Divorce records in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, can be accessed through several channels. AlleghenyPACourt.us can help you find publicly available divorce record information for this county. Beyond that resource, you can request records directly from the court that issued the divorce decree, the Allegheny County Department of Court Records, or the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Each office handles different types of documents, so the right starting point depends on whether you need a full court file or a vital record certificate.
Allegheny County Divorce Records Search
In Pennsylvania, divorce cases are handled by the Court of Common Pleas — the state's general trial court. In Allegheny County, the Department of Court Records, Family Division, maintains divorce case files including:
- Divorce decrees and final orders
- Divorce complaints and responses
- Property settlement agreements
- Custody and support orders filed within the divorce action
- Related motions and court filings
The Allegheny County Department of Court Records online case search allows registered users to look up civil and family court cases by case number or party name. The Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records also maintains divorce certificates — shorter documents that confirm a divorce took place — for divorces granted anywhere in the state since 1946.
Allegheny County Department of Court Records — Family Division
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Allegheny County
Divorce cases in Allegheny County are filed in and decided by the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division. Once a divorce decree is entered, the final order and supporting documents remain on file with the Department of Court Records, Family Division. This is the office to contact if you need:
- A copy of the divorce decree or final order
- The full case docket or specific filings from the divorce proceeding
- Settlement agreements or custody orders entered as part of the divorce
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas — Family Division
If you only need a divorce certificate — a short-form document confirming the divorce was granted, listing the parties and the date — contact the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. This office holds divorce certificates for decrees entered statewide from 1946 to the present.
Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records
You can also order Pennsylvania vital records online through the Pennsylvania Department of Health vital records portal.
Which Office Should You Contact?
| What You Need | Contact |
|---|---|
| Full divorce decree or court file | Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Family Division |
| Specific motions, settlement agreements, or custody orders from the case | Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Family Division |
| Divorce certificate (short-form vital record) | Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records |
| Divorce records from before 1946 | Allegheny County Department of Court Records (court files) or Pennsylvania State Archives for older vital records |
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Allegheny County
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce certificate from PA Division of Vital Records (mail request) | $20.00 | 4–6 weeks |
| Divorce certificate — online order through PA Department of Health | $20.00 + processing fee | 2–4 weeks |
| Court record copy (per page, uncertified) — Allegheny County Dept. of Court Records | $0.25–$0.50 | Same day to several business days |
| Certified court document copy — Allegheny County Dept. of Court Records | $5.00–$10.00 (plus per-page fees) | Several business days |