Lackawanna County Court Records in Scranton
Lackawanna County court records are maintained by the 45th Judicial District, with the courthouse located at 200 North Washington Avenue in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Scranton is the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania and the county seat of Lackawanna County. The court system includes the Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, magisterial district courts, a Treatment Court, and a Domestic Relations section. Elected row officers manage many of the record-keeping functions, including the Clerk of Judicial Records, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, Sheriff, and Treasurer. Lackawanna County court records are available online through the UJS Portal and in person at the Scranton courthouse.
Lackawanna County Quick Facts
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas is the primary trial court for Lackawanna County in the 45th Judicial District. It handles all serious criminal cases, major civil disputes, family law matters, and Orphans' Court proceedings. The court serves all residents of Lackawanna County from its location in Scranton.
The Lackawanna County government website at lackawannacounty.org provides a full list of court departments and services. The county has a broad set of court-related offices: Adult Probation, Court Administrator, Court Collections, Domestic Relations, Family Court, Jury Services, Juvenile Probation, Law Library, Magistrates, and Treatment Court. This range of services reflects the size and complexity of the court system in Scranton and Lackawanna County.
The Lackawanna County site covers all elected offices and court departments, with links to services available to residents throughout the county.
The Lackawanna County Courthouse has notable historical significance. It was the site of the first session of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission in 1902 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The courthouse at 200 North Washington Avenue in Scranton continues to serve as the hub of all judicial activity in the county.
| Court |
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas 45th Judicial District 200 North Washington Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 |
|---|---|
| Prothonotary | Phone: 570-963-6723 |
| Recorder of Deeds | Phone: 570-963-6775 |
| Website | lackawannacounty.org |
How to Search Lackawanna County Court Records
Lackawanna County court records are searchable online through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Search by name or case number to find dockets for cases at the Court of Common Pleas or the magisterial district courts in Lackawanna County. The portal is free to use and gives you full docket histories for each case.
The county also provides an online Civil and Family Court Division search tool through its own website. Go to lackawannacounty.org and look under Public Records to find the Civil and Family Court Division search. This tool lets you search for civil and family court cases that are part of the Lackawanna County record system without leaving the county website.
For in-person access, visit the Clerk of Judicial Records at the Scranton courthouse. This office maintains all court records for Lackawanna County. The Prothonotary, which is part of the Clerk of Judicial Records function, handles civil records and can be reached at 570-963-6723. Staff can search by name or case number and provide copies of documents.
Note: The Eagle Recorder system allows online searching of deed and land records in Lackawanna County. This is separate from court records but useful for real estate and property research.
Types of Court Records in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County court records cover a wide range of case types handled by several different court divisions. The Court of Common Pleas is the main source of records, but the magisterial district courts also produce records for lower-level matters throughout the county.
Criminal records from the Common Pleas court include charges, bail orders, preliminary hearing results, motions, trial transcripts, verdicts, and sentences. Family Court records in Lackawanna County include divorce filings, custody orders, and support agreements. Domestic Relations records cover child and spousal support enforcement. Treatment Court records relate to alternative sentencing for eligible individuals. Orphans' Court records include wills, estate inventories, and guardianship orders.
Public records available through the county include Assessor's Appeal Hearings, Agendas and Minutes from county government, civil and family court dockets, the County Assessment Database, deed records through Eagle Recorder, genealogy records, and Sheriff's Sales information. Each serves a different purpose and is maintained by a different office in Lackawanna County.
Lackawanna County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records for Lackawanna County are kept by the Clerk of Judicial Records. This elected row officer maintains all criminal dockets for the 45th Judicial District. The office processes charges, tracks court events, coordinates bail, and handles appeals to higher courts including the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts.
Criminal cases in Lackawanna County start at a magisterial district court for the preliminary hearing. If the case moves to Common Pleas, the Clerk of Judicial Records takes over. Each court event adds to the docket. The complete docket for every criminal case is available through the UJS Portal and in person at the Scranton courthouse.
The Lackawanna County courts overview page at lackawannacounty.org/government/courts provides a full look at all court divisions and their functions in the 45th Judicial District.
Juvenile records in Lackawanna County have restricted access by law. The Treatment Court provides an alternative path for eligible offenders and maintains its own records that are subject to specific confidentiality rules. Adult criminal records are generally public and accessible to anyone through the UJS Portal or in person at the courthouse.
Lackawanna County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Lackawanna County are managed by the Prothonotary, which in this county is part of the Clerk of Judicial Records office. The Prothonotary handles all civil case filings, tracks divorce proceedings, manages custody matters, and records judgments and liens for the 45th Judicial District.
The Prothonotary maintains a civil court record search system accessible through the Lackawanna County website. This gives the public a way to look up civil and family cases without going to the courthouse. For documents, certified copies, and detailed file access, you still need to contact the office directly at 570-963-6723 or visit the courthouse at 200 North Washington Avenue in Scranton.
The Lackawanna County Prothonotary office is part of the Clerk of Judicial Records and handles all civil filings and family court records for the 45th Judicial District.
Judgment records and property liens are also indexed through the Prothonotary. Anyone can search for judgments against a person or business in Lackawanna County. Real estate records and deeds are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds, which can be reached at 570-963-6775 and also uses the online Eagle Recorder search system.
Public Access to Lackawanna County Court Records
Most court records in Lackawanna County are public under Pennsylvania law. The Right-to-Know Law and court access rules allow any person to request records from the Clerk of Judicial Records, Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, and other row offices. You do not need to be a party to a case to view most files.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile records, sealed court orders, and certain mental health or family records are not open to the public. A judge may seal individual documents in otherwise public cases. Treatment Court records may also have confidentiality protections. For all other records, the public has access at the Scranton courthouse during business hours.
Online access tools include the UJS Portal for court dockets, the county civil and family court search, the Eagle Recorder for deeds and land records, and the County Assessment Database for property information. Together these tools give the public significant access to Lackawanna County public records without requiring a trip to Scranton.
Note: Genealogy records are also searchable through the Lackawanna County website, providing access to historical records that may connect to court proceedings in the county going back many decades.
Cities in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County is anchored by Scranton, the county seat and the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania. All Court of Common Pleas cases for Lackawanna County are filed and heard at the Scranton courthouse.
Scranton serves as the hub of all judicial and governmental activity in Lackawanna County. The courthouse at 200 North Washington Avenue handles all county-level court records and filings.
Nearby Counties
Lackawanna County is in northeastern Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Each has its own court system and courthouse. Check which county court covers the area where your case arose to make sure you search or file in the right place.