Mifflin County Divorce Decree Access
Mifflin County divorce decree records are maintained by the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in Lewistown. The Prothonotary office inside the Mifflin County Courthouse is the official source for all civil court records in this county, including divorce cases. You can search records by name or case number, get copies of a divorce decree, or review the full case file. Mifflin County is in central Pennsylvania, and its records go back many decades.
Mifflin County Quick Facts
Mifflin County Prothonotary Divorce Records
The Mifflin County Prothonotary is responsible for keeping all civil court records, including divorce decrees, filed in this county. The office is located at the Mifflin County Courthouse in Lewistown. Staff can search the index by the names of the parties. If you have the case number, searches are even faster. Once your case is found, you can review the file in person or order copies to be provided at the office or by mail.
Divorce records filed in Mifflin County are public records. Any person may view them. The Prothonotary can provide plain copies and certified copies. Certified copies carry the court seal and are suitable for use in legal or government matters such as name changes, property transfers, or applications that require proof of marital status. Copy fees are set by the county and can change from time to time. Call the Prothonotary at (717) 248-8143 before visiting to confirm the current fee schedule.
| Office |
Mifflin County Prothonotary Mifflin County Courthouse 20 N. Wayne Street Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: (717) 248-8143 |
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| Website | mifflincountypa.gov/prothonotary |
Note: Bring a valid photo ID when visiting the Mifflin County Prothonotary in person. Staff may require it when issuing certified copies of divorce decrees.
Search Mifflin County Divorce Decree Records
Finding a Mifflin County divorce decree starts with knowing the right information. The more detail you have, the faster the search. At minimum, you need the full legal name of one spouse and a general idea of when the divorce was filed. Case numbers, if available, make the search nearly instant. The Prothonotary in Lewistown can search by party name if a case number is not available.
For a free online search, use the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. This state-run site provides public access to docket sheets for all Pennsylvania counties including Mifflin. You can search by party name or case number. The portal shows case details, filing dates, and the judge assigned to the case. It does not display the text of actual documents. Use it to confirm a case exists and to get the case number before contacting the Mifflin County Prothonotary for copies.
To request records by mail, write to the Mifflin County Prothonotary, 20 N. Wayne Street, Lewistown, PA 17044. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the divorce, what type of copy you need, and your return address. Wait to send payment until you receive confirmation of the fee. Processing times for mail requests vary based on how old the record is and how busy the office is at that time.
Note: For Mifflin County divorce records from the 1800s or early 1900s, courthouse docket books may need to be searched manually. These requests may take longer than searches for more recent cases.
What Mifflin County Divorce Decrees Include
A Mifflin County divorce decree is the court order that legally ends a marriage. It is issued by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas and filed permanently with the Prothonotary in Lewistown. The decree states the names of both spouses and declares them divorced from the bonds of matrimony as required by 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323. It also includes the required warning about beneficiary designations added to the law in 2022.
The Mifflin County case file attached to a divorce decree is often much longer than the decree itself. It starts with the complaint in divorce, which states the grounds for the case. It includes proof that the other spouse was properly served. Affidavits submitted under the mutual consent or separation process are also part of the file. If the parties reached an agreement on property, support, or other matters, that agreement may be part of the record. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105, these agreements carry the same weight as court orders once they are made part of the record.
Most people need a certified copy of the Mifflin County divorce decree when they need proof that a divorce occurred. Certified copies are accepted by government agencies, courts in other states, Social Security offices, and others that require legal documentation. The Prothonotary can provide these copies during business hours. Some offices also accept mail requests for certified copies.
Filing for Divorce in Mifflin County
To start a divorce in Mifflin County, you file a complaint in divorce with the Prothonotary in Lewistown. The fee must be paid at the time of filing. Under Pennsylvania law, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for six months before the case is filed. Mifflin County residents file their cases at the Wayne Street courthouse in Lewistown.
After filing, the complaint must be served on the other spouse. Service options include the Mifflin County Sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail with return receipt. The method chosen must comply with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure under Chapter 1920. A proof of service is filed with the Prothonotary. The case then moves forward depending on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested.
Pennsylvania law allows no-fault divorce. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c), both spouses can sign affidavits of consent after a 90-day waiting period. Under § 3301(d), a one-year separation allows one spouse to seek divorce based on irretrievable breakdown. Contested divorces may require hearings before a judge or hearing officer. Once all required steps are completed, the record is submitted to the judge, who enters the divorce decree. That decree is then permanently filed with the Mifflin County Prothonotary.
For residents of Mifflin County who need legal help and cannot afford an attorney, Pennsylvania Legal Aid offers free legal services for qualifying individuals in family law matters including divorce.
Mifflin County Divorce Records History
Mifflin County has been a county in Pennsylvania since 1789. Its Court of Common Pleas has handled divorce cases since the courts took over that role in the early 1800s. Under Pennsylvania law, the Prothonotary has maintained civil court records, including divorce, since at least 1804. Early records from the 1800s may be in bound docket books at the Lewistown courthouse.
Genealogists researching Mifflin County family history may find useful guidance in the FamilySearch Pennsylvania Divorce Records guide. This resource explains the history of Pennsylvania divorce records and points researchers to collections that cover different time periods. The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg also holds some early court records from around the state that may help trace divorces from before county records are easy to find. For cases involving Mifflin County families going back to the colonial era, the Archives is a good starting point alongside the courthouse records in Lewistown.
Note: Divorces from before 1804 were handled by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court or legislature. Records from that period are held at the state level, not at the Mifflin County Courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Mifflin County is in central Pennsylvania and shares borders with several other counties. Divorce records are always kept in the county where they were granted. If the divorce was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's Prothonotary for records.