Perry County Divorce Decree Lookup

Perry County divorce decree records are maintained by the Prothonotary at the county courthouse in New Bloomfield. The Prothonotary accepts all civil case filings, stores the court files, and provides copies of divorce decrees to the public. If you need to find a divorce decree from Perry County, you can search online through the state portal or visit the courthouse in person. The office is open Monday through Friday and staff can help you locate records by name or case number. Perry County is a smaller county, and the Prothonotary office provides personal service to those searching for divorce records.

Perry County Prothonotary - Divorce Records

Zoe Burd serves as the Prothonotary for Perry County. The Prothonotary's office is the official keeper of civil court records in the county, which includes all divorce case filings. When a divorce is filed in Perry County, the complaint and all later documents go into the case file at this office. The Prothonotary holds these records from the time of filing through the final decree and beyond.

The Perry County Courthouse is located at 2 East Main Street in New Bloomfield. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Prothonotary can search records by the name of either spouse or by the case number. Certified copies of the divorce decree are available for those who need them. Call ahead at 717-582-2131 to confirm what you need to bring. You can also fax requests to 717-582-5167. The Perry County Prothonotary website has additional information about the office and its services.

The Perry County Prothonotary in New Bloomfield handles all divorce decree filings and record requests for the county.

Searching Perry County Divorce Records Online and In Person

You have two main options when searching for a divorce decree in Perry County. The first is to search the state online portal. The second is to visit the courthouse in New Bloomfield. Both give access to public divorce records in Perry County.

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is free to use. You can search by name or case number. The portal shows docket entries, filing dates, and basic case information for Perry County divorce cases. This is a good first step when you want a quick check. However, certified copies must come from the Prothonotary office in New Bloomfield.

For an in-person visit to the Perry County Courthouse, go to 2 East Main Street in New Bloomfield. Arrive before 4:00 PM on a weekday. Bring your photo ID. Tell the staff the name of one or both spouses and the approximate year of the divorce. They will look up the case and can provide copies. Certified copies require the court seal and cost more than plain copies.

Note: Perry County is a rural county with one courthouse location. Confirm hours before traveling to New Bloomfield, as office closures may occur on state holidays.

Perry County Divorce Decree Documents and Records

A divorce decree is the court order that formally ends a marriage. In Perry County, the Court of Common Pleas enters the decree after all legal steps are complete. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323, every decree must be in writing and entered in the court record. The Prothonotary in New Bloomfield keeps the original decree as part of the permanent case file.

The Perry County divorce case file contains many documents. The complaint starts the case. Affidavits, consent forms, property agreements, and custody agreements may all be part of the file. Every order issued by the judge goes in as well. When a case ends, the full file stays with the Prothonotary. You can request any document from the file, and certified copies are available for a fee. Most legal purposes require a certified copy rather than a plain photocopy.

Perry County divorce records are open to the public under Pennsylvania law. You do not need to be a party to the case to request copies. The PennsylvaniaCourtRecords.us divorce guide offers more detail on what public access means and how to use it.

Filing a Divorce Case in Perry County

Filing for divorce in Perry County follows Pennsylvania law. You file a complaint in divorce with the Prothonotary at the courthouse in New Bloomfield. The office assigns a case number and your file opens. At least one spouse must have lived in Pennsylvania for six months before filing. If you live in Perry County, this is the correct court for your case.

Pennsylvania offers two main paths to a no-fault divorce. The first is mutual consent under Section 3301(c), which has a 90-day waiting period after the complaint is filed. Both spouses must sign affidavits of consent. The second path is irretrievable breakdown under Section 3301(d), which requires a one-year separation period. Fault grounds are also available. The Chapter 1920 rules govern how these cases proceed in Perry County. The court retains jurisdiction over economic claims until they are resolved, under the terms of 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105.

Note: Perry County updated its Judicial Computer System fee by $1.00 effective November 19, 2025. Call the Prothonotary at 717-582-2131 to confirm current filing costs before you submit your complaint.

Historical Perry County Divorce Records

Perry County was formed in 1820 and has kept court records since that time. Divorce records have been held at the county Prothonotary since Pennsylvania law required it in 1804. Older records are stored at the courthouse in New Bloomfield. Very early records may have been transferred to archive storage and could take extra time to retrieve.

For genealogy research, the FamilySearch Pennsylvania Divorce Records wiki outlines how to find historical divorce records in Pennsylvania counties. Records from before 1804 may be at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg. The State Archives holds Supreme Court divorce papers dating back to the late 18th century. Contact the Prothonotary in New Bloomfield first to check what records are on hand before planning a visit to Harrisburg.

Legal Help and Resources in Perry County

Residents of Perry County have access to legal resources through Pennsylvania-wide programs. These can help with understanding divorce law, finding an attorney, or getting forms filled out correctly.

Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves Perry County and provides free help to those who meet income requirements. The full text of Pennsylvania's divorce laws is available through Title 23 of the Consolidated Statutes. The Pennsylvania Courts public records page explains the public access policy for court records in detail. The CDC's Pennsylvania vital records guide confirms that divorce copies must be obtained from the county Prothonotary, not from the state. These free resources can answer many questions about Perry County divorce records without any cost.

Nearby Counties

Perry County borders several counties in central Pennsylvania. File your divorce case in the county where you or your spouse currently resides.

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