Divorce records in Lancaster County cover more than the decree. The case file can hold a complaint, a property list, a custody schedule, a support order, and later changes to each. The Prothonotary keeps the file and the docket that tracks it. This page shows how to find a record, which papers the public may read, and how to fix a search that returns nothing.
Divorce Records: 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.
Case Filings, Decrees & Custody Terms
A divorce case begins with a complaint and a notice to the other spouse. It ends with a decree, and the months between can hold motions, a hearing officer's report, and a settlement. Custody and support may run on their own dockets with their own numbers. Read each caption, since one case can produce several orders. Ask the clerk to list every docket tied to the parties.
| Document | What it usually covers |
|---|---|
| Complaint | Grounds for the divorce and the relief requested |
| Decree | End of the marriage and the core terms |
| Custody order | Legal custody, placement, and a parenting schedule |
| Support order | Amount, payer, and payment method |
| Modification | A later change to a prior order |
A docket lists these papers by title and date, but it rarely shows the full text. Note the filing date beside each entry, then ask for the paper that matches the question you have. A custody schedule and a support figure can change after the decree, so check for a later order before you rely on an older copy.
Petitions, Orders & Judgment Entries
A petition asks the court to act. An order is the court's answer, and a judgment entry closes a claim. In a divorce file the judgment entry often carries the date the marriage ended. Ask for the decree and the judgment entry together, since an agency may want the page that shows the final date. A docket printout alone may not satisfy a bank or that request.
Property Division & Spousal Support Filings
Papers on property can include a list of assets, a valuation, and a proposed split. Support filings show income, a support calculation, and a payment order. A pension division may need a separate order sent to the plan administrator. Keep the payment schedule and the order in the same folder. Ask the Prothonotary whether the file holds an exhibit or a valuation that was never scanned.
Child Custody, Support & Visitation Orders
A custody order names the legal custodian and sets the time a child spends with each parent. A visitation schedule may sit in an exhibit or a parenting plan. Support can be ordered in the same case or in a separate action. Read the most recent order first, then work back to see what changed. Ask the family court office which order is in force today.
Post-Divorce Modifications & Supplemental Orders
Life after the decree can bring a request to change support, custody, or a property term. A modification starts a new filing and ends with a new order. A supplemental order can add a term the first decree missed. Ask for the docket sheet that shows every entry after the judgment date. A copy of the original decree may not reflect the current terms or the latest order.
Divorce Records: Public Availability & Official Copies
The public may see the docket and many filed papers, but not every page. A sealed document, a juvenile record, and a confidential settlement stay out of view. Copies come from the Prothonotary, and the office can tell you what it will release. Carry the case number and a photo ID. A request by mail needs a check for the fee and a stamped envelope.
Prothonotary Directory & Search Logs
The Prothonotary keeps the civil and divorce index for the Court of Common Pleas. A search log records each request the office handles, and staff can use it to trace an earlier copy, while the dissolution of marriage guide covers the filing and waiting period. Ask for the index screen that shows the case caption and the filing date. Keep that printout with your papers. It proves the case number and the date you used when you ordered.
Protected Financial, Minor & Sealed Data
Court rules shield some data from public view. A bank account number, a Social Security number, and a child's birth date are often removed or filed under seal. A sealed record needs a judge's order, and the order names what it covers. A party to the case may still read the whole file. Ask the clerk which pages are restricted before you pay for a full certified copy.
Certified Copy Rules, Fees & Timelines
A certified copy carries the court seal and a clerk's signature. Fees follow a county schedule and are charged per page or per document. A counter request can be filled the same day when the file is on site. A mailed request may take a week. Ask for the fee before you send a check, and ask how the office handles a request for an older case.
Divorce Records: Record Accuracy & Resolution
An index entry can carry a maiden name, a former address, or a case number typed with one wrong digit. Compare the caption on the docket with the name on the decree. A divorce filed in another county will not appear in the Lancaster index. If a search fails, widen the year and try both surnames. A clerk can check the internal list that the public screen does not show.
Matching Spouse Names & Case Identifiers
A divorce file uses the names given in the complaint. A spouse who later remarries or changes a name may still appear under the older spelling, and the marriage records page covers certified copies and the marriage date. Match on the case number first, then on the birth date and the filing year. Bring both surnames and any prior name to the counter. A middle initial or a birth date can separate two people who share a common name.
System Delays for Recent Dissolution Filings
A case filed last week may show only a complaint in the public index. Orders and decrees are added as staff scan and link them. A new case can take several days to appear at all. Wait for the docket to list the paper you need, then order it. When a deadline is near, call the office and ask a clerk for a manual check of the internal list.
Unlisted Divorce Record Resolution
When the index returns nothing, check the county first. A decree from Berks or York will not sit in the Lancaster file, and the divorce decree page explains how to request the final decree. Then check the year, the spelling, and the court. A case that moved between judges may carry an old number in an index note. Ask the Prothonotary to search by both parties. Request the result in writing so the next office can follow your steps.
Location and Contact Information
The Prothonotary works from the Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 N. Duke Street in Lancaster. The office sits in the same building as the courtrooms, so a visitor passes a security checkpoint first. Weekday hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and filing times can differ from counter times. Call ahead when you want a certified copy in hand the same day.
| 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 |
Parking near Duke Street fills on court mornings, and the nearby garages charge a fee. Allow time for the security line and for a counter wait. Ask for the civil division when you call, and give the case number at the start of the call. A clerk can confirm whether the file is in the building or in storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Readers often ask how much of a divorce file they can see and how to order a copy. The answers below describe the public side of the record, the papers that stay sealed, and the office that can confirm a missing case. Rules and fees can change, so call the Prothonotary before you mail a request. A short call can save a second trip to Duke Street.
Are divorce case files open to the public in Lancaster County?
The docket is open at the courthouse, and many filed papers can be viewed or copied. Some pages are sealed or kept out of the public file, such as a confidential settlement, a custody evaluation, and certain financial statements. A judge must order a seal. Ask the Prothonotary which documents it will release, and bring the case number with you. Keep a copy of every page you receive for your file.
What is required to obtain a certified divorce record?
Give the office the case number, the names of both parties, and the date of the decree. Staff may ask for photo identification and a signed request. Pay the fee set by the county, and send a self-addressed envelope with a mail request. Ask whether the record you need is a decree, a docket sheet, or a full file, since the fee can differ with each format.
What information is protected from public disclosure?
Court rules keep some personal data out of the public file. A Social Security number, a bank account, a child's full birth date, and a home address in a protection case are often redacted or sealed. Medical records, a home study, and a custody evaluation may be restricted too. Ask the clerk which pages need a court order, and do not assume that a sealed page is missing from the file.
Who confirms missing or unlisted divorce filings?
The Prothonotary can check the internal index when a public search fails. Give both names, the filing year, and any case number you have on hand. Staff can say whether the case sits under another spelling, another docket, another name, or another county. For a case outside Lancaster, contact the Prothonotary in that county. Ask for the search result in writing and keep that written reply with your papers.
