Prothonotary
The Prothonotary is the official record keeper for most civil cases filed in Pennsylvania’s Courts of Common Pleas. The office receives and maintains court documents, records case activity, and helps ensure that civil court records are accurate, secure, and available as permitted by law.
What the Office Does
- Accepts and records complaints, petitions, motions, court orders, judgments, liens, and other documents filed in civil cases.
- Maintains the official civil case file and a chronological docket of filings and court proceedings.
- Processes records for matters such as civil lawsuits, family law cases, protection-from-abuse proceedings, name changes, appeals, and other cases assigned by law or court rule.
- Enters judgments and records satisfactions and other updates affecting those judgments.
- Issues certified copies, writs, and other official court documents as authorized.
- Collects filing fees and other charges established by law or court order.
- Provides access to public civil court records while protecting sealed, restricted, or confidential information.
Accessing Records and Services
Copies of filed documents and certified records are generally requested from the Prothonotary in the county where the case was filed. Some records may be sealed, restricted, or confidential and cannot be released to the public.
The Prothonotary’s staff can explain filing procedures, fees, and record-request requirements, but cannot provide legal advice, select forms for a person, or recommend what action someone should take in a case.
Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts is the official record keeper for criminal cases filed in Pennsylvania’s Courts of Common Pleas. The office receives and maintains court documents, records case activity, and helps ensure that criminal court records are accurate, secure, and available as permitted by law.
What the Office Does
- Accepts and records criminal complaints, motions, court orders, verdicts, sentences, and other documents filed in criminal cases.
- Maintains the official criminal case file and a chronological docket of filings and court proceedings.
- Processes documents related to bail, appeals, and other criminal court matters.
- Collects court costs, fines, fees, and restitution as authorized by law and distributes funds to the appropriate agencies or recipients.
- Provides copies and certified copies of public court records, subject to access rules and confidentiality requirements.
- Prepares and transmits records when a case is appealed to a higher court.
- Supports the Court of Common Pleas, attorneys, law-enforcement agencies, criminal-justice partners, and members of the public with court-record services.
Accessing Records and Services
Many docket sheets can be viewed through Pennsylvania’s statewide court system, but copies of filed documents are generally requested from the Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was filed. Some records may be sealed, restricted, or confidential and cannot be released to the public.
The Clerk of Courts can explain filing requirements, fees, and record-request procedures, but office staff cannot provide legal advice or recommend what action someone should take in a case.