Search Butler County Dissolution Of Marriage
Butler County dissolution of marriage records are kept by the Prothonotary's Office at the Butler County Courthouse in Butler, Pennsylvania. Located north of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania, Butler County has grown significantly as part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and now serves a population of about 195,000 residents. The Prothonotary maintains all civil court records including every dissolution of marriage petition, decree, and related filing. Butler County also offers its own online civil case search system, making it easier than many counties to locate divorce records without visiting in person.
Butler County Quick Facts
Butler County Prothonotary: Divorce Record Keeper
The Butler County Prothonotary is the elected official who serves as clerk of the civil division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Prothonotary's Office maintains all civil case records, including dissolution of marriage filings, custody cases, support orders, judgment liens, and other civil documents. Pennsylvania has required county-level record keeping for divorce since 1804, and Butler County has maintained such records since its formation in 1800. The courthouse in Butler city is the home of all these records.
Butler County was formed in 1800 from Allegheny County. The county seat of Butler is the largest city in the county and has been the center of county government throughout the county's history. The county's location north of Pittsburgh has driven significant residential growth in recent decades, making Butler one of the more active counties in the Pittsburgh region for civil court filings, including dissolution of marriage cases.
| Court | Court of Common Pleas, Butler County |
|---|---|
| Address | 124 West Diamond Street, Butler, PA 16003 |
| Phone | (724) 284-5214 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | butlercountypa.gov/243/Prothonotary |
Butler County Civil Case Search for Divorce Records
Butler County provides its own dedicated online civil case search tool at civil.co.butler.pa.us/CaseSearch. This free search system allows you to look up Butler County dissolution of marriage cases by party name or docket number. It returns case information including docket entries, document links, and case status. This county-specific system is separate from the statewide portal and may provide more complete local record access for Butler County cases.
The Unified Judicial System Web Portal also covers Butler County and provides statewide search capability alongside the county-specific tool. Using either system can help you verify whether a divorce case exists, find the docket number, and view case documents. Certified copies of documents can only be obtained directly from the Prothonotary's Office. Your request should include the full names of both parties, the docket number, and the approximate year of the filing.
The Butler County Prothonotary's Office manages all civil case records including dissolution of marriage files and is the only office authorized to issue certified copies of Butler County divorce documents.
Note: Records are public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, but Social Security numbers, financial account details, and identifying information about minor children are removed from publicly available copies.
Butler County Dissolution Of Marriage: Filing and Grounds
To file for dissolution of marriage in Butler County, at least one spouse must have lived in Pennsylvania for six months prior to filing as required by 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104. The complaint is filed with the Butler County Prothonotary. Pennsylvania law provides several grounds for divorce under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301. No-fault mutual consent divorce requires both parties to sign an affidavit of consent, followed by a 90-day waiting period. No-fault irretrievable breakdown requires a one-year separation period (for separations beginning on or after December 5, 2016) before either party can complete the process without the other's consent.
Fault-based grounds remain legally available in Butler County and statewide. These include adultery, willful desertion without cause for one year, cruel and barbarous treatment, bigamy, and imprisonment following a criminal conviction. Fault cases require the petitioner to present evidence of the fault ground before the court. The key terms that apply to all of these provisions are defined at 23 Pa.C.S. § 3103.
The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network offers assistance to qualifying low-income Butler County residents navigating the dissolution of marriage process. For those who can afford a lawyer, working with a family law attorney familiar with Butler County local rules and procedures is highly recommended given the complexity of contested divorce matters.
Property Division in Butler County Divorce Cases
When marital property must be divided, Butler County courts apply Pennsylvania's equitable distribution statute at 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution state, not a community property state. This means the court divides marital property in a way that is fair, not necessarily equal. The court weighs factors including the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, contribution to marital assets, economic circumstances after the divorce, and any prior support obligations. Butler County judges apply these factors case by case.
Dissolution of marriage records in Butler County are public under 65 P.S. § 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Anyone can request access to the case file. The court removes sensitive personal information from public copies. Case files are maintained permanently by the Prothonotary and can be retrieved for any case dating back to the county's founding.
The CountyOffice Pennsylvania divorce records database provides a supplementary index that may help locate basic case information before visiting the courthouse. For the full case file, only the Butler County Prothonotary can provide access and certified copies.
The Butler County Civil Case Search provides free online access to dissolution of marriage dockets and case documents, making it one of the more accessible county civil record systems in western Pennsylvania.
Certified Copies and State Divorce Certificates
Certified copies of Butler County dissolution of marriage documents are issued by the Prothonotary's Office. You can visit in person during business hours at the courthouse in Butler, or submit a written request by mail. Include the full names of both parties, the docket number if known, and a return address with your mail request. A valid photo ID is required for in-person service. The per-copy fee is set by local court rule.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records provides state-level certified divorce certificates for $20 per copy. The address is PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528, phone (724) 656-3100. Online orders can be placed through VitalChek. The PA Department of Health Vital Records page explains the ordering process. State certificates are accepted for remarriage applications, name changes, and estate administration purposes.
The Butler County Court of Common Pleas handles all civil and family matters in this western Pennsylvania county, with the Prothonotary maintaining the permanent dissolution of marriage record archive at the Butler courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Butler County borders several other western Pennsylvania counties. Use the links below to search dissolution of marriage records in neighboring jurisdictions.