Luzerne County Court Records in Wilkes-Barre
Luzerne County court records are maintained by the 11th Judicial District, with the courthouse at 200 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre is the county seat of Luzerne County and a major city in northeastern Pennsylvania. The court system is dedicated to the fair, timely, and impartial administration of justice. Luzerne County court records include criminal dockets, civil filings, family court records, and Clerk of Courts records. Court Administration is based at the Bernard J. Brominski Building at 113 North Street in Wilkes-Barre. Records are accessible through the state UJS Portal and in person at the courthouse.
Luzerne County Quick Facts
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas
The Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas operates as the primary trial court for the 11th Judicial District. The court is committed to fair dispute resolution through legally sound procedures and works to ensure access to justice for all Luzerne County residents. It handles felony criminal cases, major civil litigation, family law matters, and Orphans' Court proceedings.
The Luzerne County government website provides information on all county services, including the court system. The courts page at luzernecounty.org/courts describes the court's mission to administer justice with integrity, competence, transparency, and a commitment to excellence. The courts promote effective and innovative services and work to increase public trust and confidence in the justice system.
The Luzerne County government site covers all county departments and court services available to residents throughout the 11th Judicial District.
| Courthouse |
200 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 |
|---|---|
| Court Administration |
Bernard J. Brominski Building 113 North Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 |
| Prothonotary | Phone: 570-825-1745 |
| Recorder of Deeds | Phone: 570-825-1646 |
| Website | luzernecounty.org/courts |
How to Search Luzerne County Court Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal is the best starting point for searching Luzerne County court records online. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and search by name or case number. Filter by Luzerne County to see only cases from the 11th Judicial District. The portal shows dockets for the Court of Common Pleas and for the magisterial district courts in Luzerne County.
Docket sheets on the UJS Portal give you a complete record of each case. You can see all filing dates, hearing dates, court orders, and final outcomes. Docket sheets are free to view and print. The portal does not provide the actual text of documents, but the docket entries tell you exactly what was filed and when.
For in-person access to Luzerne County court records, visit the courthouse at 200 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre. The Prothonotary handles civil records and can be reached at 570-825-1745. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal records. Court Administration is at the Bernard J. Brominski Building at 113 North Street. Public parking is available at the Water Street Parkade near the courthouse.
Note: Court Administration in Luzerne County manages case scheduling, judge assignments, and court calendars. For questions about when a case is scheduled, contact Court Administration at the Brominski Building rather than the courthouse itself.
Types of Court Records in Luzerne County
Luzerne County court records cover all cases handled by the Court of Common Pleas and the local magisterial district courts. The county's records system is comprehensive and includes many types of public filings.
Criminal records include charges, bail orders, preliminary hearing results, motions, trial transcripts, verdicts, and sentences. Civil records include complaints, answers, motions, orders, and final judgments. Family court records include divorce filings, custody orders, protection from abuse orders, and support agreements. Probate and Orphans' Court records include wills, estate inventories, guardianship orders, and accounts filed by executors or administrators. Clerk of Courts records cover all criminal case processing from the initial filing through any appeals.
Magisterial district courts in Luzerne County add another layer of records. These cover traffic violations, summary offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, preliminary hearings in criminal cases, and civil claims up to $12,000. All MDJ records are searchable through the UJS Portal.
Luzerne County Criminal Court Records
The Clerk of Courts maintains all criminal court records for Luzerne County at the courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. This office processes criminal cases that reach the Court of Common Pleas level in the 11th Judicial District. Criminal dockets are created when a case is filed and updated at every step in the process.
Criminal cases in Luzerne County begin at a magisterial district court. After a preliminary hearing, serious cases move to the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk of Courts then tracks the case through arraignment, pre-trial motions, trial, verdict, sentencing, and any appeals. Each event adds to the docket. The full docket for every criminal case in Luzerne County is available through the UJS Portal and in person at the courthouse.
The Luzerne County courts page describes the court's mission and values for the 11th Judicial District, which handles all major criminal and civil cases for Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding area.
Juvenile records in Luzerne County are sealed and not accessible to the general public. Adult criminal records are public. The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system at epatch.pa.gov provides statewide criminal history reports that include Luzerne County convictions. For certified copies of criminal records, contact the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Wilkes-Barre.
Luzerne County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Luzerne County are managed by the Prothonotary at 200 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre. The Prothonotary can be reached at 570-825-1745. This office handles all civil case filings, tracks divorce and custody matters, and indexes judgment and lien records for the 11th Judicial District.
Judgment records indexed by the Prothonotary are part of the public record in Luzerne County. Anyone can search for money judgments against a person or business in the county. These records are important for property transactions and legal due diligence. The Recorder of Deeds, reachable at 570-825-1646, maintains land records including deeds and mortgages for Luzerne County property.
The Luzerne County Court Administrator at the Bernard J. Brominski Building manages scheduling, judge assignments, and court calendars for the 11th Judicial District.
Family court matters in Luzerne County go through the Prothonotary as well. Divorce filings, custody petitions, and protection from abuse orders are all processed and tracked by this office. For support and domestic relations matters, Luzerne County has a Domestic Relations section that handles child and spousal support enforcement separately from the civil division.
Public Access to Luzerne County Court Records
Pennsylvania law makes most Luzerne County court records open to the public. The Right-to-Know Law and the rules of the Unified Judicial System allow any person to request access to court records in the 11th Judicial District. You do not need to be a party to a case to view most filings or docket sheets at the courthouse in Wilkes-Barre.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile files are sealed. Sealed court orders, certain mental health records, and specific family law documents are also restricted by law or court order. The Luzerne County courts work to increase public trust by making records accessible while protecting sensitive information where the law requires it.
The Luzerne County Clerk of Courts at the Luzerne County courthouse maintains all criminal court records and processes appeals for the 11th Judicial District.
The UJS Portal gives free online access to dockets for Luzerne County cases. For documents, certified copies, and detailed file access, contact the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts at the courthouse. Fees apply for copies. The courthouse is accessible to the public during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Public parking is available at the Water Street Parkade near the courthouse at 200 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre.
Note: Court Administration in Luzerne County manages schedules and judge assignments. Questions about when your case is set for hearing should be directed to the Brominski Building at 113 North Street rather than the main courthouse building.
Nearby Counties
Luzerne County is a large county 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 before you search or file records.