Find a Clinton County Divorce Decree
Clinton County divorce decree records are held by the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts at the Clinton County Courthouse in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. The archive goes back to 1839 and covers both historical and current divorce cases. Whether you need a certified copy for a legal matter or are doing family research, the Prothonotary office on the first floor of the courthouse can help you locate the record. You can also begin your search online through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal before making an in-person visit to Clinton County.
Clinton County Quick Facts
Clinton County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts
The Clinton County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office is the official repository for all civil court records in the county, including every divorce decree filed since 1839. The office is on the first floor of the Clinton County Courthouse at 230 E. Main Street in Lock Haven. Staff can search records by name or docket number and provide plain or certified copies of divorce decrees and related documents.
User guidelines and legal disclaimers apply to case information access in Clinton County. This means that while divorce records are generally public, the office has specific rules about what information is shared and how requests are handled. Calling ahead or reviewing the guidelines on the county website is a good first step before you visit. The Prothonotary office can confirm what you need to bring and whether your record can be found in the on-site archive or must be retrieved from storage.
Clinton County divorce records from 1839 to the present represent a deep archive that serves both legal and genealogical needs. The Prothonotary website at clintoncountypa.com/prothonotary has contact details and office information.
The state-level resource below shows how Pennsylvania tracks divorce data and where to seek records:
As the PA Department of Health confirms, copies of divorce decrees must come from the county Prothonotary, not the state office.
| Office |
Clinton County Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts Clinton County Courthouse, First Floor 230 E. Main Street Lock Haven, PA 17745 Phone: (570) 893-4010 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | clintoncountypa.com/prothonotary |
How to Search Clinton County Divorce Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal is the easiest place to start a search for Clinton County divorce records. Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us and search by participant name or docket number. The portal is free and open to the public. It provides docket sheets with case status, filing dates, and basic party information. This works well for cases filed in recent decades. Older records from the 1800s and early 1900s may not appear online at all.
For records not found on the portal, an in-person visit to the Clinton County Prothonotary is the next step. Bring the full names of both parties and a rough idea of when the divorce was filed. Staff can search by name through the index and pull physical files. The first floor location in the courthouse makes the office accessible. For very old files, the archive may need to retrieve the record, so call ahead if you are researching cases from before the mid-1900s.
The PennsylvaniaCourtRecords.us divorce guide notes that informational copies of divorce records are available to any member of the public, while certified copies are typically reserved for named parties, their legal representatives, or persons with a court order. Clinton County follows the same public access rules as all Pennsylvania counties.
Note: Legal disclaimers apply to case information in Clinton County, so confirm with the Prothonotary what information will be shared before making a long trip to Lock Haven.
Divorce Filing Process in Clinton County
All divorce actions in Clinton County begin at the Prothonotary office. You file a complaint in divorce and pay the required filing fee. The Prothonotary assigns a docket number and the case becomes part of the public record. Pennsylvania law under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 governs the form of the final decree, and the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas has full authority to enter that decree.
Pennsylvania allows no-fault divorce through mutual consent after a 90-day period once both parties sign affidavits of consent. A second path allows divorce after a two-year separation based on irretrievable breakdown. Fault grounds remain available under Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Once the court enters the decree, it is filed with the Prothonotary and becomes a permanent Clinton County court record. Certified copies may be obtained at any time after entry.
The Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Chapter 1920 sets out the procedural rules for divorce actions in all counties, including Clinton. Rules cover the form of the complaint, service of process, required notices, and the form of the final decree. Following these rules correctly from the start avoids delays in your Clinton County case.
Clinton County Divorce Decree Document Details
A Clinton County divorce decree is the final court order dissolving the marriage. The document states the names of both spouses, the date of the order, and the legal language ending the marriage under Pennsylvania law. It carries the court seal and judge's signature. This is the document most agencies and institutions require when proof of divorce is needed.
The full divorce file in Clinton County typically contains more than just the decree. You may find the original complaint, any answer filed by the other party, proof of service, affidavits of consent or separation, a marital settlement agreement, and any interim orders entered during the case. Property settlement terms, name restoration requests, and other agreed matters become part of the record. Most of the file is accessible to the public. A judge may order certain information sealed, but this is rare in standard divorce cases.
For name changes or remarriage applications, the certified copy of the Clinton County divorce decree is the document that government offices typically require. The Prothonotary office provides certified copies with the court seal for a fee that varies by county.
Additional Resources for Clinton County Records
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds older statewide divorce records, including Supreme Court divorce papers from 1786 to 1815. If you are researching Clinton County ancestry and the divorce predates the county's 1839 records, the State Archives in Harrisburg may have what you need. Their address is 1681 N. Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102, and their phone number is (717) 783-3281.
The FamilySearch Pennsylvania Divorce Records wiki provides a useful overview of where records are held across the state's history and which counties have particularly deep archives. Clinton County's 1839 start date is earlier than some neighboring counties, making it a useful resource for regional research.
If you need legal help in Clinton County, Pennsylvania Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to eligible low-income residents. They can assist with divorce filings, access to court records, and other family law matters in the Clinton County area.
Note: The Pennsylvania Department of Health does not issue divorce decrees. All copies must be obtained directly from the Clinton County Prothonotary at the courthouse in Lock Haven.
Nearby Counties
Clinton County is surrounded by several Pennsylvania counties. If you are not sure where the divorce was filed, check which county the parties lived in at the time of filing. Divorce records are always held in the county where the case was granted.