Divorce Pa: Public Records

Although records are public, certain sensitive information is protected under the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System . The following are typically redacted or filed separately on confidential forms to keep them from public view: New Pennsylvania Public Access Law | DivorceWriter

You typically need to provide the names of both spouses, the approximate year of divorce, and a fee (often via money order).

Depending on the level of detail you need, there are two primary ways to search for and obtain these records: Public Records Divorce Pa

This office in the county where the divorce was granted maintains the complete legal file. This includes the original complaint, motions, and the final Divorce Decree , which outlines the specific terms of property division and custody.

For state-level certificates, VitalChek is the authorized online partner for Pennsylvania. Privacy Restrictions This includes the original complaint, motions, and the

The state's Division of Vital Records maintains divorce certificates from 1906 to the present. A certificate is a shorter document used to verify that a divorce took place for purposes like remarrying or changing a name, but it does not contain the detailed settlement terms found in a decree. Online Search vs. In-Person Requests

Divorce and the New Pennsylvania Public Access Law. Many people are surprised to learn that their divorce files are public record. DivorceWriter.com A certificate is a shorter document used to

Most county offices, like the Philadelphia Office of Judicial Records or the Allegheny County Department of Court Records , allow walk-ins for copy requests.