Montgomery County Divorce Decree Records
Montgomery County divorce decree records are managed by the Clerk of Courts of the Court of Common Pleas in Norristown. Montgomery County is one of the most populous counties in Pennsylvania, with a large and active court system handling many divorce cases each year. The Clerk of Courts office is located at the Montgomery County Courthouse on East Airy Street. Both online and in-person access are available for Montgomery County divorce records, making it relatively easy to search and obtain copies of a divorce decree.
Montgomery County Quick Facts
Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Records
The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts, currently Lori Schreiber, is the official keeper of court records for Montgomery County including all divorce decrees. The office is at the Montgomery County Courthouse, 2 E. Airy Street, Norristown. The mailing address is P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311. The main phone number is (610) 278-3346 and the fax is (610) 278-5188. Staff can help you locate a divorce decree, search the civil index, and provide certified copies.
Records from approximately the past five years are kept on-site at the Montgomery County Courthouse. Older records may be transferred to storage but can still be retrieved. The criminal index is available online going back to 1984. Some civil actions including divorce cases are also available online. For recent cases, online searching is fast and easy. For cases from further back, contact the Clerk of Courts office directly.
The filing fee for a divorce complaint in Montgomery County is $268.00. Fee changes took effect in early 2026, including a custody filing increase of 50 cents and a CJEA fee increase from $2.50 to $3.50. Call the Clerk of Courts to confirm the most current fee schedule before filing.
| Office |
Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Montgomery County Courthouse 2 E. Airy Street Norristown, PA 19404 Mailing: P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311 Phone: (610) 278-3346 | Fax: (610) 278-5188 |
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| Online Case Search | courtsapp.montcopa.org |
| Court Records Page | montgomerycountypa.gov |
Note: Montgomery County is part of the 38th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. All divorce cases in the county are heard by judges of this district seated in Norristown.
Search Montgomery County Divorce Records Online
Montgomery County offers its own online case search system in addition to the statewide UJS Portal. Both tools are free for basic case information. For full document access, you still need to contact the Clerk of Courts in Norristown.
The Montgomery County online case search at courtsapp.montcopa.org/psi/v/search/case allows you to search by case number, keywords, case type, filing date, and the name of the judge or attorney assigned to the case. This system is useful for locating recent divorce cases filed in Montgomery County. Results show case details and docket entries. Some civil case documents may be available to view online. Criminal records from 1984 are searchable through this tool as well.
The statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us also covers Montgomery County cases. You can search across all Pennsylvania courts from one place. This is helpful if you are not sure whether a divorce was filed in Montgomery County or a neighboring county. Use both tools together for the most complete picture of available records.
For certified copies of Montgomery County divorce decrees, contact the Clerk of Courts at (610) 278-3346 or visit the courthouse in Norristown during business hours. Bring a photo ID. Copies of records from older cases that are not on-site may require additional time to retrieve from storage. The Court Records page on the county website has more information about requesting documents.
Montgomery County Divorce Decree Contents
A Montgomery County divorce decree is the final court order ending a marriage. It is entered by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County and filed with the Clerk of Courts. The decree identifies both parties and states that they are divorced from the bonds of matrimony under Pennsylvania law. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323, the decree must include a warning about updating beneficiary designations on insurance, retirement, and financial accounts.
The divorce case file in Montgomery County typically contains the complaint in divorce, any response or answer filed by the other spouse, proof of service on the defendant, affidavits for mutual consent or separation, and any agreement between the parties on property, alimony, support, or custody. Orders entered during the case are also in the file. If the divorce was bifurcated, meaning the marital status was dissolved while economic claims remained pending, both the initial decree and any subsequent orders are in the same file. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105, agreements the parties signed have the same enforcement weight as court orders.
Montgomery County divorce records are public under Pennsylvania law. Anyone may request them. Information about minor children may be redacted from copies provided to non-parties. Certified copies are suitable for use in legal proceedings, name changes, Social Security applications, and real estate matters. The Clerk of Courts can provide certified copies during business hours or through the mail.
Filing a Divorce Decree Case in Montgomery County
Divorce proceedings in Montgomery County begin at the Clerk of Courts office at 2 E. Airy Street in Norristown. The filing fee is $268.00 for the complaint in divorce. At least one spouse must have been a Pennsylvania resident for six months before the case is filed. Montgomery County residents file here at the 38th Judicial District courthouse.
After filing, the complaint must be served on the other spouse. Montgomery County residents can use the county sheriff for service, or they may use a private process server or certified mail. Proof of service is filed with the Clerk of Courts. The case then proceeds through the required steps under Chapter 1920 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. These rules outline how complaints are prepared, how affidavits are filed, and how the record is transmitted to the judge for decision.
Pennsylvania allows no-fault divorce through mutual consent under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c) after a 90-day waiting period, and through irretrievable breakdown under § 3301(d) after one year of separation. Contested cases proceed to hearings before a hearing officer or judge. All filings and orders become part of the permanent Montgomery County divorce record kept by the Clerk of Courts. Once the judge enters the decree, the divorce is final, and the decree is a permanent public record in Montgomery County.
People in Montgomery County who need legal help with divorce and have limited income can reach Pennsylvania Legal Aid for free assistance. The Montgomery County Bar Association also has a lawyer referral service for those who need an attorney.
Related Montgomery County Court Records
Divorce cases in Montgomery County can connect to other records kept at the same courthouse. Property records change when real estate is transferred as part of a divorce settlement. Those deeds go through the Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds. Name changes that occur as part of a Montgomery County divorce decree are noted in the court file and can be used directly with government agencies without a separate court order.
Child custody and support matters handled alongside a Montgomery County divorce case are also part of the court record. For child support enforcement in Montgomery County, contact the Pennsylvania Child Support Program at 1-877-727-7238. Custody orders from the divorce file can be modified later through the same court. Protection from abuse orders, if any were issued during the divorce, are also filed with the Clerk of Courts in Norristown and are part of the case history available through the county's online search at courtsapp.montcopa.org.
Note: Montgomery County is one of the more digitally accessible counties in Pennsylvania for court records. Even so, some older files may require in-person retrieval from off-site storage, so plan accordingly if you need records from more than five years back.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County is in southeastern Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. It borders several other counties in the region. Each county maintains its own divorce decree records. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, contact that county's Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts directly.