The granting of divorces is regulated by the state that the individuals live in at the time of the request. Therefore, the state is responsible to hold onto the records. Divorce records in Pennsylvania are not held at the Division for Vital Records. Instead, divorce records are usually stored in the local office or courthouse that is located in the county where the divorce was granted.
Additionally, some states store the divorce records in a state repository or central location at the state level. The state repository is the best location to begin your search if you are unsure of the county in which the divorce took place. If you are unsure of the number of divorces an individual had or the states where they took place, your search for records can be a long one. Each state must be searched individually for divorce records. This can be a costly endeavor if you have no idea where to begin or end your search
In some cases, it is smarter to begin with a current and past spouse search for the individual. This type of search turns up names and addresses. In turn, you can use this information to narrow your search. In some cases, the results might indicate there are no known past or current spouses. Therefore, you may not need to search for divorce records at all.
For a small fee and some basic personal identification, a certified copy of a divorce certificate or record can be obtained .A basic search for divorce records takes approximately two to ten days depending on the amount of necessary information that you provide.
The actual amount of time required to complete a search for divorce records depends on several things including the amount of accurate information provided with the request, the reason given for the search, and the number of available staff at the office. Searches for genealogical reasons usually take longer. Searches for divorce records that are conducted with sketchy information or inaccurate information will also take longer.
To have your request filled quickly and correctly follow the basic steps carefully. You need to provide accurate information and you should only provide the details that are requested for the search.
Follow these steps for a successful search for the divorce records that you are looking to locate:
1. To avoid confusion print or type each name and address clearly. Include the full name of the husband and the wife. Include the maiden name for the wife.
2. Keep the request brief and to the point.
3. Limit each request to one divorce record.
4. Include nicknames and alternate spellings that may have been used.
5. Include the full address, including the county, of the individual at the time of the divorce, including street, city or town, and state.
6. Include the full date that the divorce became finalized. If you do not know the date, include a time range for your search. Generally, it is best to specify a short
span of years, such as five years, for an unknown year search. You can always expand the number of years that are searched. You can expect to pay an additional fee for searches that require more effort.
7. Include your personal contact information where you can be reached. More information may be requested. Include a telephone number for daytime and evening hours. Also, include a fax number or an e-mail address if available.
8. Include your relationship to the individuals listed in the search request.
9. Include the purpose or reason for your request.
10. Print your name clearly and sign your request. Other states may require additional identifying information on you such as a driver’s license number.
11. Include a SASE, or self addressed stamped envelope, with your request for a speedier and accurate delivery.
12. Include the date on your correspondence when you mail your request.
If your request for the divorce records is for a genealogical research, this will usually take longer than other requests, such as an upcoming marriage or the contest of a will. Additionally, requests that don’t contain the necessary information will take longer to complete.
Remember to provide accurate information for the search, sufficient contact information for yourself, and the required fee. This speeds the processing time. To obtain a copy of a divorce record in Pennsylvania, you should contact the specific county office where the divorce occurred.
Each county courthouse in Pennsylvania and its address is included below.
Adams County
Adams County Courthouse
111-117 Baltimore Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-6781
Allegheny County
City County Building
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2741
(412) 350-4188
Armstrong County
Armstrong County Courthouse
500 Market Street
Kittanning, PA 16201
(724) 543-2500
Beaver County
Beaver County Courthouse
Third Street
Beaver, PA 15009
(724) 728-5700
Bedford County
Bedford County Courthouse
Juliana Street
Bedford, PA 15522
(814) 623-4833
Berks County
Berks County Courthouse
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
(560) 478-5600
Blair County
Blair County Courthouse
423 Allegheny Street
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
(814) 695-5541
Bradford County
Bradford County Courthouse
301 Main Street
Towanda, PA 18848
(570) 265-1702
Bucks County
Bucks County Courthouse
55 East Court Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
(215) 348-6271
Butler County
Butler County Courthouse
124 West Diamond Street
Butler, PA 16001
(724) 285-4731
Cambria County
Cambria County Courthouse
200 South Center Street
Ebensburg, PA 15931
(814) 472-5440, Ext. 243
Cameron County
Cameron County Courthouse
20 East Fifth Street
Emporium, PA 15834
(814) 486-3355
Carbon County
Carbon County Courthouse
PO Box 286
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
(570) 325-2261
Centre County
Centre County Courthouse
Willowbank Office Building
414 Holmes Avenue
Bellefonte, PA 16823
(814) 355-6724
Chester County
Chester County Courthouse
2 North High Street, Suite 109
West Chester, PA 19380
(560) 344-6000
Clarion County
Clarion County Courthouse
Main Street
Clarion, PA 16214
(814) 226-4000
Clearfield County
Clearfield County Courthouse
Second & Market Streets
Clearfield, PA 16830
(814) 765-2641 Ext. 24
Clinton County
Clinton County Courthouse
Water Street
Lock Haven, PA 17745
(570) 893-4007
Columbia County
Columbia County Courthouse
PO Box 380
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
(570) 784-1991
Crawford County
Crawford County Courthouse
903 Diamond Park
Meadville, PA 16335
(814) 333-7300
Cumberland County
Cumberland County Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 240-6345
Dauphin County
Dauphin County Courthouse
Front & Market Streets
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 255-2711
Delaware County
Government Center Building
201 West Front Street
Media, PA 19063
(560) 891-4000
Elk County
Elk County Courthouse
Main & Court Streets
Ridgeway, PA 15853
(814) 776-1161
Erie County
Erie County Courthouse
140 West Sixth Street
Erie, PA 16501
814) 451-6000
Fayette County
Fayette County Courthouse
61 East Main Street
Uniontown, PA 15401
(724) 430-1200
Forest County
Forest County Courthouse
526 Elm Street
Tionesta, PA 16353
(814) 755-3526
Franklin County
Franklin County Courthouse
157 Lincoln Way
East Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 264-4125
Fulton County
Fulton County Courthouse
201 North Second Street
McConnellsburg, PA 17233
(717) 485-4212
Greene County
Greene County Courthouse
High Street
Waynesburg, PA 15370
(724) 852-5281
Huntingdon County
Huntingdon County Courthouse
223 Penn Street
Huntingdon, PA 16652
(814) 643-1560
Indiana County
Indiana County Courthouse
825 Philadelphia Street
Indiana, PA 15701
(724) 465-3855
Jefferson County
Jefferson County Courthouse
200 Main Street
Brookville, PA 15825
(814) 849-1560
Juniata County
Juniata County Courthouse
PO Box 68
Mifflintown, PA 17059
(717) 436-7709
Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County Courthouse
200 North Washington Avenue
Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 963-6708
Lancaster County
Lancaster County Courthouse
50 North Duke Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 299-8242
Lawrence County
Lawrence County Government Center
430 Court Street
New Castle, PA 15601
(724) 658-2541
Lebanon County
Lebanon County Courthouse
400 South Eighth Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
(717) 274-2801, Ext. 2215
Lehigh County
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18105
(560) 782-3000
Luzerne County
Luzerne County Courthouse
North River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
(570) 825-1672
Lycoming County
Lycoming County Courthouse
48 West Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
(570) 327-2200
McKean County
McKean County Courthouse
500 Main Street
Smethport, PA 16749
(814) 887-5571
Mercer County
Mercer County Courthouse
Room 112Mercer, PA 16137
(724) 662-3800
Mifflin County
Mifflin County Courthouse
20 North Wayne Street
Lewistown, PA 17044
(717) 242-1449
Monroe County
Monroe County Courthouse
Monroe Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 420-3710
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Courthouse
Airy & Swede Streets
Norristown, PA 19404
(560) 278-3411
Montour County
Montour County Courthouse
29 Mill Street
Danville, PA 17821
(570) 271-3010
Northampton County
Northampton County Courthouse
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042
(560) 559-3094
Northumberland County
Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street
Sunbury, PA 17801
(570) 988-4100
Perry County
Perry County Courthouse
PO Box 223
New Bloomfield, PA 17068
(717) 582-2131
Philadelphia County Birth and Death Records
City Archives3101 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 685-9402
Philadelphia County Marriage Records
Marriage Bureau City Hall
Room 415
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 686-2234
Pike County
Pike County Courthouse
412 Broad Street
Milford, PA 18337
(570) 296-7231
Potter County
Potter County Courthouse
1 East Second Street
Coudersport, PA 16915
(814) 274-9740
Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County Courthouse
401 North Second Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
(570) 622-5570
Snyder County
Snyder County Courthouse
11 West Market Street
Middleburg, PA 17842
(570) 837-4202
Somerset County
Somerset County Courthouse
111 East Union Street
Somerset, PA 15501
(814) 445-1400
Sullivan County
Sullivan County Courthouse
Main & Muncy Streets
LaPorte, PA 18626
(570) 946-7351
Susquehanna County
Susquehanna County Courthouse
PO Box 218
Montrose, PA 18801
(570) 278-4600
Tioga County
Tioga County Courthouse
116 Main Street
Wellsboro, PA 16091
(570) 724-9260
Union County
Union County Courthouse
103 South Second Street
Lewisburg, PA 17837
(570) 524-8751
Venango County
Venango County Courthouse
1168 Liberty Street
Franklin, PA 16323
(814) 432-9539
Warren County
Warren County Courthouse
204 Fourth Avenue
Warren, PA 16365
(814) 728-3430
Washington County
Washington County Courthouse
One South Main Street
Washington, PA 15301
(724) 228-6775
Wayne County
Wayne County Courthouse
925 Court Street
Honesdale, PA 18341
(570) 253-5970
Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County Courthouse
2 North Main Street
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 830-3024
Wyoming County
Wyoming County Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square
Tunkhannock, PA 18657
(570) 836-3200
York County
York County Judicial Center
45 North George Street
York, PA 17401
(717) 771-9272
