Adams County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Adams County dissolution of marriage records are official court documents filed with the Office of Judicial Support at the Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. These records cover the full history of a divorce case, from the initial petition through the final decree. Anyone who needs to locate a divorce filing, confirm a decree, or obtain a certified copy of a court document can search through the county's civil case system. This guide explains where those records are kept, how to access them, and what information you can expect to find in Adams County divorce files.
Adams County Quick Facts
Where Adams County Divorce Records Are Kept
The Office of Judicial Support in Adams County serves the same function as a Prothonotary in other Pennsylvania counties. It acts as the civil record-keeper for the Court of Common Pleas and holds all dissolution of marriage documents filed in the county. Records have been maintained at the county level since 1804, when Pennsylvania established the practice of keeping divorce records in the county where the divorce was granted. The Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg is the physical home of these records.
The Adams County Prothonotary maintains files that include the divorce petition, proof of service, the master's report when applicable, and the final decree of divorce. Cases that involve property division are also governed by 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502, Pennsylvania's equitable distribution statute. Documents related to property, alimony, and custody may be attached to the divorce docket as companion filings. The Register of Wills, a separate office, maintains marriage records for Adams County, while the Office of Judicial Support holds all divorce records.
| Court | Court of Common Pleas, Adams County |
|---|---|
| Address | 111-117 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 |
| Phone | (717) 337-9846 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | adamscounty.us/Dept/Prothonotary |
Search Adams County Dissolution Of Marriage Online
The Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal provides free online access to Adams County civil case records, including dissolution of marriage cases. You can search by party name, docket number, or case type. The portal returns case status, docket entries, and links to filed documents where they have been uploaded. Not every document from older cases is available digitally, but cases filed in recent years are generally well indexed in the system.
The CountyOffice Pennsylvania divorce records database also provides a starting point for locating basic case information. For certified copies of decrees or full case files, you must contact the Office of Judicial Support directly. Requests can be made in person or by mail. A valid government-issued ID is typically required for certified copy requests.
Note: Online records may not include sealed portions of a case. Sensitive details such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and information about minor children are routinely redacted from public-facing documents under Pennsylvania court rules.
Adams County Filing Fees and Costs
The Adams County Prothonotary fee schedule sets out the costs for commencing a dissolution of marriage action. The base fee for a divorce complaint filed under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301 is $210 for cases filed under the no-fault grounds of mutual consent or irretrievable breakdown. When custody is included in the complaint, the filing fee rises to $397. Individual add-on counts carry their own charges: equitable distribution costs $65.50, a custody count adds $187.00, an alimony count adds $65.50, and each motion filed costs $28.00.
Pennsylvania's no-fault divorce law provides two paths. Mutual consent divorce requires both spouses to sign an affidavit of consent and imposes a 90-day waiting period after filing. The irretrievable breakdown ground, for separations that began on or after December 5, 2016, requires a one-year separation period before either party can finalize the divorce without the other's consent. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104, at least one spouse must have lived in Pennsylvania for six months before filing.
Parties who cannot afford filing fees may ask the court for a fee waiver. The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network can help low-income residents understand their options and may provide direct legal assistance in some cases.
The Adams County fee schedule is published in the Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin and should be verified before filing, as fees are subject to change by court order.
The Adams County Prothonotary provides resources related to fee schedules and filing requirements.
The fee schedule above shows the cost breakdown for various divorce and family law filings in Adams County, helping filers plan ahead before submitting their dissolution of marriage petition.
What Documents Are in an Adams County Divorce File
An Adams County dissolution of marriage file typically contains several distinct documents. The divorce petition starts the case and sets out the grounds for divorce under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301. The definitions section of Pennsylvania divorce law, found at 23 Pa.C.S. § 3103, clarifies key terms used throughout these filings. Other documents include proof of service on the other spouse, any responsive pleadings, financial disclosures when equitable distribution is at issue, agreements reached by the parties, a master's report if a hearing officer was assigned, and the final decree of divorce entered by the judge.
Companion filings for custody, support, and alimony appear as separate counts or companion cases on the same docket. These records are part of the public record under 65 P.S. § 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, though certain personal information is redacted before public disclosure. The file is stored permanently at the Office of Judicial Support and does not expire or get destroyed.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Vital Records office offers certified divorce certificates at the state level for $20 per copy, which can supplement Adams County court records for genealogical or legal purposes.
Obtaining Certified Copies in Adams County
Certified copies of Adams County dissolution of marriage documents are available from the Office of Judicial Support. You can request a copy in person during office hours or submit a written request by mail. Your request should include the full names of both parties, the approximate year the divorce was filed or granted, and the docket number if you have it. A valid photo ID is required for in-person requests.
At the state level, the PA Department of Health Division of Vital Records issues certified divorce certificates for cases statewide. The address is PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528, and the phone number is (724) 656-3100. A state-issued divorce certificate costs $20 for each certified copy. You can also order through VitalChek, the state's authorized third-party vital records provider.
For historical records, the Pennsylvania State Library and FamilySearch Pennsylvania Divorce Records are useful tools for tracing older divorce filings. Adams County records going back to its founding year of 1800 may be found in these genealogical databases in varying levels of detail.
Note: For legal proceedings, only certified copies issued by the Office of Judicial Support or the PA Department of Health are generally accepted as official proof of a dissolved marriage.
About Adams County and Its Court System
Adams County was founded in 1800 and named after President John Adams, the second president of the United States. The county is home to approximately 103,000 residents and sits along Pennsylvania's southern border with Maryland. Gettysburg, the county seat, is one of the most historically significant towns in the nation. The Gettysburg National Military Park draws millions of visitors each year and anchors the local economy alongside agriculture and small manufacturing. The Adams County government provides services across its roughly 520 square miles.
The Adams County Court of Common Pleas handles all civil and family law matters, including dissolution of marriage cases. The court is part of Pennsylvania's unified judicial system, which covers all 67 counties. Adams County operates as a single-judge district within that system. Dissolution of marriage cases are filed in the civil division, which is administered by the Office of Judicial Support. Fault-based grounds for divorce such as adultery, abandonment without cause for one year, cruel and barbarous treatment, and bigamy remain available under Pennsylvania law alongside no-fault options.
Nearby Counties
Adams County borders several other Pennsylvania counties as well as the Maryland state line. If a divorce was filed in a neighboring county, you can search those court systems using the links below.