Monroe County Divorce Records and Cases
Monroe County divorce records are maintained by the Prothonotary's Office at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas processes all divorce filings in this growing Pocono Mountains county. Once a complaint is filed and accepted, the case enters the public court record and is assigned a docket number. Certified copies of divorce decrees and related documents can be requested through the Prothonotary. The county has seen continued population growth, which is reflected in the volume of civil court filings over recent decades.
Monroe County Quick Facts
Monroe County Divorce Records at the Prothonotary
The Prothonotary's Office at the Monroe County Courthouse is the official keeper of civil court records in the county. Every divorce complaint, motion, order, agreement, and final decree filed with the Court of Common Pleas is indexed here by docket number and party name.
Monroe County was created on April 1, 1836, from portions of Northampton and Pike Counties. It was named for President James Monroe. The courthouse in Stroudsburg has served as the seat of the county's judicial operations for most of the county's history.
Before filing a divorce in Monroe County, at least one spouse must have been a Pennsylvania resident for six months under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104. The county's growing population has generated a corresponding increase in civil court filings over the years.
The Monroe County official website provides information on county services, press releases, courthouse hours, and current initiatives including the countywide property reassessment launched in 2025.
Note: Monroe County launched a countywide Property Reassessment Project in July 2025 and adopted its 2026 budget in November 2025. The county is also preparing to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.
Searching Monroe County Divorce Dockets Online
Monroe County divorce cases can be searched online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal. Visit the UJS Case Search page and choose the Court of Common Pleas in Monroe County.
Enter either a party name or a docket number to pull up case results. Results show the full docket, including filing dates, parties, attorneys, and case status. Many filings from recent years include linked scanned documents.
Older records may require an in-person visit to the Prothonotary. The courthouse in Stroudsburg can provide copies of documents not yet digitized. Staff can assist with locating records by index when a docket number is not known.
The statewide portal is maintained by the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. It is available to the public at no cost and does not require registration or login for basic case searches.
Grounds for Divorce Under Pennsylvania Law in Monroe County
Pennsylvania divorce law at 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301 allows for both no-fault and fault-based divorce. Most Monroe County cases proceed on no-fault grounds.
Mutual consent is the most common method. Both parties must sign consent affidavits. The affidavits cannot be filed until 90 days after the complaint is served. Once filed, the court can enter a final decree.
Separation-based divorce is the alternative no-fault option. After one year of living apart, either spouse can request a decree. No consent from the other party is needed once the year has passed.
Pennsylvania still recognizes fault divorce. Grounds include adultery, cruel and barbarous treatment, bigamy, desertion of two or more years, and criminal conviction resulting in imprisonment of two or more years. Fault findings can be considered in alimony proceedings under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3701.
Alimony may be awarded based on the circumstances of the case. Courts weigh the length of the marriage, the requesting spouse's need, and the other party's ability to pay, among other statutory factors.
Property Division in Monroe County Divorce Proceedings
Marital property in Pennsylvania is subject to equitable distribution under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502. This applies to all assets and debts accumulated during the marriage.
Courts do not simply split everything in half. The Court of Common Pleas in Monroe County weighs factors including the duration of the marriage, each party's contribution, income, debts, and future needs before making a property determination.
Many Monroe County cases settle through negotiated agreements. When parties agree on property division, the settlement is incorporated into the final divorce decree. The agreement becomes part of the public court record filed with the Prothonotary.
Pennsylvania court records resources for divorce cases provide additional guidance on researching family court filings and understanding what documents are part of the public record.
For Monroe County residents who need help navigating property or financial issues in a divorce, Pennsylvania Legal Aid offers free and reduced-cost legal services to qualifying individuals.
Note: Assets inherited by one spouse during the marriage, or received as a personal gift, are generally classified as separate property and excluded from equitable distribution under Pennsylvania law.
Vital Records and Decree Copies in Monroe County
Pennsylvania maintains a statewide divorce index through the Department of Health. The PA DOH vital records page explains how to request a state divorce record for events dating to January 1, 1946.
The DOH record is a summary document, not the full court file. It confirms the names of the parties, the county of filing, and the date of the decree. Detailed court documents must be requested from the Monroe County Prothonotary.
Certified copies of the divorce decree are commonly needed for name changes, new marriage licenses, financial updates, and insurance purposes. The Prothonotary charges a per-page fee and a separate certification fee. Current pricing can be obtained by calling the courthouse.
The CDC vital records guide for Pennsylvania offers general information on what divorce documentation is available from the state and how to request it.
Public Access to Monroe County Divorce Records
Divorce records filed with the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas are public documents. Access is generally available to anyone who visits the Prothonotary or uses the UJS online portal.
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, establishes a presumption of access to public records. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records administers the law for executive branch agencies, while court access is governed separately by the judiciary.
The Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas page provides information on the structure of Pennsylvania's trial court system and how to contact individual county courts including Monroe County.
Sealed cases are the exception. When a court orders a case sealed, only parties and their attorneys can access it. A formal petition to the judge is required for others seeking access to sealed records.
The procedural rules governing divorce cases are found in Chapter 1920 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Full statutory text is available at Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.
Cities in Monroe County
Stroudsburg is the county seat and houses the Monroe County Courthouse. East Stroudsburg, directly adjacent to Stroudsburg, is home to East Stroudsburg University and serves as a commercial center. Other communities include Delaware Water Gap, Pocono Township, Tobyhanna, and Mount Pocono. The county is well known as the heart of the Pocono Mountains resort region, drawing visitors from the Philadelphia and New York metro areas year-round.
Nearby Counties
Monroe County is in northeastern Pennsylvania and shares borders with several counties, each with its own Prothonotary handling local divorce cases.