Find Union County Dissolution Of Marriage Records
Union County dissolution of marriage records are held by the Prothonotary's Office in Lewisburg, the county seat in central Pennsylvania. Home to Bucknell University and roughly 45,000 residents, Union County sits along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Whether you need to confirm a past divorce decree, look up a docket number, or get a certified copy of a dissolution of marriage record, this guide explains where to search and how to request documents from the Union County court system.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Prothonotary and Courthouse
The Union County Prothonotary in Lewisburg is responsible for maintaining all dissolution of marriage records filed in the county. Pennsylvania law has required this since 1804, meaning records in Union County go back to its establishment in 1813 and beyond. The Prothonotary's Office is the official custodian of all civil case files for the Union County Court of Common Pleas, including divorce complaints, decrees, and property orders entered under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502.
Union County is a relatively compact county in central Pennsylvania. Its population is shaped by the presence of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, which brings students, staff, and families to the area. The West Branch of the Susquehanna River forms the county's southern boundary. Lewisburg is also home to a Federal Penitentiary, adding to the county's institutional character. The courthouse and Prothonotary's Office are centrally located in Lewisburg and accessible during regular business hours.
| Court | Union County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address | 103 South Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837 |
| Phone | (570) 524-8761 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | Union County Courts |
Searching Dissolution Of Marriage Records
The Unified Judicial System Web Portal is the state's free public records tool for Pennsylvania court cases. It covers all 67 counties, including Union County. Search by party name, docket number, or date range. The portal shows filed documents, hearing history, and case status. It does not always display the full text of orders, but it tells you whether a case exists and provides the docket number you will need to request copies from the Prothonotary's Office.
When the portal does not produce results, try searching through CountyOffice, which aggregates some Pennsylvania dissolution of marriage data from multiple sources. If you are unsure which county handled a case, this tool can help narrow the search before you contact a specific courthouse.
For state-issued divorce certificates, VitalChek allows online ordering through the Pennsylvania Department of Health Vital Records program. These certificates cost $20 each and confirm the basic facts of a dissolution of marriage without providing the full court file.
The Pennsylvania Courts website provides court contact information and organizational structure for Union County.
This page helps users identify the correct office for civil filings, including dissolution of marriage cases handled through the Union County Court of Common Pleas.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health Vital Records service handles state-level divorce certificate requests for all Pennsylvania counties.
Ordering through VitalChek is one of the faster ways to obtain a state-certified divorce certificate, useful when a certified copy of the full court file is not required.
Note: If you need the full text of a dissolution of marriage decree from Union County, you must contact the Prothonotary directly, as the UJS portal does not always display complete order text.
Pennsylvania Dissolution Of Marriage Law
All Pennsylvania dissolution of marriage cases are governed by the Divorce Code, primarily under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301. The law sets out both no-fault and fault grounds. No-fault is the most common approach and takes one of two forms: mutual consent with a 90-day waiting period, or a one-year separation that allows one spouse to file without the other's agreement.
Pennsylvania moved to the one-year separation standard on December 5, 2016. Before that date, the waiting period was two years. This change made it easier for couples who had been living apart to move forward even when one spouse refused to cooperate. The fault grounds that remain in the law include adultery, abandonment for one year or more, bigamy, cruel treatment, and criminal conviction with imprisonment of two or more years.
Union County, like all Pennsylvania counties, follows the equitable distribution model for dividing marital property. Courts look at factors including the length of the marriage, each party's income, and contributions to the household when deciding how to divide assets. The definition of marital property and the standards for distribution are set out in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. Courts aim for fairness, not always a 50/50 split.
Free Legal Help for Union County Residents
Residents who need help with dissolution of marriage proceedings but cannot afford a private attorney should contact Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. PLAN covers Union County and can connect eligible residents with free civil legal services. The network handles family law matters including divorce, custody, and support. Applications are based on income and the nature of the legal issue.
Union County borders Northumberland, Snyder, Centre, and Clinton counties. If a case was filed in one of those counties instead of Union, each has its own Prothonotary who maintains its own records. The same state law applies across all of them.
Access to dissolution of marriage records is protected under 65 P.S. § 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Most dissolution of marriage records are public documents. Sealed exhibits or records involving minor children may be restricted and require a court order to view.
Nearby Counties
Union County is surrounded by central Pennsylvania counties that each maintain dissolution of marriage records through their own Prothonotary offices.