Westmoreland County Divorce Decree Records
Westmoreland County divorce decree records are maintained by the Prothonotary at the county courthouse in Greensburg. The Prothonotary's office holds all civil records for the county, including every divorce action filed before the Court of Common Pleas. An online docket search is available for Westmoreland County cases, letting you look up basic case information before you contact the office. Whether you need a certified copy of a divorce decree or want to review the case file, the Prothonotary in Greensburg is the right place to start your search.
Westmoreland County Quick Facts
Westmoreland County Prothonotary Office
The Westmoreland County Prothonotary at the courthouse in Greensburg manages all civil court records, including divorce cases. The Prothonotary files new complaints, tracks active cases, and stores completed files. Online docket search is available for Westmoreland County, making it easier to find case information before you visit in person or call to request copies.
The Westmoreland County Courthouse sits at 2 N. Main Street in Greensburg. The Prothonotary can search the case index and provide copies of filed documents, including the final divorce decree. Plain copies and certified copies are both available. Certified copies carry an official seal and are required for most legal purposes. Call (724) 830-3177 to ask about current copy fees and office hours before your visit. Bring valid photo ID and the names of the parties or the case number.
The image above is from the Westmoreland County Prothonotary website, which provides access to the online docket search tool and information about obtaining divorce records in Greensburg.
| Office |
Westmoreland County Prothonotary Westmoreland County Courthouse 2 N. Main Street Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: (724) 830-3177 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, normal business hours |
| Website | co.westmoreland.pa.us/prothonotary |
Searching Westmoreland County Divorce Records Online and In Person
Westmoreland County offers both online and in-person access to divorce records. The online route gives you docket information quickly. In person is required for copies of actual documents.
The Westmoreland County Prothonotary has an online docket search available through the county website. You can also search through the statewide Pennsylvania UJS Portal, which is free and open to the public. Enter a party name to find case numbers, filing dates, and docket entries. The portal covers all Pennsylvania courts and gives you a good overview of any Westmoreland County divorce case before you contact the Prothonotary for copies.
For physical copies of the divorce decree and other case documents, contact the Prothonotary at (724) 830-3177. You can also visit 2 N. Main Street in Greensburg during normal business hours. Staff will locate the file and make copies as needed. Let them know whether you need plain or certified copies. Certified copies are more expensive but are required for legal purposes like name changes and property transfers. For older cases, give staff a little extra time to retrieve paper records.
Note: Having the docket number from the online search ready before you call or visit the Westmoreland County Prothonotary will speed up the process of requesting copies.
Filing and Obtaining a Westmoreland County Divorce Decree
A Westmoreland County divorce begins with a complaint filed at the Prothonotary's office. This document opens the case and triggers all subsequent filings. The Prothonotary assigns a docket number to the case. Every document filed after that point carries the same number and is accessible through the online docket search or in person at the courthouse.
Pennsylvania permits no-fault divorce by mutual consent after a 90-day waiting period. Both parties must sign and submit consent affidavits. The other no-fault path requires a one-year separation and an assertion that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. Fault-based divorce is also available in certain situations under Pennsylvania law. Regardless of the path taken, the process ends with the judge signing the decree. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323, the signed decree is filed with the Westmoreland County Prothonotary and becomes a permanent public record of the dissolved marriage.
Pennsylvania follows equitable distribution for marital property, which means the court divides assets fairly but not always equally. Property settlement agreements and support orders become part of the Westmoreland County case file. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3105, agreements filed with the court are enforceable as court orders. All of these documents are part of the public record in Westmoreland County unless a judge has sealed them.
Westmoreland County Divorce Case File Contents
A Westmoreland County divorce case file contains every document filed from the date the complaint was submitted through the entry of the final decree. The file typically includes the complaint, proof of service, any response from the defendant, motions, court orders, settlement agreements, and the final divorce decree. Larger files come from contested cases with many hearings.
The divorce decree is the most requested document. It names both parties, states when the marriage was legally dissolved, and may include orders on property, support, and name restoration. Certified copies issued by the Westmoreland County Prothonotary are valid for legal purposes. You may need one for a driver's license name change, a deed transfer, or a future marriage license application.
Westmoreland County divorce records are generally public. The PennsylvaniaCourtRecords.us guide explains that informational copies are available to any member of the public, while certified copies require proper identification and sometimes additional documentation. Information related to minor children may be redacted in publicly available copies. Sealed files require a court petition for access.
Westmoreland County Divorce Records vs. State Vital Records
The Pennsylvania Department of Health does not issue divorce decrees. The state health office handles birth and death records only. For any Westmoreland County divorce record, the Prothonotary in Greensburg is the only official source. If you contact the state health department about a divorce, they will refer you to the county courthouse.
The CDC guide to Pennsylvania vital records confirms that divorce copies require an application to the county Prothonotary. Copy costs vary by county. Always call the Westmoreland County Prothonotary before your visit to ask about current fees. For genealogy research, FamilySearch provides a guide to locating Pennsylvania divorce records going back to 1804. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds early Supreme Court divorce papers for cases from before the county-level system was established.
Legal Resources in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County residents who need help with a divorce can reach Pennsylvania Legal Aid for free or low-cost legal services if they qualify by income. Their staff help with divorce paperwork, court procedures, and hearings before the Court of Common Pleas in Greensburg.
The Westmoreland County Bar Association can refer you to local family law attorneys. For those representing themselves, the Prothonotary staff can point you to the right forms and explain the filing process, though they cannot give legal advice. The Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Chapter 1920 governs all divorce actions in Pennsylvania. Reading those rules before you file can help you avoid delays and errors in your Westmoreland County case. You can also view the full Pennsylvania divorce code online through the state statutes database.
Nearby Counties
Westmoreland County is in western Pennsylvania and borders several other counties, each with its own Prothonotary office for divorce records.