A dissolution of marriage ends a legal marriage, and the paperwork that records it lives in a court file. In Lancaster County, the Prothonotary keeps those files at the courthouse on North Duke Street. A final decree is a short paper, but the case folder behind it can run to hundreds of pages. This page shows what is public, what stays sealed, and how to order a copy.
Dissolution of Marriage: Divorce Record Search
- Office: Lancaster County Courthouse
- Official website: https://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/prothonotary
- Before you file: confirm the current hours, fees, and identification requirements with the office.
Filings, Decrees & Custody Terms
A case file opens with a complaint and grows through a response, an exchange of documents, and a report from a hearing officer. A judge signs the final decree, which ends the marriage and sets the terms. Support, property, and custody may be decided in the same file or in a separate one. Read the docket first, then pull the order that matches your question.
Certified Divorce Decrees & Judgment Dates
A decree is the paper that proves a marriage ended. It carries a date, a case number, and the judge's signature. Order a certified copy when a bank, a pension plan, or a new marriage license application needs proof. A plain copy may do for your own file. Ask the Prothonotary for the certification fee and the current wait time before you mail a request.
Property Division & Spousal Support Logs
A divorce file may list a house, a pension, a debt, and a support figure. Those terms can sit in a settlement agreement that a judge adopts. Some agreements are sealed, and some are filed as a separate document. Ask the clerk whether the agreement is part of the public file. If it is withheld, a court order may be needed to see the whole document.
Child Custody & Post-Divorce Modifications
Custody terms can change after the decree. A parent may file for a modification when a schedule, a school, or a home address changes. Those filings go into the same case number or a new one. The public docket may show only the petition and the next hearing date. Ask the family court office which documents can be released and which need a judge's review.
Dissolution of Marriage: Public Availability & Official Copies
Divorce files are court records, and most of a file is open to the public. A few parts are not, and the divorce records page points to the Prothonotary for the decree. Financial exhibits, a child's medical report, and a sealed settlement can be withheld. The docket itself usually stays viewable, even when a document is closed. Ask the Prothonotary which entries are public, then order the copies you need. Bring photo identification and the case number when you visit the office.
| Item | Open to the public | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Docket sheet | Yes | Prothonotary |
| Final decree | Yes | Prothonotary, certified copy |
| Settlement agreement | Often sealed | Prothonotary, by court order |
| Child custody report | Restricted | Family court office |
| Support payment record | Limited | Family court office |
The table shows where a document starts, not whether it will be released. A clerk can confirm that an entry exists and still decline to copy it. Ask for the reason in writing, and ask whether a redacted version can be issued. A court order may open a sealed paper, but only a judge can sign one. Keep the docket number on every request.
Prothonotary Files & Search Logs
The Prothonotary keeps the civil index and the divorce files for the Court of Common Pleas. A search can start with a name, a case number, or a year. The office may charge for a search or for a copy, and the fee can differ for a certified paper. Ask what the office needs before it will run a name search, since some requests must be in writing.
Confidential Child Data & Sealed Records
A file that involves a child often carries a shield. A custody report, a home study, and a medical record may be closed to the public, while the family court records guide covers custody, support, and divorce files. A sealed file stays closed until a judge orders it opened. A party to the case may see more than a stranger can. Ask the family court office what your role allows, and put the question in writing if the answer is not clear.
Certified Copies, ID Rules & Processing Fees
A certified copy carries a seal and a signature that a bank or an agency will accept. Bring photo identification and the case number. The fee is set per page or per document, and a certification stamp may cost extra. A mailed request needs a check and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Ask for the current fee schedule, then keep the receipt with the copy.
Dissolution of Marriage: Record Accuracy & Resolution
A divorce case can be hard to find for plain reasons. A spouse may have filed under a former name, and the divorce decree page explains how to request the final decree. A case may have been transferred, dismissed, or refiled. A decree may sit in a file that was never scanned. Check the index under both names before you decide the record is missing. Then ask the clerk to look at the docket by case number.
Matching Spouse Names & Case Numbers
A case number is the strongest match. The number ties the file to one couple and one court term. A name match alone can pull a stranger with the same surname. Compare the filing date, the town, and the names of any children listed. A middle initial or a maiden name can settle the question. Ask the clerk to read back the parties on the docket.
System Delays for Recent Filings
A new filing may not appear in a public index for days or weeks. The clerk must docket the paper before the system shows it. A decree signed on a Friday may not post until the following week. Call the office rather than relying on an empty search result. Ask when the paper was received at the counter and whether it has been entered yet.
Unlisted Divorce Record Resolution
If a search comes back empty, widen the years and try both names. Ask whether the case was filed in another county, since the file follows the court that heard it. A dismissed case may leave only a short entry. A case from decades ago may sit in storage, and a clerk may need a day to pull it. Ask for the request to be logged.
Location and Contact Information
The Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 North Duke Street in Lancaster handles Court of Common Pleas filings, and the Prothonotary's office keeps the civil and divorce index there. The main line for that office is (717) 299-8282. Posted hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, though filing hours may differ. Call before you go if a clerk must pull an old file.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prothonotary, Lancaster County Courthouse | 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17608 | (717) 299-8282 | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (filing hours may differ) | https://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/prothonotary |
Filing hours can end before the building closes, so ask which window takes a new paper and when it stops. Parking near Duke Street fills early on motion days. A certified copy may be ready on the same day, or it may be mailed later. Confirm the fee, the form of payment, and whether the office will mail a copy before you make the trip to Duke Street.
Frequently Asked Questions
Divorce files raise practical questions about privacy, copies, and timing. The answers below follow the route a request takes through the Prothonotary and the family court. Fees and hours change, so confirm each detail with the office before you mail a check or drive to Duke Street. Each answer points to the office that can settle the point. A clerk can describe the route in one minute.
Are dissolution of marriage files open to the public in Lancaster County?
Most of a divorce case file is public. The docket, the complaint, and the final decree can be viewed and copied at the office. Some parts are closed, such as a sealed settlement, a custody report, or a child's medical record. A judge can seal a document on a party's request. Ask the Prothonotary which entries in your case are open before you order a full copy of the file.
What is required to obtain a certified divorce decree copy?
Give the clerk the case number and the full names of both spouses. Bring photo identification. The office will locate the decree, copy it, and attach a certification with a raised seal. A fee applies, and the amount can depend on the page count and the certification. A mailed request needs a check, a return envelope, and a signed cover letter. Confirm the current fee and the turnaround first.
Are financial details and child custody orders viewable online?
Usually not. A public docket may list a filing and a hearing date without the text of the document. A settlement agreement, a support exhibit, and a custody report often stay out of the online view. Some counties post images for older cases only. Request the paper from the Prothonotary, and expect a review before release. A sealed item needs a court order before any copy leaves the office.
Who confirms missing or unlisted divorce filings?
The Prothonotary is the office to call. A clerk can check the civil index under both spouse names and by case number. If the file sits in storage, the clerk can order it pulled. If the case was heard in another county, the file stays there. A dismissed case may leave a short entry only. Ask for the search result in writing, with the date and the clerk's name.
