A divorce decree is the final order that ends a marriage in Pennsylvania. In Lancaster County the Prothonotary keeps those files at the courthouse on Duke Street. A copy can settle a name change, a pension division, or a property question. This page describes what a decree contains, how to order a copy, and which details stay out of public view.
Divorce Decree 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.
Decree Terms & Custody Provisions
A decree sets out the terms that bind both spouses after the case closes. It covers property, debts, support, and, when children are involved, custody and a parenting schedule. The order may refer to a separate agreement rather than restate every term. Read the full file, not just the first page, before you rely on a clause. Ask the Prothonotary which papers belong to the record.
Property Division & Debt Allocations
The property section lists what each spouse keeps and what is sold or split. It can address a house, a vehicle, a retirement account, and joint credit card debt. A qualified domestic relations order may be needed to divide a pension, and that paper is often prepared after the decree. Ask the attorney who handled the case about the order, and keep the recorded copy with the deed.
Child Custody, Support & Visitation Orders
Custody terms name the legal custodian, the physical placement, and the time each parent spends with a child. A support figure may appear in the same file or in a separate support order. Pennsylvania uses its own support rules, and a court can change an amount when income changes. Ask the family court office which order is current, and request a certified copy for a school or a doctor.
Spousal Support & Post-Judgment Modifications
Support can end at a set date, at remarriage, or after a court review. A party who wants a change must file a petition and show a reason, such as a lost job or a medical cost. The court may schedule a conference before it rules. A modification does not erase the old order; it adds a new one. Ask the Prothonotary for the latest entry in the docket.
Judicial Approval & Judgment Entry Dates
A judge signs the decree after the parties file a report and a proposed order. The docket shows the date of that signature, and that date controls when the marriage ends. A divorce is not final when the complaint is filed. Some couples must wait for a mandatory cooling period. Note both the filing date and the judgment date, since agencies often ask for the later one.
Official Copies & Request Procedures
Copies come from the Prothonotary's office at the courthouse. You can request one in person, by mail, or through a form the office provides. Give the case number, the names of both parties, and the date of the decree. The office will tell you whether the record is available and what the fee is. Do not send a payment until staff confirms the exact amount.
| Copy type | What it shows | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy | Court seal and clerk signature | Name change, passport, pension, real estate |
| Uncertified copy | Plain duplicate of the decree | Personal file, review, reference |
| Exemplified copy | Certification for another state or country | Out-of-state or foreign agency |
A certified copy carries a seal that another agency can check. An uncertified copy is fine for your own file, but a bank, a title company, or a passport office may reject it. Ask which form the receiving office will accept before you pay. The fee is set by the county, and the office can quote it. Keep the receipt with the copy.
Certified & Uncertified Copy Distinctions
A certified copy has a raised seal, a clerk's signature, and a statement that the paper matches the file. An uncertified copy lacks that seal. Some offices print both from the same image, so the wording of the decree does not change. The difference matters to the agency that receives the paper. Ask the clerk for the version the agency named, and confirm the fee for each.
Required Applicant Identification & Uses
The Prothonotary may ask for photo identification and a reason for the request. A certified copy of a divorce is often used to change a name on a license, a Social Security card, or a deed. A title company may want it before it clears a property. Bring the case number and the names as they appear in the file. A mismatch can delay the search.
Copy Fees & Fulfillment Timelines
Copy fees follow a county schedule, and the amount can change. A mail request may take a week or longer, since staff handle it between counter visits. A walk-in request is often faster when the file is in the building. Ask whether the office mails the copy or keeps it for pickup. Include a self-addressed envelope and a phone number with any mailed request.
Divorce Decree: Public Availability & Confidentiality
Most divorce dockets are open, yet the papers inside a file are not all public. A confidential settlement, a custody evaluation, and a financial statement may be withheld or sealed, and the divorce records page points to the Prothonotary for the decree. The docket still shows that the case exists. Ask the Prothonotary which documents the public may view and which need a court order. Do not assume that a sealed paper is lost; it may be held under a separate index.
Open Directory Files & Sealed Record Rules
The Prothonotary keeps a public index of divorce cases. A sealed record is removed from that public view, and a judge must order the seal. Sealing is rare and needs a strong reason, such as a risk to a child or a protected address. A sealed file may still be opened to the parties and their lawyers. Ask the clerk what the order allows before you file a request.
Protected Personal & Financial Data
Court rules limit some personal data in a public file. A Social Security number, a bank account, and a child's full birth date are often redacted, while the court records guide explains how to request a copy of the docket. A financial statement may be kept apart from the open docket. If you file a paper, leave out data the rules protect. Ask the clerk which form to use when a number must be shared with the court but hidden from the public.
Correcting Clerical & Name Errors
A misspelled name or a wrong date can be fixed by a corrected decree. A party files a motion that points to the error, and a judge signs an amended order. Keep the original and the correction together, since an agency may ask for both. A clerical fix is not the same as a change in terms. Ask the Prothonotary for the entry that shows the correction was recorded.
Divorce Decree: Record Accuracy & Resolution
A divorce file can hold an old name, a former address, and a case number that changed when the matter moved between judges. Check the caption, the docket number, and the decree date against the paper you already have. A single wrong digit can send a search to another county. Keep a copy of the docket page, and ask the clerk to confirm the entry before you order a certified copy.
Matching Case Numbers & Issuing Courts
A divorce case carries a number that belongs to one court. In Lancaster County that court is the Court of Common Pleas, and the Prothonotary issues the file. A support case may have a separate number, and a custody case can be opened under a new docket. When two numbers exist, ask which one the decree cites. Bring both numbers to the counter so staff can trace the right file.
System Delays for Recent Decrees
A decree signed this week may not appear in the public index for several days. Staff must scan the order, link it to the docket, and close the case. A mail request sent too early can be returned. Wait for the docket to show the judgment entry, then order the copy. Call the office when a deadline is close, and ask whether the paper can be picked up in person.
Unlisted Decree File Resolution
When a decree does not appear, check the spelling of both names and the year of the filing. A case filed before a name change may sit under the earlier name, and the dissolution of marriage page covers the filing and waiting period. A decree from another county will not be in the Lancaster index. Ask the Prothonotary to search the internal docket, and give the judge's name if you have it. A short written request can often find a file that the public screen missed.
Location and Contact Information
The Prothonotary's office is inside the Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 N. Duke Street. The building sits near the downtown square, and visitors pass through a security check at the entrance. Office hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, though filing hours can differ. Call before you travel, since a counter may close early on a county holiday.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County 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 |
Bring the case number and a photo ID to the counter. A clerk can pull the docket, show you the judgment entry, and quote the copy fee. Ask whether the office accepts cash, a check, or a card. A request by mail needs a stamped envelope and a daytime phone. Keep the receipt, since it carries the date and the amount you paid.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the points readers raise most about Lancaster County divorce decrees. Each answer names the office that holds the paper and the step that confirms it. Fees, hours, and filing rules can change, so verify a detail before you mail a payment. A short call to the Prothonotary often prevents a second trip to the courthouse. Verify each detail with the office.
How do I locate a final divorce decree in Lancaster County?
Start with the case number if you have it, then search the Prothonotary index by party name. Open the docket and look for the entry that records the judgment order. Note the judge who signed it and the date. Request a copy from the Prothonotary and give both names as they appear in the file. A name search alone can miss a case filed under a former name.
What is required to obtain a certified divorce decree?
Bring or mail the case number, the full name of each spouse, and the decree date. The office may ask for photo identification and a signed request. Pay the copy fee set by the county, and include a self-addressed envelope for a mailed copy. Ask the clerk whether the paper you need carries a seal, since a plain copy may not satisfy a bank or an agency.
Are financial terms and custody orders open to the public?
The docket is usually open to view, but some papers can be sealed or kept out of the public file. A confidential settlement, a custody evaluation, and some financial statements are often restricted. A judge must order a seal, and the order states what is covered. Ask the Prothonotary which documents you may view. A party to the case may see more than a member of the general public.
Who confirms missing or unlisted dissolution decrees?
The Prothonotary's office can check the internal index when a public search returns nothing. Give the names, the filing year, and any case number you have. Staff can tell you whether the case sits under another spelling or another county. A decree from a different county must be requested there. Ask for the docket entry in writing so you have a record of the search. Keep that reply with your papers.
