Scranton Court Records Search
Scranton court records are maintained through Lackawanna County, where Scranton serves as the county seat and the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania with about 77,000 residents. All criminal, civil, family, and estate matters for Scranton residents go through the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas at 200 North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton. Multiple Magisterial District Courts also serve the Scranton area for minor criminal matters, traffic cases, and small civil claims. Many Scranton court records can be searched for free through the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us or through the county website at lackawannacounty.org.
Scranton Quick Facts
Where to Find Scranton Court Records
Scranton court records are filed and stored at the Lackawanna County Courthouse at 200 North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton. The courthouse is a historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the site of the first session of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission in 1902. The Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas operates from this building and handles all major criminal, civil, family, and estate matters for Scranton and the rest of Lackawanna County.
| Court | Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 North Washington Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 |
| Website | lackawannacounty.org |
The Clerk of Courts office at the Lackawanna County Courthouse maintains criminal court records including case files, docket entries, court orders, and sentencing records for Scranton cases. The Prothonotary handles civil records. Multiple Magisterial District Courts serve the Scranton area for minor criminal matters, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, preliminary hearings, and small claims under $12,000. All courts feed records into the UJS Portal for public access.
How to Search Scranton Court Records
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the main free tool for searching Scranton court records. Enter a name, docket number, OTN, or citation number to find cases. The portal returns results from Magisterial District Courts and the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. Docket sheets show party names, charges, hearing dates, judge assignments, and current case status. There is no cost to search or view docket sheets.
For civil records in Scranton, the Lackawanna County Prothonotary at the courthouse maintains all civil case files. You can visit in person during business hours or submit a written request by mail to the courthouse at 200 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. The county courts website at lackawannacounty.org provides additional guidance and contact information for each court office that handles Scranton case records.
For criminal records in Scranton, the Clerk of Courts office at the courthouse handles files at the Common Pleas level. This office tracks dockets, records judgments and orders, and stores sentencing information. Visit in person, call ahead for information, or submit a written request for copies of Scranton criminal court records.
Note: The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides statewide criminal history checks for $22 per person and covers Scranton and Lackawanna County records along with all other Pennsylvania courts.
Types of Cases and Court Records in Scranton
Scranton court records include criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. Summary criminal offenses and traffic violations are handled at the Magisterial District Court level. Preliminary hearings for felony and misdemeanor cases also take place at MDJ courts before moving up to Common Pleas. The Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division handles all felony prosecutions, misdemeanor cases, criminal appeals from MDJ courts, and post-conviction relief matters for Scranton residents.
The Civil Division of Common Pleas handles lawsuits exceeding $12,000, equity actions, mortgage foreclosures, and appeals from MDJ civil cases. The Family Court division handles divorce, custody, child and spousal support, and protection from abuse cases. Orphans' Court handles estate administration, probate of wills, guardianships, and adoptions for Scranton residents. Each division maintains its own records and can be reached through the courthouse at 200 North Washington Avenue.
Scranton Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records for Scranton start at the local Magisterial District Courts that serve different parts of the city. Multiple district courts handle summary offenses, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. After a preliminary hearing, felony cases move to the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas at 200 North Washington Avenue for the full prosecution. Both MDJ and Common Pleas dockets are searchable through the UJS Portal. The MDJ dockets cover preliminary proceedings and the Common Pleas dockets show the complete criminal case history.
The Lackawanna County Clerk of Courts maintains all criminal records at the Common Pleas level for Scranton cases. The office tracks dockets, records court judgments, stores sentencing records, and maintains case files. In-person visits during business hours, written mail requests, and online UJS Portal searches are all available ways to access Scranton criminal court records. Contact the Lackawanna County courts through the website at lackawannacounty.org for current hours and procedures.
The Scranton Police Department at scrantonpa.gov handles police records including incident and accident reports through the city's Right-to-Know process.
Police records from the Scranton Police Department are requested separately from court records and follow the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law process.
Scranton Civil Court Records
Civil court records for Scranton are filed with the Lackawanna County Prothonotary at the courthouse in downtown Scranton. This office maintains all civil case files for suits filed in the Court of Common Pleas, including personal injury cases, contract disputes, mortgage foreclosures, and landlord-tenant appeals. The Prothonotary also indexes civil judgments and liens. Civil case dockets are searchable through the UJS Portal at no charge.
Small civil claims under $12,000 and landlord-tenant disputes from Scranton are handled at the Magisterial District Court level. Those records are also on the UJS Portal. For certified copies of civil court documents, contact the Prothonotary at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton. Call ahead to ask about current fees and procedures for requesting copies of Scranton civil court records.
Note: Family court records for Scranton residents including divorce, custody, and support cases are handled by the Lackawanna County Family Court division and are accessible at the courthouse at 200 North Washington Avenue or through the UJS Portal.
Accessing Scranton Court Records
Scranton court records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101) and the Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. Most docket information is available for free through the UJS Portal. Full document images, certified copies, and certain restricted records require an in-person visit to the Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton or a written request. Sealed records, juvenile records, and expunged cases are not available to the public.
The Lackawanna County Courthouse at 200 North Washington Avenue is in downtown Scranton. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. Bring valid photo ID when visiting to request records. The courthouse is a historic structure, and all court offices are located inside the main building. Check the county courts website for current office hours and any temporary closures before making a trip to research Scranton court records in person.
The county courthouse image below shows the Lackawanna County courts overview page, which is the starting point for locating court record offices in Scranton.
The Lackawanna County courts website covers all court offices in Scranton including the Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, and Family Court.
Lackawanna County Court Records
Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County, and all Scranton court cases go through the Lackawanna County court system. For more on county court offices, related records, and additional Lackawanna County resources, visit the county court records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby Pennsylvania cities file court cases at their own county courthouse. Select a city below to find court record information for that area.