Clearfield County Divorce Decree Records

Clearfield County divorce decree records are filed with the Prothonotary at the Clearfield County Courthouse in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. The Prothonotary has kept civil court records since 1804, and that archive includes every divorce decree granted in the county. If you need to search for a case or obtain a certified copy of a divorce decree, the Prothonotary is the right office to contact. You can visit in person, call ahead, or use the Pennsylvania UJS Portal to start your online search for Clearfield County divorce records.

Clearfield County Prothonotary Office

The Clearfield County Prothonotary is the official keeper of civil court records, including all divorce decrees filed in Clearfield County. Staff at this office can search case records by name or docket number, pull files, and provide plain or certified copies of documents. The office is located on the ground floor of the historic Clearfield County Courthouse at 230 E. Market Street in downtown Clearfield.

Records go back to 1804, making Clearfield County one of the longer-running county archives in Pennsylvania. Whether you are researching a recent case or looking into historical records for genealogy purposes, the Prothonotary can assist. Certified copies of a divorce decree are available upon request and are often needed for legal matters such as remarriage, name changes, or property transactions. Call ahead to confirm what identification or information you will need to bring when visiting the Clearfield County courthouse.

The Prothonotary website at clearfieldcounty.org/prothonotary has additional information on office hours and available services.

For a visual overview of what the Clearfield County Prothonotary office provides, the county website offers further detail:

The office handles filings for all civil cases in Clearfield County, including divorce actions under the Pennsylvania Divorce Code.

Searching Clearfield County Divorce Records

You have two main ways to search for a divorce decree in Clearfield County. The first is the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal, which is free and available online. The second is a direct in-person search at the Prothonotary office in Clearfield. Both methods give you access to case records, though the in-person option allows you to review the full file and request copies the same day.

The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you search by participant name, docket number, or date filed. Enter the full name of either spouse to find divorce cases. The results show case status, docket entries, and basic case information. The portal covers all Pennsylvania counties, including Clearfield. It is a public site, so no login is required. Keep in mind that very recent filings may not show up right away, and older records may not appear at all in the online system.

For records not found online, a visit to the Clearfield County Prothonotary is the best approach. Bring the full names of the parties and an approximate year the divorce was filed. Staff can search by name or docket number and pull physical files from the archive. Clearfield County divorce records go back to 1804, so historical research is possible. Certified copies are available upon request for a fee that varies by county.

Note: Records from the early 1800s may be in bound ledger books rather than digital files, so allow extra time when researching older Clearfield County divorce cases.

What a Clearfield County Divorce Decree Contains

A divorce decree is the final court order that ends a marriage. In Clearfield County, the form follows the standard set by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1920.76. The decree states the names of both parties, the date the order was entered, and a statement that the parties are divorced from the bonds of matrimony. It is signed by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Clearfield County.

Beyond the basic decree, the full divorce file in Clearfield County often contains many more documents. The complaint in divorce is the first paper filed. It names both parties and states the grounds for divorce under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323. The file may also include a marital settlement agreement covering property division, support, and other matters. Affidavits, proof of service, and any orders entered during the case are also part of the record. Most of this file is public, though a judge may seal certain portions.

Most people requesting a Clearfield County divorce decree need it for one of these reasons: to prove the divorce for remarriage, to change a name with a state agency, to handle a property transfer, or for estate planning. The certified copy issued by the Clearfield County Prothonotary bears the court seal and signature, making it accepted by government agencies and financial institutions.

Filing for Divorce in Clearfield County

To file for divorce in Clearfield County, you start at the Prothonotary office. You file a complaint in divorce along with the required supporting forms. Pennsylvania requires that at least one spouse have been a resident of the state for at least six months before filing, as set out in the Divorce Code. If you live in Clearfield County, you file in Clearfield.

Pennsylvania offers no-fault divorce in two ways. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105, parties may reach a mutual consent divorce after a 90-day waiting period once both sign an affidavit of consent. The second no-fault route is based on irretrievable breakdown after a two-year separation. Fault-based grounds are also available under state law but are less common. The Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas handles all divorce cases within the county.

Once the divorce complaint is filed, it becomes a permanent part of the Clearfield County court record. Each step of the case adds new documents to the file. When the judge enters the final decree, the Prothonotary records it and it becomes accessible to the public. Certified copies may be obtained at any point after the decree is entered in Clearfield County.

Note: Pennsylvania Legal Aid at palegalaid.net may be able to help Clearfield County residents who need assistance with the divorce filing process but cannot afford an attorney.

Clearfield County Related Court Records

The Clearfield County Prothonotary handles more than just divorce records. The office also maintains files for custody orders, support modifications, and other family law actions. If a divorce case in Clearfield County included a custody arrangement or property settlement, those documents are part of the same case file. You can request all related documents when you obtain the divorce decree.

For historical research on Clearfield County, the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds records from before 1804, including some early Supreme Court divorce papers. The State Archives at 1681 N. Sixth Street, Harrisburg, can be contacted at (717) 783-3281 for research assistance. The archive does not issue certified copies but can assist with historical lookups.

The Pennsylvania Courts public records page also gives guidance on how to access court files across all counties. For genealogy work, FamilySearch has a detailed guide to Pennsylvania divorce records that covers Clearfield County history and archive locations.

For state-level vital records context, the Pennsylvania Department of Health at pa.gov reminds researchers that the state does not issue copies of divorce decrees. All copies must come from the Clearfield County Prothonotary directly.

Nearby Counties

Clearfield County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. If you are unsure which county has the divorce record you need, check where the parties lived when the case was filed. You must request records from the county where the divorce was granted.

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