Perry County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Perry County dissolution of marriage records are filed and kept by the Prothonotary at the courthouse in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. Situated in south-central Pennsylvania across the Susquehanna River from the state capital, Perry County is a rural and mountainous county that processes a steady volume of civil court cases each year. This guide explains where dissolution of marriage records are held in Perry County, how to search them, and what state law requires for anyone filing or accessing these records.
Perry County Quick Facts
Perry County and Its Court System
Perry County was established in 1820 and named for Naval Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the Battle of Lake Erie. New Bloomfield, the county seat, is a small borough nestled in the Blue Mountains and sits about 20 miles northwest of Harrisburg. Despite its proximity to the state capital, Perry County has a deeply rural character, with most of its land covered by forests, ridges, and small farms.
The county borders Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, and Snyder counties. Because Harrisburg and Cumberland County's larger population centers are close by, some Perry County residents may have ties to courts in neighboring counties. Always confirm where a case was filed before beginning a search.
The Perry County Court of Common Pleas is the trial court for all civil matters in the county, including dissolution of marriage. Perry County shares its judicial district with Juniata County, operating as the 41st Judicial District. All dissolution of marriage cases for Perry County residents are filed and heard at the New Bloomfield courthouse.
Note: Perry County shares a judicial district with Juniata County, but dissolution of marriage records are maintained separately by each county's Prothonotary. A Perry County filing is always held in New Bloomfield, not in Juniata County's courthouse in Mifflintown.
The Perry County Prothonotary
The Perry County Prothonotary is the official civil clerk for the Court of Common Pleas and maintains all dissolution of marriage records for the county. Every case filed results in a docket that tracks each filing, order, and final decree. The Prothonotary's Office in New Bloomfield is where you must go to access the full case file or request a certified copy of a dissolution of marriage decree.
Pennsylvania has required counties to maintain these records locally since 1804. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301, the filing must be made in the county where at least one spouse resides. That means Perry County records are held only in New Bloomfield. The records are open to the public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101.
| Court | Perry County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 West Main Street, New Bloomfield, PA 17068 |
| Phone | (717) 582-2131 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | perryco.org/departments/prothonotary |
The Perry County Prothonotary website provides current contact information, office hours, and information on how to request records and certified copies.
The Perry County Prothonotary in New Bloomfield is the starting point for any search of dissolution of marriage records filed by Perry County residents.
The Pennsylvania Courts page for Perry County confirms the court's structure, judicial district assignment, and provides links to related court resources.
Pennsylvania Courts provides a public overview of Perry County's court system and the judges assigned to hear civil matters, including dissolution of marriage cases.
Searching Perry County Dissolution of Marriage Records
The Unified Judicial System (UJS) Portal is the primary online tool for searching Perry County dissolution of marriage records. This free statewide system lets you search by party name or docket number and shows case status and key dates for cases in the database. Most cases from the last two decades are included. The search is free and does not require an account.
For older records or certified decree copies, contact the Prothonotary's Office directly. You can visit in person during business hours or call to ask about available search options. When submitting a written request, include both parties' full names and the approximate year of the case. Staff can search archived records by name and year even without a docket number.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Vital Records office holds statewide divorce certificates. A certified copy costs $20.00 and can be mailed to PO Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. You can also use VitalChek for online ordering. The state certificate confirms the legal fact of the dissolution but does not include the full court record.
The CountyOffice Pennsylvania divorce records page provides a useful overview of how to search dissolution records across all 67 Pennsylvania counties. This can be a helpful orientation before contacting the Perry County courthouse directly.
Note: Perry County's small courthouse staff means response times for written requests may vary. Calling ahead to confirm availability and any copy fees before visiting in person is always a good idea.
Pennsylvania Dissolution of Marriage Law and Perry County
Pennsylvania requires at least six months of state residency before a dissolution of marriage can be filed. The case must be filed in the county where at least one party lives. 23 Pa.C.S. § 3103 defines the terms used in Pennsylvania dissolution law, including how residency and domicile are determined for the purpose of establishing where to file. For Perry County residents, that filing location is the New Bloomfield courthouse.
No-fault dissolution of marriage proceeds through mutual consent, which starts a 90-day waiting period, or through a one-year separation. Pennsylvania shortened the separation requirement from two years to one year on December 5, 2016. Fault grounds are still available under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301 and include abandonment for at least one year, adultery, cruel treatment, and bigamy, but fault cases require a hearing before the court.
Property is divided under equitable distribution rules in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. The court looks at each party's financial situation, the length of the marriage, and each spouse's contributions to the marital estate. Equitable distribution is not the same as a 50/50 split, and the outcome depends on the specific facts of each case. Under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104, the Common Pleas Court can also address custody and support as part of the same proceeding.
If you need help with a dissolution of marriage case or records request in Perry County, Pennsylvania Legal Aid provides free or low-cost civil legal services to eligible residents. Legal aid can help with court forms, explain the filing process, and provide referrals to other resources in the central Pennsylvania region.
Nearby Counties
Dissolution of marriage cases must be filed in the county where at least one spouse lives, so confirm the correct county before searching if the parties lived near a border.