Butler County Family Court Records
Butler County family court records are maintained by the Prothonotary at the Butler County Courthouse in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas handles all domestic relations matters for county residents, including child custody, child support, spousal support, Protection from Abuse orders, divorce proceedings, and adoptions. You can search Butler County family court records by visiting the courthouse in person or by submitting a written request to the Prothonotary by mail, and basic case information is also available through the statewide UJS Portal.
Butler County Quick Facts
Butler County Family Court System
The Butler County Court of Common Pleas operates from the courthouse at 124 W. Diamond Street in Butler. The county has grown substantially in recent decades as part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, and its family court handles a corresponding volume of domestic relations cases. Butler County operates as its own judicial district within the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System, established by 42 Pa.C.S. § 301. All family court matters for Butler County residents are filed and heard at the courthouse in Butler.
The family court in Butler County handles the full spectrum of domestic relations cases. Judges hear matters involving divorce, child custody and visitation, child support and spousal support enforcement, Protection from Abuse petitions and orders, paternity actions, name changes, adoptions, guardianship proceedings, and juvenile dependency and delinquency cases. Pennsylvania's Domestic Relations Code at Title 23 Pa.C.S. governs how each of these case types proceeds in Butler County court.
Prothonotary Kelly Ferrari heads the Butler County Prothonotary's office, which maintains all civil and family court records for the county. This office handles case filings, docket maintenance, and public access to records. The Butler County government website provides current contact information for the Prothonotary and other county offices.
The Butler County government website lists all county departments with contact information, including the Prothonotary's office where family court records are maintained in Butler.
Accessing Butler County Family Court Records
Butler County offers remote online access to court records through the INFOCON subscription service. This paid system requires a $25 setup fee, a $1.10 per-minute usage charge, and a minimum monthly fee of $25. Legal professionals, title search firms, and others with regular records research needs in Butler County find this subscription practical. For individuals with occasional needs, visiting the courthouse directly is the simpler and more affordable option.
In-person access is available at the Prothonotary's office at 124 W. Diamond Street in Butler, PA 16001, during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Bring photo identification and any information you have about the case, including party names and approximate filing year. Staff can search the case index and retrieve the file for your review. Copies of documents are available at a per-page fee collected at the time of your visit.
Mail requests are accepted for those who cannot visit the courthouse. Address your written request to the Butler County Prothonotary at 124 W. Diamond Street, Butler, PA 16001. Include the names of the parties, the approximate filing date, and a specific description of the documents you need. Enclose payment for the estimated copy cost and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Staff will process your request and contact you if additional information or payment is needed.
Pennsylvania's Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 defines what information courts must make available remotely. Even through INFOCON, only basic docket index information is accessible online. Full documents from Butler County family court cases require an in-person visit or mail request to the Prothonotary. This rule applies to every Pennsylvania county.
Note: The statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us may show some Butler County case information, but it does not replace the county's records system for full document access.
Types of Family Court Records in Butler County
Butler County family court records cover multiple categories of domestic relations law. Each type of case generates different documents that become part of the permanent court record. Identifying the correct case type makes it easier to find what you need when searching the index or describing your request to the Prothonotary.
Divorce records in Butler County are filed with the Prothonotary and include the complaint, proof of service, financial disclosures where required, any marital settlement agreement reached by the parties, and the final divorce decree. Butler County divorce cases may include related claims for equitable distribution of marital property and spousal support, all filed under the same docket number. The divorce decree is the document most often needed for legal purposes after a case is finalized.
Child custody records are among the most actively used family court records in Butler County. The custody file includes the initial petition, any interim orders, conciliation conference records, any evaluations ordered by the court, and the final custody order. When custody is modified after the original order is entered, the modification petition and new order are added to the existing case file. This creates a single, complete history of all custody proceedings between the parties in Butler County court.
Protection from Abuse records in Butler County document the PFA process from initial petition through final order. PFA filings are public records under 65 P.S. § 67.101, subject to redaction of safety-sensitive information such as the petitioner's home address. Active PFA orders are also entered into statewide law enforcement databases to allow enforcement across county lines.
Butler County's Orphans' Court division handles adoptions and guardianship matters. Adoption records are sealed under Pennsylvania law and are not available through the public docket. Guardianship records are more accessible but may contain information about incapacitated individuals that courts handle with care. For Orphans' Court matters, contact the courthouse to confirm which division and what procedures apply to the specific record type you need.
Note: Butler County Domestic Relations handles support case records separately from the Prothonotary. If you need detailed support enforcement or payment records, contact both the Prothonotary and the Domestic Relations Office to ensure you have all available documents.
Butler County Prothonotary
Prothonotary Kelly Ferrari heads the Butler County Prothonotary's office, which is responsible for maintaining all civil and family court records in the county. The office processes new case filings, manages the official case docket, stores court documents, and responds to public records requests. It is located at 124 W. Diamond Street in Butler, PA 16001, inside the county courthouse.
Walk-in access is available Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Staff can conduct name searches and docket number searches and retrieve files for in-person review. Copies are made at the office and fees are due at the time of your visit. For large or complex requests, calling ahead can help staff prepare and reduce your wait time. Certified copies are available at an additional cost compared to plain copies.
The Butler County Prothonotary page on the county website provides the most current contact information, phone numbers, and office hours. Check this page before visiting to confirm anything that may have changed. For questions about INFOCON subscription setup, the Prothonotary's office can explain the process or direct you to the appropriate contact for that system.
| Office |
Butler County Prothonotary Kelly Ferrari, Prothonotary 124 W. Diamond Street Butler, PA 16001 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Remote Access | INFOCON subscription (setup $25, $1.10/min, $25/month minimum) |
| Website | butlercountypa.gov/departments/prothonotary |
Legal Resources for Butler County Family Court
Butler County residents facing family court matters have access to legal assistance through several channels. Free help is available for those who qualify, and general guidance resources are available to everyone.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves Butler County residents through its western Pennsylvania network. Free legal assistance is available for qualifying residents in custody, support, PFA, and related family law matters. Visit palegalaid.net to apply or find office locations near Butler. The Butler County Bar Association also operates a lawyer referral service for those who need a private family law attorney.
The Temple Law family court guide at guides.temple.edu explains how Pennsylvania family court records work across all 67 counties. It is free to use and is a valuable starting point for anyone researching Butler County family court records. Court forms and self-help filing instructions are available at pacourts.us/forms for self-represented litigants in Butler County family court proceedings.
Nearby Counties
Butler County is in western Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh. It borders several other counties in the region. If you are unsure whether a family court case was filed in Butler County or a neighboring county, check the residence address used when the case was filed.