Pennsylvania Divorce Papers: What Forms You Need and Where to Get Them

You can download every official Pennsylvania divorce form for free from the Unified Judicial System website at pacourts.us. That part is straightforward. The part that trips up most pro se filers is knowing which forms to use, in what order, and what happens if you fill something out wrong.

Here is the complete form inventory for a no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania.

The Initial Filing Packet

These forms launch your case at the county Prothonotary:

Form 1 — Notice to Defend and Divorce Complaint. This is your primary document. The Notice to Defend goes on top (a mandatory warning to your spouse about their 20-day response deadline), the body states your grounds for divorce, and the Verification goes at the bottom with your signature. Fill it out in blue ink.

Civil Cover Sheet. Required statewide. Some counties also require a local family division cover sheet — check with your Prothonotary before filing.

Vital Statistics Form (H105/SFN). Collects demographic data and Social Security numbers for both parties. In counties like Dauphin, this information goes on a separate sealed "Divorce Information Sheet" for privacy.

Confidential Information Sheet and Certificate of Compliance. Under the UJS Public Access Policy, you must redact financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, and minor children's names from the complaint. The redacted information goes on the sealed Confidential Information Sheet. The Certificate of Compliance confirms you followed these rules.

Service Forms

After filing, you need one of these to prove your spouse received the papers:

Form 3a — Acceptance of Service. Your spouse signs this to acknowledge they received the complaint. Must be filed with the Prothonotary within 10 days of signing.

Affidavit of Service (Form 3c). If you use personal service (sheriff, process server, or another non-party adult), the server completes this form documenting the date, time, and method of delivery.

For certified mail service, the signed green return receipt card serves as your proof.

Consent and Finalization Forms

Which forms you need depends on your pathway:

Mutual consent (Section 3301(c)(1)):

• Affidavits of Consent — both spouses sign these on or after day 91 following service
• Waiver of Notice of Intention to File Praecipe to Transmit Record — optional but speeds things up if both spouses cooperate

One-year separation (Section 3301(d)):

• Affidavit under Section 3301(d) — the plaintiff's sworn statement of separation date
• Counter-Affidavit under Section 3301(d) — a blank copy mailed to the defendant with the Notice of Intention
• Notice of Intention to File the Praecipe to Transmit Record — triggers a 20-day response window

Both pathways:

• Praecipe to Transmit Record (Form 10) — instructs the Prothonotary to send the complete file to a judge
• Proposed Divorce Decree — the actual order for the judge to sign
• Self-addressed stamped envelopes for both parties

Common Form Mistakes That Cause Rejections

Missing the Notice to Defend. The Notice to Defend must be physically attached on top of the complaint. Submitting the complaint without it gets your packet rejected at the counter.

Expired consent affidavits. Once a spouse signs an Affidavit of Consent, it must be filed with the Prothonotary within 30 days. If you miss this window, both spouses need to re-sign.

Unredacted confidential information. Including full Social Security numbers or financial account numbers in the body of the complaint violates the Public Access Policy. The clerk will reject the filing or impose sanctions.

Wrong payment method. Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties do not accept cash or personal checks. Check your county's accepted payment methods before going to the courthouse.

Where to Download the Forms

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania hosts the complete statewide form set at pacourts.us under "Representing Yourself — Divorce Proceedings." For county-specific forms, local cover sheets, and fee schedules, check your county Prothonotary's website directly.

The Pennsylvania Divorce Filing Process Guide pairs these official free forms with the step-by-step assembly instructions — what goes where, in what order, with deadline trackers for every statutory waiting period.

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