Find Bucks County Dissolution Of Marriage
Bucks County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by the Prothonotary's Office in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. One of the four original counties of Pennsylvania, Bucks County now serves a population of about 645,000 residents across its communities northeast of Philadelphia. All divorce petitions, decrees, and related court documents in Bucks County are filed with and held by the Prothonotary, who serves as the elected clerk of the civil and family divisions of the Court of Common Pleas. This guide explains how to locate, access, and obtain certified copies of Bucks County divorce records.
Bucks County Quick Facts
Bucks County Prothonotary and Dissolution Records
The Bucks County Prothonotary is the elected row officer who serves as clerk of the Civil and Family divisions of the Court of Common Pleas. The Prothonotary maintains administrative control over all official documents and records, including those for dissolution of marriage cases, custody matters, name change petitions, judgment liens, and other civil filings. Bucks County has been keeping civil records since its founding in 1682, making its courthouse archives among the oldest in Pennsylvania. The Prothonotary's Office is located at 55 East Court Street in Doylestown.
Dissolution of marriage records in Bucks County include the divorce decree, the petition, the marriage settlement agreement when applicable, child custody orders, and support orders. These documents are part of the public record under Pennsylvania law. Records from both the Civil and Family divisions fall under the Prothonotary's jurisdiction, meaning that companion counts for custody or property division that are filed with a divorce complaint are all managed by the same office.
| Court | Court of Common Pleas, Bucks County |
|---|---|
| Address | 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 |
| Phone | (215) 348-6191 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | buckscounty.gov/361/Prothonotary |
Searching Bucks County Dissolution Of Marriage Online
The Unified Judicial System Web Portal is the free statewide search tool for Bucks County civil case records, including dissolution of marriage cases. You can search by party name or docket number and view case status, docket entries, and document links. Cases from recent years are well indexed and typically include document images. For older cases, a direct request to the Prothonotary may be needed.
The Bucks County Prothonotary also offers an e-filing system that allows attorneys and self-represented parties to file pleadings and view case documents online 24 hours a day. This system makes Bucks County one of the more accessible county court systems for remote access to divorce filings. The Bucks County court records page provides a third-party index of civil case information. For emergency Family Court filings, you can visit 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA in person.
The Bucks County Prothonotary e-filing system enables 24/7 online filing and document access for dissolution of marriage cases, making it one of the more modern court record systems among Pennsylvania's 67 counties.
Note: Sensitive information including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and details about minor children is redacted from publicly accessible court records under Pennsylvania's court rules.
Bucks County Dissolution Of Marriage Filing Fees and Requirements
At $349.00 to commence a dissolution of marriage case, Bucks County has one of the highest divorce filing fees in Pennsylvania. This base fee covers filing the complaint and receiving a docket number. Additional counts for equitable distribution, custody, support, or alimony each carry separate filing fees. At least one spouse must have been a Pennsylvania resident for six months before filing under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104.
Grounds for divorce in Pennsylvania are set out at 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301. No-fault mutual consent divorce requires both spouses to sign an affidavit of consent and imposes a 90-day waiting period from the filing date. No-fault irretrievable breakdown requires a one-year separation period (for separations on or after December 5, 2016) and can proceed without the other spouse's consent. Fault-based grounds remain available and include adultery, abandonment without cause for one year, cruel and barbarous treatment, and bigamy. The key terms used throughout these statutes are defined at 23 Pa.C.S. § 3103.
The Bucks County Civil Court System page provides general information about how civil cases, including dissolution of marriage proceedings, are managed by the court. The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network can assist Bucks County residents with limited income who need help navigating the filing process.
Property Division and Related Matters in Bucks County
Bucks County applies Pennsylvania's equitable distribution statute, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502, when marital property must be divided. The court considers many factors: the duration of the marriage, each spouse's age, health, income, and earning capacity, contributions to acquiring marital property, tax consequences, and any prior support obligations. The division must be equitable, meaning fair given the specific circumstances, rather than strictly equal. Bucks County's relative affluence as a suburb of Philadelphia means that property division counts are common and often complex in local dissolution of marriage cases.
Companion counts for alimony, custody, and child support can be filed as part of the same dissolution complaint or as separate linked cases. All of these records are maintained by the Prothonotary and are part of the same docket system. Public access to these records is guaranteed under 65 P.S. § 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, with the standard redactions for sensitive personal data.
The Bucks County court records resource provides an additional public index for searching dissolution of marriage cases filed in Bucks County's Court of Common Pleas.
Getting Certified Copies of Bucks County Divorce Records
Certified copies of dissolution of marriage documents are issued by the Bucks County Prothonotary. Requests can be made in person at the Doylestown courthouse or by mail. Your request should include the names of both parties, the docket number if known, and the approximate year of the filing or decree. Valid government-issued photo ID is required for in-person requests. A per-copy fee is charged and is set by local court rule.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records also provides state-issued certified divorce certificates for $20 per copy. The mailing address is PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528, phone (724) 656-3100. You can order through VitalChek online. The PA Department of Health Vital Records website explains the full process. State certificates are used for remarriage applications, name changes on government-issued documents, and estate administration.
The Bucks County Civil Court System provides detailed information about how civil cases including dissolution of marriage are processed and accessed in this large southeastern Pennsylvania county.
Nearby Counties
Bucks County sits in southeastern Pennsylvania northeast of Philadelphia. Use the links below to access dissolution of marriage records in neighboring counties.