard Pennsylvania divorce complaint forms. The Prothonotary at 301 Main Street in Towanda can tell you where to obtain the cover sheet when you call ahead at (570) 265-1721.
Standard divorce complaint forms for Pennsylvania are available through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. These forms are free to download and use. The Bradford County cover sheet supplements these standard forms rather than replacing them. Both must be included when you file with the Prothonotary in Towanda.
Under Pennsylvania law, at least one spouse must have lived in Pennsylvania for at least six months before the complaint is filed. Both parties must also be identified correctly in the complaint. The complaint is filed in person at the Bradford County Prothonotary's Office, and the filing fee must be paid at that time. Once filed, the case is assigned a number and the Prothonotary begins the permanent case file. All subsequent documents, including the final divorce decree, are added to that file.
The procedural rules for Pennsylvania divorce cases are found in Chapter 1920 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Bradford County courts follow these statewide rules, with the addition of the local cover sheet requirement. Attorneys and self-represented litigants alike must comply with both the state rules and local requirements when filing in Bradford County.
What Bradford County Divorce Records Contain
A Bradford County divorce case file contains every document submitted to the Court of Common Pleas in the course of the proceedings. The complaint in divorce is the first document filed. It names both parties, states the grounds for divorce under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301, and sets out what the plaintiff is asking the court to grant. The defendant may file a response, which also becomes part of the official record maintained by the Bradford County Prothonotary.
As the case proceeds, the file grows to include additional documents. Property inventories, income affidavits, and financial disclosure statements are common in divorce cases involving property or support disputes. If the parties reach a settlement, the written agreement is filed with the court and becomes enforceable as a court order under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105. Custody plans and support orders are also added to the file if those issues are part of the case.
The final Bradford County divorce decree is entered by the judge and filed with the Prothonotary. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323, the decree formally ends the marriage and must include the beneficiary designation notice required by Act 106 of 2022. The court retains jurisdiction over any open claims until a final order is entered on each one. Certified copies of the Bradford County divorce decree are available from the Prothonotary for use in legal and administrative matters.
Searching Bradford County Divorce Records Online
Case docket information for Bradford County divorce filings is available through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. This free public tool lets anyone search for Bradford County court cases by party name or case number. The portal returns docket sheets with basic case information, filed dates, and a list of documents. No login is required. This is a useful first step before contacting the Prothonotary for physical copies.
The PennsylvaniaCourtRecords.us divorce records guide explains that electronic information about Pennsylvania divorce cases is maintained centrally by the Unified Judicial System. A mobile app called PAeDocket is also available for Android and iOS devices, providing the same docket search capability on a phone or tablet. Once you locate a Bradford County case number through the portal or app, include it in your request to the Prothonotary for faster processing.
Keep in mind that online access through the UJS Portal shows only docket-level information, not the content of filed documents. Sensitive or secure information is not shown to public users. To obtain the actual text of a Bradford County divorce decree, you must contact the Prothonotary directly at (570) 265-1721 or visit the courthouse in Towanda during business hours.
For Bradford County divorce cases from 1879 to 1977, the online portal may not have complete index data. For those older cases, contacting the Prothonotary directly and asking about the physical divorce index volumes is the most reliable approach. Staff can search the index volumes in person and report back on what they find.
Pennsylvania Divorce Law in Bradford County
All Bradford County divorce cases are governed by Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which contains the state's Divorce Code. Section 3301 defines the grounds for divorce. The two most common no-fault grounds are mutual consent under § 3301(c), requiring both parties to sign consent affidavits after a 90-day waiting period, and irretrievable breakdown under § 3301(d), where the parties have been separated for at least one year. Fault grounds including adultery and cruel treatment are also available under Pennsylvania law.
Bradford County divorce cases must be filed by a party who has lived in Pennsylvania for at least six months. The case is filed at the Bradford County Prothonotary in Towanda. Under the Pennsylvania residency requirement in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104, this six-month requirement must be met before the complaint is filed. Once filed, the case follows the procedural rules in Chapter 1920 through all stages up to the final decree.
Property in Bradford County divorce cases is divided under equitable distribution as defined in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. The court considers many factors in dividing marital property, including how long the marriage lasted, each party's income and earning capacity, and contributions made to the marriage. The full text of Pennsylvania's Divorce Code on Westlaw is a free public resource that explains all aspects of divorce law that apply in Bradford County.
Legal Help for Divorce in Bradford County
Bradford County residents who need assistance with a divorce case can turn to Pennsylvania Legal Aid for free civil legal services. Their website at palegalaid.net lists the offices and programs that serve Bradford County. Income eligibility requirements apply. Pennsylvania Legal Aid can help with understanding the process, completing forms, and in some cases, direct representation for qualifying residents.
Self-represented litigants in Bradford County should review the forms and instructions on the UJS Portal before filing. Standard divorce complaint forms are available at no cost. Remember to also obtain the Bradford County Divorce/Custody Cover Sheet, which is required for all local filings. Confirm with the Prothonotary that you have the correct version of the cover sheet before you submit your complaint.
Private family law attorneys familiar with Bradford County Court of Common Pleas practice can be found through the Bradford County Bar Association or through the Pennsylvania Bar Association's statewide lawyer referral line. An attorney can help with contested divorce matters, property division, and custody disputes. For simpler uncontested divorces, the resources available through the UJS Portal and the Prothonotary's office in Towanda may be sufficient.
The Pennsylvania Courts public records page explains the Public Access Policy that governs what Bradford County divorce records are available remotely through the online portal and what requires an in-person visit or written request. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, most Bradford County civil court records including divorce filings are accessible to the public.
Note: For certified copies of Bradford County divorce decree records, contact the Prothonotary at (570) 265-1721 before visiting to confirm fees, accepted payment methods, and whether the record you need is available at the courthouse or has been archived.
Nearby Counties
Divorce cases in Pennsylvania are filed in the county where at least one spouse resides. If you are researching records near Bradford County or need to confirm where a case was filed, check the addresses of both parties at the time of filing. The following counties border Bradford County and may hold related divorce records.