How Do I File for Divorce in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania?
- 1). Begin divorce proceedings by completing a complaint form with the Prothonotary's Office of Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. Provide the name, address and phone number of both parties as well as your signature as the plaintiff where required. Include the Civil Cover Sheet with your complaint.
County of Lancaster
Office of Prothonotary
50 N. Duke St
P.O. Box 83480
Lancaster, PA 17608-3480
717-299-8282
717-293-7210 Fax - 2). Submit the complaint and cover sheet to the Prothonotary's Office. The original will be kept for court records and two time-stamped copies will be returned to you.
- 3). Pay the required filing fee in the form of check or money order payable to the Lancaster County Prothonotary. As of September, 2010, the fee for divorce filing is $181 and must be paid in full to begin divorce proceedings.
- 4). Serve the defendant with a copy of the complaint within 30 days of filing. The defendant may be served by certified mail or any delivery method which allows for a signature upon receipt. You may also hand deliver the complaint and complete an affidavit of service.
- 5). Complete an affidavit of consent and a waiver of notice of intention to request entry of divorce decree after 90 days have passed since filing the divorce complaint. These documents can be completed by either you or the defendant and essentially confirm the parties' intent to finalize the divorce proceedings.
- 6). Submit the praecipe to transmit record, praecipe of service, the divorce information sheet and four copies of the proposed divorce decree to the Prothonotary's Office. Include two, self-addressed stamped envelopes, one for you and one for the defendant, to receive a copy of the finalized divorce records.
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