Divorce records in Berks County, Pennsylvania, are available through several channels. BerksCourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for Berks County. You can also access divorce records directly through the court that issued the decree, the county Prothonotary's office, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health's vital records division. Online tools such as the statewide court case search portal offer another way to locate docket information related to divorce filings in Berks County.
Berks County Divorce Records Search
Divorce cases in Berks County are civil matters handled by the Berks County Court of Common Pleas, which sits in the 23rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The Berks County Prothonotary is the chief clerk and record keeper for all civil filings, including divorce complaints, decrees, property settlement agreements, custody orders, and related documents.
Divorce records maintained by the Prothonotary's office may include:
- Divorce complaints and petitions
- Final divorce decrees
- Property settlement and equitable distribution agreements
- Custody and support orders filed as part of the divorce action
- Praecipes, motions, and other related filings
The Berks County Family Court division oversees divorce proceedings and provides self-help forms for litigants filing custody and divorce actions. You can search civil court dockets online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Berks County
In Pennsylvania, divorce cases are filed in and decided by the Court of Common Pleas in the county where either spouse resides. In Berks County, that means all divorce actions go through the 23rd Judicial District. After a divorce decree is entered by a judge, the decree and all associated filings remain on record with the Prothonotary's office at the Berks County Courthouse.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health also maintains limited divorce record information at the state level. The state vital records office keeps statistical records of divorces, though it does not issue divorce decree copies. For a certified copy of a divorce decree, you must contact the Prothonotary's office directly.
Which office to contact
- For copies of divorce decrees, complaints, settlement agreements, or court filings: Contact the Berks County Prothonotary.
- For divorce verification or statistical records: Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records.
- For open records requests related to court documents: Contact the Berks County Open Records Office or the Court Open Records Officer.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Berks County
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce decree (Prothonotary) | $10.00–$15.00 per document | Same day to several business days (in person); 1–2 weeks (by mail) |
| Uncertified copy of court filing (Prothonotary) | $0.25–$1.00 per page | Same day (in person) |
| Online docket search (UJS Web Portal) | No charge | Immediate |
| Divorce verification (PA Department of Health) | $20.00 | 4–6 weeks |