Indiana County Family Court Records - Search and Access
Indiana County family court records are maintained by Prothonotary Randy Degenkolb at the 40th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas in Indiana, Pennsylvania. The Indiana County Prothonotary handles all civil and family court filings including divorce, child custody, support, and Protection from Abuse matters, with docket coverage extending back to the mid-1980s. The courthouse is located at 825 Philadelphia Street, Indiana, PA 15701. You can search Indiana County family court records through the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, or visit the Prothonotary's office in person for copies and certified records.
Indiana County Quick Facts
Indiana County Family Court System
The Indiana County Court of Common Pleas operates as part of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System under 42 Pa.C.S. § 301. The 40th Judicial District serves all residents of Indiana County from its courthouse on Philadelphia Street in the borough of Indiana. The court hears all family law matters including divorce, child custody, support, Protection from Abuse, adoption, guardianship, and name change proceedings filed by Indiana County residents.
Indiana County family court proceedings follow Title 23 Pa.C.S. Domestic Relations. This statute governs all aspects of family law in Pennsylvania, from the grounds for divorce to the factors courts use when deciding custody arrangements. Support orders in Indiana County are calculated using the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines based on the combined net monthly income of both parents. Custody decisions are made according to the best interests of the child standard defined in the statute.
Prothonotary Randy Degenkolb leads the Indiana County Prothonotary's office at 825 Philadelphia Street. The Prothonotary is the civil clerk for all court proceedings in the 40th Judicial District, receiving new case filings, maintaining docket entries, preserving case files, and issuing certified copies of court orders. The office also handles administrative matters such as filing fee collection and records storage for older cases going back to the mid-1980s in the county's electronic system.
The statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free access to Indiana County case dockets. You can search by party name or docket number without creating an account. For document-level access, the county's subscription system is the primary remote access path.
Note: Indiana County's docket subscription system covers records back to the mid-1980s, so older family court records may require an in-person visit or mail request to locate in the paper archive.
Indiana County Family Court Records Access
Indiana County offers a subscription-based docket database for remote access to family court records. The subscription costs $25.00 per month with a minimum three-month commitment. This system provides access to case dockets and documents with coverage back to the mid-1980s. Legal professionals, researchers, and others who need frequent access to Indiana County records will find the subscription the most efficient remote access option.
Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, the Pennsylvania Public Access Policy governs what court records can be accessed remotely. Dockets, court orders, and published opinions are available through authorized systems. Full pleadings, financial affidavits, and other case documents may require an in-person visit to the Indiana County Courthouse at 825 Philadelphia Street, or a written mail request to the Prothonotary's office. Bring valid photo identification when visiting the courthouse in person.
The free statewide UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch is the best starting point for anyone who does not have a county subscription. It shows docket entries including case numbers, filing dates, party names, and case status. Use the docket number from the UJS Portal when you contact the Indiana County Prothonotary for copies of specific documents.
The Indiana County government website shown below provides contact information for the Prothonotary and details about county services related to family court records.
The Indiana County government website at countyofindiana.org lists department contacts, courthouse hours, and services available to residents seeking family court records in Indiana, PA.
Types of Family Court Records in Indiana County
Indiana County family court records include all domestic relations proceedings filed at the 40th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas. Each case is assigned a docket number when filed and maintained by the Prothonotary throughout the life of the case. Electronic records in Indiana County are available back to the mid-1980s. Records predating the electronic system may be in paper format and may require additional time to locate.
Divorce records in Indiana County include the complaint in divorce, any responsive filings, marital settlement agreements, and the final divorce decree. The decree is the primary document needed for legal matters such as name changes or remarriage, and certified copies are available from the Prothonotary for a per-page fee. Child custody records include the custody complaint, temporary orders, any custody evaluation or Guardian ad Litem report, and the final custody order addressing both legal and physical custody. Support records document income submissions, the support order itself, and any modifications made during the life of the case.
Protection from Abuse records reflect the full progression of PFA proceedings in Indiana County. Final PFA orders are forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Police for the statewide abuse registry as required by Pennsylvania law. Adoption records are sealed by statute. Name change petitions, guardianship records, and paternity actions are also filed through the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas and are accessible to the public through the Prothonotary's office, subject to applicable access policies.
An additional search resource for Indiana County court records is shown below.
This Pennsylvania court records resource provides an index of Indiana County family court filings and can help identify specific cases before contacting the Prothonotary.
- Divorce and separation proceedings
- Child custody and visitation orders
- Child support and spousal support cases
- Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders
- Adoption and guardianship records
- Name change petitions
- Paternity actions
Indiana County Prothonotary Office
Prothonotary Randy Degenkolb manages the Indiana County Prothonotary's office at 825 Philadelphia Street in Indiana, Pennsylvania. As the civil clerk of the 40th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas, the Prothonotary is responsible for receiving all case filings, maintaining docket entries, preserving case files, and providing certified copies of court orders and other documents to authorized requestors. The office is the starting and ending point for all Indiana County family court record requests.
To request records in person, visit the Prothonotary's office at 825 Philadelphia Street, Indiana, PA 15701 during regular business hours. Staff can search by party name or docket number and provide copies of documents on request. Certified copies carry an additional certification fee on top of per-page copy charges. For mail requests, include the names of all parties, the approximate filing year, the case number if known, a description of the documents needed, and a check or money order for estimated copy fees. The Indiana County government website provides current contact details and any updates about courthouse hours or procedures.
| Court |
Indiana County Court of Common Pleas 40th Judicial District Prothonotary: Randy Degenkolb 825 Philadelphia Street Indiana, PA 15701 |
|---|---|
| Records Access | Subscription database ($25/mo, 3-month minimum); in-person or mail at courthouse; free UJS Portal for dockets |
| Website | countyofindiana.org |
Note: The Indiana County subscription database covers records back to the mid-1980s; cases filed before that period are in the paper archive and require additional time to locate through the Prothonotary's office.
Legal Help for Indiana County Family Court Cases
Indiana County residents involved in family court proceedings can access legal assistance through several Pennsylvania statewide programs. Free legal services are available to qualifying individuals, and self-help resources are accessible to all Indiana County residents.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves Indiana County through regional offices in western Pennsylvania. Visit palegalaid.net to find the appropriate office and apply for free legal services in custody, divorce, support, or PFA matters. The Temple Law Pennsylvania Family Court Research Guide is a comprehensive online reference covering family court procedures, applicable statutes, and record access policies relevant to Indiana County cases.
Court forms for custody, support, divorce, and Protection from Abuse cases are available to download at pacourts.us/forms. These forms are accepted by the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas. The Pennsylvania Bar Association lawyer referral service at (800) 692-7375 can connect Indiana County residents with qualified family law attorneys practicing in the Indiana area.
Nearby Counties
Indiana County is located in western Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Family court jurisdiction is based on the residence of the parties at the time of filing, so verify the correct county before requesting records or initiating new proceedings.