Cumberland County Divorce Decree and Case Records
Cumberland County divorce decree records are maintained by the Prothonotary at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Records from August 2001 forward are available online through the county website, and e-filing is available for attorneys and self-represented litigants. The Prothonotary also issues certified divorce certificates, which are often needed for legal matters. If you need to search for a divorce decree or obtain a certified copy in Cumberland County, the Prothonotary in Carlisle is the place to start.
Cumberland County Quick Facts
Cumberland County Prothonotary Office
The Cumberland County Prothonotary, currently Dale Sabadish, is the official keeper of civil court records in Cumberland County. The office is at 1 Courthouse Square in Carlisle, PA 17013, phone (717) 240-6195. The Prothonotary files divorce complaints, maintains case records, and provides copies of decrees and related documents. Certified divorce certificates are available upon request and are needed for many legal and personal purposes.
Records from August 2001 forward are available on the Cumberland County website, giving you online access to recent divorce case docket information. For records before that date, an in-person or phone request is needed. E-filing is available through the county for both attorneys and self-represented parties, making it easier to handle filings from anywhere. The Prothonotary can guide you through what is available online and what requires a direct request.
The Cumberland County Prothonotary website at cumberlandcountypa.gov/prothonotary has information on services, e-filing, and how to request copies. The county is also covered by the Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, which allows free public searching of case dockets.
The image below shows the Cumberland County Prothonotary website, where online records and e-filing access are available for divorce cases:
The Cumberland County Prothonotary is one of the more accessible offices in central Pennsylvania for online divorce record access.
| Office |
Cumberland County Prothonotary Dale Sabadish, Prothonotary Cumberland County Courthouse 1 Courthouse Square Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone: (717) 240-6195 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | cumberlandcountypa.gov/prothonotary |
Searching Cumberland County Divorce Records
For cases filed from August 2001 onward, the Cumberland County website and the Pennsylvania UJS Portal both provide online access to docket information. The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us allows free searching by participant name, docket number, or date filed. Enter the name of either party and Cumberland County to see a list of cases. The results show case status, filing dates, and docket entries. This is the quickest way to confirm a case exists and get the docket number before requesting a copy.
For records before August 2001, contact the Prothonotary by phone at (717) 240-6195 or visit the courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square in Carlisle. Older files are in the physical archive. Staff can search by name or docket number. Bring the full names of both parties and an approximate filing date. Call ahead to confirm whether the older record is on-site or must be retrieved.
Certified divorce certificates are available directly from the Cumberland County Prothonotary. These are often the documents required for name changes, remarriage applications, and certain legal transactions. A certified copy carries the official court seal. Copy fees vary, so confirm the current rate when you call.
Note: Records from August 2001 onward are accessible online for Cumberland County, which is one of the more complete online archives among central Pennsylvania counties.
Cumberland County Divorce Decree Details
A Cumberland County divorce decree is the final court order from the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County that ends the marriage. It follows the required form under Pennsylvania Rule 1920.76. The document names both parties, states the date of the order, and includes the judge's legal declaration that the parties are divorced from the bonds of matrimony. The court seal is affixed to certified copies.
Under Act 106 of 2022, all Pennsylvania divorce decrees now include a notice under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 about updating beneficiary designations on life insurance, annuities, pensions, and similar accounts. This applies to all Cumberland County decrees entered after the law took effect. The full divorce file may also contain the original complaint, affidavits, a marital settlement agreement covering property and support, any custody arrangements, and interim orders. Most of the file is accessible to the public unless a court order restricts access to specific portions.
The certified divorce certificate issued by the Cumberland County Prothonotary is commonly used for:
- Name change requests with the Social Security Administration and PennDOT
- Applying for a marriage license in Pennsylvania
- Real estate transactions following the divorce
- Benefits enrollment and financial account updates
Most agencies require the certified version with the court seal rather than a plain copy. Ask the Prothonotary specifically for a certified copy when making your request.
Filing for Divorce in Cumberland County
You file a divorce complaint at the Cumberland County Prothonotary in Carlisle. Pennsylvania requires at least one spouse to have been a state resident for six months before the filing date. If you live in Cumberland County, you file in Carlisle. The Prothonotary assigns a docket number and the case enters the public record from that point.
Pennsylvania offers no-fault divorce through mutual consent. Both spouses sign affidavits agreeing to the divorce, and the court can enter the decree after a 90-day waiting period. The second no-fault option requires a two-year separation with irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105, any agreement the parties reach on property, support, and related matters can be enforced by the court to the same extent as a court order. Fault grounds remain available under Pennsylvania law but are rarely used in modern Cumberland County cases.
E-filing is available for Cumberland County through the Prothonotary website. Both attorneys and self-represented parties can use this service to file documents and pay fees online without a trip to the courthouse in Carlisle. This makes the process more convenient for many filers in the county.
If you need legal help with a divorce in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to eligible low-income residents. They can assist with forms, court procedures, and other steps in the divorce process in the Carlisle area.
Related Cumberland County Records
Other offices in Cumberland County keep records that connect to divorce cases. The Recorder of Deeds handles property transfers that often follow a divorce settlement. The Domestic Relations office manages child support orders arising from family court cases. All of these offices are located in or near the Cumberland County Courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square in Carlisle.
For state-level guidance, the Pennsylvania Courts public records page explains the rules governing access to court files across the state. Cumberland County follows the same public access policy as all other Pennsylvania counties. The FamilySearch Pennsylvania divorce records guide is also a useful resource for researchers tracing family history in Cumberland County.
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, just a short drive from Carlisle, holds historical court records for older cases. If you are researching a divorce from the 1800s in the Cumberland County area, the State Archives at (717) 783-3281 may be able to help with records that predate the county courthouse archive.
Nearby Counties
Cumberland County is in south-central Pennsylvania. If you are not sure which county holds the divorce record you need, look at where the filing party lived at the time of the case. Each county Prothonotary holds only the records from cases filed in that county.