Divorce records in Erie County, Pennsylvania, can be accessed through several channels. EriePACourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information. You can also obtain records directly from the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, the Prothonotary's office, or the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. The type of document you need — a court filing versus a vital record certificate — determines which office to contact.
Erie County Divorce Records Search
In Erie County, divorce cases are handled by the Court of Common Pleas, and the resulting court records are maintained by the Clerk of Records through the Prothonotary division. The Prothonotary processes and maintains all civil court records, including divorce complaints, decrees, settlement agreements, custody orders, and related filings. Online case searches for Prothonotary records dating from 1992 to the present are available through the Erie County Case Viewer. You can also search statewide docket sheets through the UJS Portal. The Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records maintains a separate index of divorce records reported by county courts. Downloadable divorce-related forms, including the Divorce Information Sheet, are available on the Prothonotary Forms page.
Erie County Clerk of Records — Prothonotary
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Erie County
Divorce cases in Erie County are filed in and adjudicated by the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division. Once a divorce decree is entered by a judge, the decree and all associated filings — the complaint, any settlement or property distribution agreements, custody orders, and support orders — remain on file with the Prothonotary, which is the civil records arm of the Clerk of Records office.
Pennsylvania also requires that divorce decrees be reported to the state Division of Vital Records, which maintains its own index. The type of record you need determines where to go:
- Court record (full divorce file, decree, settlement agreement, motions): Contact the Erie County Prothonotary at the courthouse address above, or search the Erie County Case Viewer online.
- Vital record (divorce certificate for proof of divorce status): Contact the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records.
Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records
Historical divorce records predating county court filings may also be available through the Pennsylvania State Archives. For records that are part of the public court file, you may also submit a Right-to-Know request to Erie County.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Erie County
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Prothonotary civil record copy (per page) | $0.25 | Same day if requested in person |
| Certified copy of court document (Prothonotary) | $6.00 per document | Same day to several business days |
| Online case search (Erie County Case Viewer / UJS Portal) | Free | Immediate |
| Pennsylvania divorce certificate (Division of Vital Records) | $20.00 | 4–6 weeks by mail |