FAQs • Chester County, PA • CivicEngage

Can I obtain copies of birth or death certificates from the Prothonotary's Office?: No. For information about birth or death certificates, please contact the PA Department of Health

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Prothonotary

1. What methods of payment are accepted by the Prothonotary’s Office?

Currently, we accept check, cash, money order, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Please make checks payable to the “Prothonotary of Chester County.”

In landlord/tenant cases, we only accept cash, money order or certified funds for payments to be escrowed.

2. Are docket entries available on-line?: Yes, ChescoPIN is a paid subscription service that provides access to docket entries. ChescoPIN may be accessed at no charge in the Prothonotary's Office or at libraries in the Chester County Library System.
ChescoPin

3. Can I file a pleading by faxing it to the office?: No, we do not accept faxed filings.

4. How do I obtain a copy of my divorce decree?

To obtain a copy of a divorce decree:

Come to the Prothonotary's office during regular business hours (M-F,8:30am-4:30pm).
201 W. Market Street, Suite 1425
West Chester, PA 19380-0989

OR
Mail a request to our office. Include the name of both parties and approximately when the divorce occurred. Include case number if known. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with the exact amount for the cost of your divorce decree:

Regular copy - $0.25
Certified copy - $7
Exemplified copy - $23

5. How can I change my address that is listed on the docket?: Address changes must be made in writing to our office. Please be sure to include the parties’ names and the case number if known.

6. Does your office conduct title searches?: Title and credit searches can involve the examining of many records. It's a complex process that investigates ownership, mechanics liens, tax liens, and judgments, to name a few. Our office will answer specific questions concerning a specific person and time. Due to time, manpower and legal constraints, we are unable to conduct in-depth research of all records in our database. For extensive research, we recommend that you employ the services of a title company.

7. Can your office help me with any legal advice?: No, we are not permitted to give legal advice. We suggest consulting an attorney by referral through the Chester County Bar Association. If you have financial constraints, contact Legal Aid of Southeastern PA at http://lasp.org/. If you chose to represent yourself, information is available at the Law Library located on the 2nd floor of the Justice Center, 201 W. Market St., West Chester, PA. Legal Aid of Southeastern PA