Lancaster County Divorce Decree Records
Lancaster County divorce decree records are kept by the Prothonotary at the Court of Common Pleas in Lancaster. The Prothonotary handles all civil filings for the 2nd Judicial District, which includes divorce cases filed in Lancaster County. Whether you need a certified copy for a legal matter or are tracing family history, the Prothonotary office can help you search and obtain the records you need. Lancaster is one of the larger counties in south-central Pennsylvania, and the courthouse holds civil records going back many decades.
Lancaster County Quick Facts
Lancaster County Prothonotary Office
Andrew M. Spade serves as the Lancaster County Prothonotary. His office handles all recording and filing for the civil side of the Court of Common Pleas. This includes divorce cases, name changes, court appeals, naturalization ceremonies, and other civil actions. All Lancaster County divorce decree filings are stored and maintained here. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies of records on file.
The Prothonotary office is located at 50 N. Duke Street in Lancaster. The mailing address is P.O. Box 83480, Lancaster, PA 17608. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, except on public holidays. Call 717-299-8282 before your visit to confirm hours and what you need to bring. You can visit in person or call to ask how to request copies by mail from the Lancaster County Prothonotary.
The Lancaster County Court website has more detail about services offered by the Prothonotary office.
The Prothonotary serves as the official clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for all civil matters in Lancaster County, including divorce.
| Office |
Lancaster County Prothonotary Andrew M. Spade, Prothonotary 50 N. Duke St., P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608 Phone: 717-299-8282 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | lancastercountycourt.org |
| Judicial District | 2nd Judicial District of Pennsylvania |
Searching Lancaster County Divorce Records
You have two main ways to search for a divorce decree in Lancaster County. You can search online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal, or you can visit the Prothonotary office in person. Online searches are useful for finding basic case information quickly. In-person visits let you review the full case file and request certified copies directly from Lancaster County staff.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us allows free public searches of docket sheets for all Pennsylvania courts, including the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. You can search by the name of either party or by the case number if you have it. The portal shows filings, docket entries, and hearing dates. It does not show the full text of documents, but it confirms whether a case exists and gives you the case number to use when requesting records.
When visiting the Lancaster Prothonotary in person, bring a photo ID and as much information as you know about the case. Staff can look up cases by name or number. Older files may be stored off-site, so calling ahead saves time. You can also mail a written records request to the Prothonotary at the address above.
Note: The UJS Portal is a public site, so anyone may view docket information for Lancaster County divorce cases without needing to show a reason for the search.
Filing for Divorce in Lancaster County
Divorce cases in Lancaster County are filed at the Prothonotary office on N. Duke Street. The process follows the Pennsylvania Divorce Code under Title 23. To file, at least one spouse must have lived in Pennsylvania for at least six months before the complaint is submitted. If you live in Lancaster County, you file your case here.
You begin by filing a complaint in divorce with the Prothonotary. You pay the required filing fee at that time. The Prothonotary assigns a case number and the case becomes part of the public record. Next, you must serve the other spouse with the divorce papers. Pennsylvania law allows service by the county sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail with return receipt. Proof of service is filed with the court as part of the case record in Lancaster County.
Pennsylvania offers no-fault divorce under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 and related sections of the Divorce Code. Mutual consent divorce requires a 90-day waiting period after the complaint is filed, followed by both parties signing affidavits. Irretrievable breakdown requires one year of separation. Fault-based grounds are also available under Pennsylvania law. Once all conditions are met, the court enters a final divorce decree, which is filed with the Lancaster County Prothonotary and becomes part of the permanent record.
Property division, spousal support, and custody matters may be handled within the same divorce action. Pennsylvania follows equitable distribution rules for marital property. The Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, Chapter 1920 governs all procedural steps for divorce actions in Lancaster County and throughout the state.
What Lancaster County Divorce Decree Files Contain
A divorce case file in Lancaster County can hold many documents. The complaint in divorce is the first paper filed. It states the grounds for divorce and what relief the plaintiff is seeking. The other party may file an answer or counterclaim. If there are property, support, or custody issues, those pleadings and agreements also go into the case file. All papers filed in the case are kept by the Lancaster Prothonotary.
The divorce decree itself is the most important document for most purposes. It is the court order signed by a judge that legally ends the marriage. You may need a certified copy of this decree to change your name on legal documents, update financial accounts, or handle other legal matters after your divorce in Lancaster County. Certified copies are issued by the Prothonotary and carry the official court seal.
Lancaster County divorce records typically include the following types of information:
- Names of both parties and their addresses at the time of filing
- Date of marriage and date of separation
- Grounds for divorce under Pennsylvania law
- Date the complaint was filed with the Prothonotary
- Date the final decree was entered by the court
- Any name restoration granted in the decree
- Case number assigned by the Lancaster County Court
Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, divorce records held by the Lancaster County Prothonotary are generally public records. Any person may request access to them. Some portions of a file may be sealed by court order, particularly records related to minor children. The public decree and basic case information are available to all requesters in Lancaster County.
Note: Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105, agreements between parties in a divorce may be enforced as court orders. Copies of such agreements in the case file are also available from the Prothonotary.
Lancaster County Divorce Certificates and Vital Records
The Pennsylvania Department of Health does not issue copies of divorce decrees. For the full decree with all terms and conditions, you must contact the Lancaster County Prothonotary. However, some people only need basic proof that a divorce occurred. For those purposes, a verification or abstract is sometimes available from state or local sources.
For genealogy and historical research, the FamilySearch Pennsylvania Divorce Records guide notes that divorce records have been kept by county Prothonotaries since 1804. Before that date, divorces in Pennsylvania were handled by the Legislature or the Supreme Court. Very early records may be held at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg. For Lancaster County divorces from 1804 forward, the Prothonotary holds the official records.
The CDC also notes that for Pennsylvania divorce records, you should apply directly to the Prothonotary at the county courthouse where the divorce was granted. See the CDC's Pennsylvania vital records guide for more detail. Lancaster County records go back many decades and cover a wide range of cases filed in this part of south-central Pennsylvania.
Legal Resources for Lancaster County Divorce
If you need legal help with a divorce case in Lancaster County, several options are available. Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves Lancaster County residents who qualify based on income. Visit palegalaid.net to find contact information for the nearest office. They can help with forms, court procedures, and understanding your rights in a Lancaster County divorce case.
The Lancaster Bar Association also maintains a lawyer referral service for people seeking a private attorney. Family law attorneys who regularly handle divorce cases in Lancaster County can guide you through the process from filing through the final decree. For self-represented litigants, the Pennsylvania Courts public records page has information about court forms and access policies that apply in Lancaster County.
Note: The PennsylvaniaCourtRecords.us divorce records guide provides a helpful overview of how divorce records work across all counties, including Lancaster.
Nearby Counties
Lancaster County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. If you are not sure which county handled a divorce case, check where the filing party lived at the time of the divorce. You must contact the correct county Prothonotary to find the right records.