Erie County Divorce Decree and Case Lookup
Erie County divorce decree records are maintained by the Prothonotary at the Erie County Courthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania. Records go back to 1804, and online case search is available through the county's court portal. The Erie County Court of Common Pleas handles all divorce cases in the county, with the family and probate divisions overseeing divorce, custody, and related matters. If you need to search for a divorce decree or obtain a certified copy in Erie County, this page explains how to do it both online and in person.
Erie County Quick Facts
Erie County Prothonotary Office
The Erie County Prothonotary maintains all civil court records in the county, including every divorce decree filed since 1804. The office is at Room 123 of the Erie County Courthouse, 140 West Sixth Street, Erie, PA 16501. Phone: (814) 451-6264. Staff can search records by name or docket number and provide plain or certified copies of divorce decrees and other court documents. Online case search is available through the county's court portal, making Erie County one of the more accessible counties for online divorce record research.
The Erie County Prothonotary website is at courtpro.eriecountypa.gov. This portal allows you to search Erie County court cases online before visiting the courthouse. The system covers civil cases including divorce filings. You can search by party name or case number to find a docket and confirm whether the record you need exists in the Erie County system.
The image below shows the Erie County Prothonotary court portal, which provides online access to divorce case dockets:
The Erie County online court search tool is a good first step before requesting copies from the courthouse in person.
| Office |
Erie County Prothonotary Erie County Courthouse, Room 123 140 West Sixth Street Erie, PA 16501 Phone: (814) 451-6264 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | courtpro.eriecountypa.gov |
Erie County Court of Common Pleas
The Erie County Court of Common Pleas serves as the central trial court handling civil, criminal, family, and probate matters. The family and probate divisions oversee divorce, custody, estates, and guardianships. All Erie County divorce cases are decided here before the decree is filed with the Prothonotary. The Court of Common Pleas is at 140 W. 6th Street, Suite 120, Erie, PA 16501, phone (814) 451-6250.
The court's general information and services are described on the Erie County Court website at eriecountycourt.org. This site covers court procedures, forms, and contact information for the various court divisions including the family division that handles divorce cases. If you are looking for information on a pending Erie County divorce case or need to contact the court rather than the Prothonotary, this website is the right starting point.
The image below is from the Erie County Court of Common Pleas website, which provides information about the family division that oversees divorce proceedings:
The Erie County Court of Common Pleas and the Prothonotary are both located in the same Erie County Courthouse building at 140 West Sixth Street.
How to Search Erie County Divorce Decree Records
You have two good options for searching Erie County divorce records. The first is the county's own court portal at courtpro.eriecountypa.gov. The second is the Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Both are free and open to the public. Search by party name to find a case, then note the docket number for your copy request. The UJS Portal covers all Pennsylvania counties, while the county portal focuses specifically on Erie County cases.
For cases not found online, visit the Prothonotary at Room 123 of the Erie County Courthouse. Bring the full names of both parties and an approximate filing year. Staff can search the index and retrieve the case file. For older records from the 1800s and early 1900s, physical files or index books may be the only source. Allow extra time when researching old Erie County divorce records, and call ahead at (814) 451-6264 to confirm availability.
Certified copies of Erie County divorce decrees are available from the Prothonotary. Plain copies cost less and are fine for personal reference. Certified copies bear the court seal and are required by most agencies and institutions when legal proof of the divorce is needed. Copy fees vary by county and number of pages. Confirm current rates when you contact the Erie County Prothonotary.
Note: Online search for Erie County cases is among the better options in northwestern Pennsylvania thanks to the county's court portal, but older records from the 1800s may only be available through an in-person request in Erie.
Erie County Divorce Decree Details
The Erie County divorce decree is the final order from the Court of Common Pleas that ends the marriage. It follows the standard Pennsylvania form under Rule 1920.76. The decree names both parties, states the date of the order, and includes the judge's declaration that the parties are divorced from the bonds of matrimony. A certified copy issued by the Erie County Prothonotary carries the official court seal.
Act 106 of 2022 added a required notice to all Pennsylvania divorce decrees under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323(b.1). All Erie County decrees entered after the law took effect include a warning that parties must reaffirm or update beneficiary designations on insurance policies, annuities, pensions, and similar accounts. Failure to do so after a divorce may result in revocation of those designations under Pennsylvania law.
Beyond the decree, the full Erie County divorce file may include:
- The divorce complaint with stated grounds for divorce
- Proof of service on the other party
- Affidavits of consent or separation
- Any marital settlement agreement
- Interim orders entered during the case
- Name restoration requests if any
Most of the file is public. Certain financial details or information about minor children may be restricted, but the decree and most other documents are accessible to the public in Erie County.
Divorce Filing Process in Erie County
Divorce cases in Erie County start at the Prothonotary office at Room 123 of the Courthouse. You file a complaint in divorce and pay the required fee. The Prothonotary assigns a docket number. Pennsylvania requires at least one spouse to have been a resident of the state for six months before the filing date. If you live in Erie County, you file here in the city of Erie.
Pennsylvania's no-fault divorce options are available in Erie County. The mutual consent route requires both spouses to sign affidavits of consent. The court can enter the decree after a 90-day waiting period. The second option is based on a two-year separation showing irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105, marital settlement agreements can be enforced by the court to the same extent as a court order, which gives them strong legal weight in an Erie County divorce.
Fault-based divorce grounds are also available under Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, though they are rarely used. The Erie County Court of Common Pleas family division handles all divorce cases, custody matters, and support proceedings. The Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Chapter 1920 governs the full divorce process in Erie County.
If you need free legal help in Erie County, Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves eligible low-income residents. They can assist with divorce filings, court forms, and legal questions in the Erie area.
State Resources for Erie County Records
The Pennsylvania Department of Health does not issue copies of divorce decrees. The state confirms that all divorce copies must be obtained from the county Prothonotary. For Erie County, that means contacting the Prothonotary at (814) 451-6264 or visiting Room 123 of the courthouse at 140 West Sixth Street.
For historical research, the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds statewide court records from the earliest period of Pennsylvania history. If you are researching Erie County genealogy and need divorce records from before 1804, the State Archives at 1681 N. Sixth Street, Harrisburg, (717) 783-3281, may hold what you need from the pre-county court era.
The FamilySearch Pennsylvania divorce records guide provides useful context on how divorce records were kept across Pennsylvania's history, including in Erie County. It is a helpful starting point for anyone doing genealogical research involving Erie County divorce cases from the 1800s or early 1900s.
Nearby Counties
Erie County is in the far northwest corner of Pennsylvania. It borders only two other Pennsylvania counties. If you need a divorce record from a neighboring county, contact that county's Prothonotary in the county seat where the case was filed.