Westmoreland County Dissolution Of Marriage Records, Fees, and Filing Information
Westmoreland County dissolution of marriage records are maintained by Prothonotary Sherry L. Magretti-Hamilton at the courthouse in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. As one of the more populous counties in western Pennsylvania with roughly 360,000 residents, Westmoreland County sees a high volume of civil case filings each year, including dissolution of marriage actions brought before the Court of Common Pleas. The Prothonotary's office at 2 North Main Street, Suite 501, Greensburg handles all dissolution complaints, docket entries, consent affidavits, property settlement agreements, and final decrees. This guide explains how to access Westmoreland County dissolution records, what fees apply, and what resources are available for parties who need legal assistance.
Westmoreland County Quick Facts
Westmoreland County Dissolution Of Marriage: Where Records Are Held
Westmoreland County dissolution of marriage records are filed at 2 North Main Street, Suite 501, Greensburg, PA 15601. Prothonotary Sherry L. Magretti-Hamilton is the civil record custodian for the Court of Common Pleas and maintains all dissolution filings as permanent public records. Since Pennsylvania has required county-level custody of divorce records since 1804, the Greensburg courthouse holds a continuous collection of dissolution case files spanning many decades. Each case file includes the divorce complaint, proof of service, all motions submitted during proceedings, financial disclosures where equitable distribution is at issue, and the final decree.
The Westmoreland County Prothonotary website provides office hours, fee schedules, and guidance on filing and record requests. The Pennsylvania Courts page for Westmoreland County describes the court's structure and confirms jurisdiction over family law and dissolution of marriage cases. Public access terminals for reviewing case records are available at no charge during courthouse business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
| Court | Court of Common Pleas, Westmoreland County |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 North Main Street, Suite 501, Greensburg, PA 15601 |
| Phone | (724) 830-3502 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Website | westmorelandcountypa.gov/prothonotary |
The Westmoreland County Law Library is located at 2 North Main Street, 3rd Floor, Greensburg, PA 15601, phone (724) 830-3267. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, the Law Library offers free access to legal resources including statutes, case law, and practice guides that can help parties understand their rights and options in a dissolution of marriage proceeding.
The Westmoreland County Courts page on the Pennsylvania Courts system documents the county's judicial structure and confirms that the Court of Common Pleas in Greensburg holds jurisdiction over all dissolution of marriage case filings.
Searching Westmoreland County Dissolution Of Marriage Records Online
The Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides free public access to Westmoreland County dissolution of marriage case records. Searching by party name, docket number, or case type returns case status information, all docket entries with dates, and links to uploaded documents. For dissolution cases filed in Westmoreland County in recent years, the portal typically provides a comprehensive view of the case history without requiring a courthouse visit.
For older cases or records not fully digitized, contacting the Prothonotary at (724) 830-3502 is the appropriate next step. Record requests can be made in person at Suite 501 during office hours or submitted by mail to 2 North Main Street, Suite 501, Greensburg, PA 15601. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of filing, and any docket number available. A record search costs $20.00 per name in Westmoreland County. The Jenkins Law Library docket searching guide provides step-by-step instructions for using the UJS portal effectively, which is especially helpful for first-time users.
Westmoreland County dissolution records are public documents under 65 P.S. § 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Standard redactions apply to Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and identifying information for minor children, but the docket and most filed documents are accessible to the public. Pre-1968 records from Westmoreland County may be held at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg rather than at the Greensburg courthouse.
Dissolution Of Marriage Filing Fees and Costs in Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County charges $258.75 as the base filing fee for a basic divorce complaint. This fee applies to a dissolution of marriage complaint filed on no-fault grounds under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301. Additional counts added to the complaint carry their own charges. Certified copies of dissolution documents cost $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy. Copies of documents in the office are $0.50 per page, and copies sent by mail cost $1.00 per page. Record searches are charged at $20.00 per name searched.
Pennsylvania's no-fault dissolution of marriage law offers two routes. Mutual consent under section 3301(c) requires both parties to sign consent affidavits and observe a 90-day waiting period before the court may enter a final decree. Irretrievable breakdown under section 3301(d) allows finalization after a one-year separation, for separations that began on or after December 5, 2016, without requiring both spouses to consent. The residency requirement at 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104 requires that at least one party have lived in Pennsylvania for six months before filing.
Fault-based grounds for dissolution in Westmoreland County include adultery, abandonment for one year, cruel and barbarous treatment, bigamy, criminal conviction with imprisonment of two or more years, and indignities to the innocent spouse. Equitable distribution of marital property is governed by 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. Westmoreland County Local Rules provide specific forms required for divorce proceedings, which the Prothonotary's office can provide on request. The definitions central to dissolution proceedings appear at 23 Pa.C.S. § 3103.
Parties who cannot afford the filing fee may petition the court for a waiver. Legal resources in Westmoreland County include Laurel Legal Services at 306 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601, phone (724) 836-2211, which provides legal help for low-income residents. The Westmoreland Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at 129 North Pennsylvania Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601, phone (724) 834-8490, connects residents with private attorneys who handle dissolution of marriage cases. The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network can also identify regional resources available to eligible Westmoreland County residents.
The North Penn Legal Services organization is one example of the kind of regional legal aid available across Pennsylvania, connecting residents who cannot afford private counsel with guidance on dissolution of marriage rights and court procedures.
Certified Copies and State Records in Westmoreland County
Certified copies of Westmoreland County dissolution of marriage decrees cost $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy. In-person requests are processed Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, at Suite 501, 2 North Main Street, Greensburg. Mail requests should include the party names, approximate filing year, docket number if available, and a check or money order for the applicable fee. A certified copy bearing the Westmoreland County Court's official seal is the document required for legal purposes such as remarriage, estate proceedings, or name change restoration.
At the state level, the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records handles birth and death certificates. Divorce records are not issued by that office. For Westmoreland County dissolution records, the Greensburg courthouse is the authoritative source. Third-party ordering through VitalChek covers certain Pennsylvania vital records, though certified dissolution decrees require direct contact with the county Prothonotary. The Division of Vital Records can be reached at P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103-1528, phone (724) 656-3100, for questions about certificate types it does handle.
Records filed before 1968 may be stored at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg. Genealogists and family historians researching older Westmoreland County divorce records are encouraged to check both the Greensburg courthouse and the State Archives. The CountyOffice Pennsylvania divorce records directory provides additional guidance for researchers uncertain about which repository holds a specific record.
Nearby Counties
Westmoreland County borders five other Pennsylvania counties, each administering its own dissolution of marriage records independently. If a divorce may have been filed across the county line, the links below lead to those county record pages.