Centre County Court Records

Per the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Section 1.0, Pennsylvania court records refer to documents (orders, opinions, judgments, decrees), indices, and dockets for any case filed with, obtained, and kept by a court or custodian. Court records exclude memoranda, drafts, notes, correspondence, worksheets, and judges and court personnel work products. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is the custodian of criminal and civil court records, while probate court records are maintained by the Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court. A typical court record contains the following information:

• Case number, caption, type, and status, and reference number
• Date of birth, filing date, complaint number, incident number
• Sex, eye and hair color, and race
• Case participants (party type, address, and attorney name and address)
• Case dispositions (date, category, and result)
• Case documents (date, description, date added)
• Case docket entries (date, category, description, and attachment)
• Case judgments (date, creditor, debtor, description, and amount)

People submit requests for court records online or in-person to obtain information that aids in making decisions related to hiring, renting, loans, investigations, or personal matters concerning a case party. Others request access for personal reasons. For example, lawyers can use court records as evidence in ongoing cases, providing insight into case proceedings and enabling accountability for judges' decisions. Generally, public access to court records promotes fairness and impartiality within the Centre County judicial system.

Are Court Records Public in Centre County?

Yes. Court records are presumed to be public under the Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law and Section 3.0 of the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. This permits the public inspection and copying of court records from the appropriate custodians. A request can be made online, by email, by mail, or in person at the record custodian office during normal business hours. Some court records are considered confidential because of their nature. Examples of confidential court information and documents in Centre County are:

• Driver license numbers
• Social Security Numbers
• Minors’ educational records
• Medical/Psychological records
• Income and Expense Statement
• Agreements between the parties
• State Identification (SID) Numbers
• Children and Youth Services’ records
• Financial account numbers and source documents
• Marital Property Inventory and Pre-Trial Statement
• Abuse victim’s address and other contact information
• Minors’ names and dates of birth, excluding minors charged as defendants in criminal matters

Centre County Court Records Search

Below are several options for performing a general search for court records in Centre County:

• The Prothonotary’s Office’s Case Search Portal
• The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal
• In person at the Prothonotary’s Office
• By mail and email using the appropriate form
• Through third-party site

Centre County Court Records Search by Name

Individuals can conduct a court record search by name online on the Centre County Prothonotary’s Office’s website. The Office has a Case Search Portal where individuals can find civil court records. A participant's name should be entered in the search string to find a desired record. Court records that are not available online can be retrieved in person at the Office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A name and the appropriate fee must be provided before processing the request.

Centre County Courts

The Centre County judicial system consists of a Courts of Common Pleas, which is in the 49th Judicial District, and minor or special courts presided over by magisterial district judges (MDJs). Below are the addresses of the courts in Centre County:

Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court
Willowbank Office Building
414 Holmes Street, Suite 2
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814) 355-6724
Fax: (814) 355-8685

Magisterial District 49-1-01
131 South Fraser Street
State College, PA 16801
Phone: (814) 231-1420
Fx: (814) 231-1428

Magisterial District 49-2-01
1524 West College Avenue, Box 11
State College, PA 16801
Phone: (814) 237-4981
Fx: (814) 231-1429

Magisterial District 49-3-02
3555 Benner Pike, Suite C
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814) 355-6739
Fx: (814) 355-8644

Magisterial District 49-3-03
118 Enterprise Drive
Philipsburg, PA 16866
Phone: (814) 342-4557
Fx: (814) 342-0292

Magisterial District 49-3-04
2795 Earlystown Road
Centre Hall, PA 16828
Phone: (814) 364-1492
Fx: (814) 364-5110

Magisterial District 49-3-05
121 South Pugh Street
State College, PA 16801
Phone: (814) 861-7406
Fx: (814) 861-7453

Centre County Superior Court Case Search

Pennsylvania has a Superior Court which handles criminal and civil cases appealed from the Centre County Courts of Common Pleas. It also hears appeals on matters involving children and families. Requests for Superior Court records can be made:

• Online: The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal allows individuals to search, view, and print Superior Court records. Click the ‘Appellate’ or ‘Docket Number’ option from the dropdown to search by court name or docket number.
• By mail: Complete the Request for Access Form and mail it along with the necessary fees to any of the Superior Court Prothonotary's Addresses. Copies of Superior Court records cost $0.50 by page, certifications cost $8, and additional copies cost $1 per page.
• In-person: requesters can appear at any of the Superior Court Prothonotary's locations to request Superior Court records. In-person visitations should be made during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). A valid ID must be provided, and a public access viewing form must be completed before the request can be processed.

Centre County District Court Records

Centre County is part of the 49th Judicial District. The judges in Centre County District Court handle summary offenses, civil claims in assumpsit, cases under the Landlord and Tenant Act, and trespass not exceeding $12,000. District Court records can be viewed or copied in person at any of the Magisterial District locations. Requests can be made from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A name or case number will be required to facilitate the search. The Clerk will charge a fee for this service.

Centre County Criminal Records

Most people initiate criminal records by requesting Centre County arrest records. They begin their search online or in person at the Correctional Facility. Online requests are usually made through an approvide third-party vendor. The search criteria are by offender ID or first and last name. In-person requests should be made at:

Centre County Correctional Facility
700 Rishel Hill Rd
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814) 355-6794
Email: geirwin@centrecountypa.gov

The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) disseminates criminal records online through the PATCH site. Registered and non-registered users can use the site for $22, payable by credit card or by billing a pre-established account. A notarized copy costs an additional $5 non-refundable fee. Alternatively, individuals can complete a form SP 4-164 with the required fees (payable by check or money order) and mail it to:

Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository
164 1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758

Centre County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Centre County Prothonotary’s Office records and maintains approximately 2,500 criminal cases yearly. It is the record keeper of all criminal cases filed with the Court of Common Pleas. Public access to criminal case records is available at the office during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Alternatively, record seekers can complete the Record Request Form and submit it by email at prothonotaryandclerkofcourtsrecords@centrecountypa.gov, mail it, or drop it off in person at:

Centre County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts
102 South Allegheny Street
Room 102
Bellefonte, PA 16823

The Record Request Form must be submitted alongside the necessary fees. Copies of criminal records cost $0.25, and certified copies cost $4 for the first page and $2 for an additional page. The Clerk charges a search fee of $7 for a 7-year search range.

Get Centre County Civil Court Records

Approximately 6,000 civil cases are recorded and maintained yearly in the Centre County Prothonotary’s Office. Interested persons can get civil court records online, by email, by mail, or in person. Online requesters can use the Case Search Portal to view civil court records. The search criteria are by case number, participant name, participant address, reference number, or date of death. Email and mail requesters must submit a Record Request Form or drop it off in the office during business hours.

Centre County Family Court Records

The Prothonotary’s Office handles all family cases in Centre County. Therefore, record seekers can find family court records by submitting a request to the office. Note that most family court records are confidential in Centre County. Specifically, only divorce records are available for public perusal. The easiest way to find family court records is online through the Case Search Portal. A search is by case number, participant name, participant address, reference number, or date of death. Streamline the search by selecting Divorce from the dropdown in the Case Categories. Other ways to conduct family court records searches are by email, mail, and in person. In-person access to family court records is available at the Office during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Email and mail requesters must submit a Record Request Form to initiate the search.

Centre Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records are available for public viewing at the Centre County Prothonotary’s Office. Requests can be made during business hours. Record seekers can also find dissolution of marriage records online, by email, and by mail. Electronic access to dissolution of marriage records is possible through the Case Search portal. The search parameters are case number, participant name, participant address, reference number, or date of death. Email and mail requesters must submit a Record Request Form to the office.

Centre County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records are public in Centre County. They can be viewed and copied at different offices. Center County marriage certificates are obtainable at the Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court. Inquirers can request marriage records by completing an Application for Certified Copy of Marriage Record Form and mailing it to the Court. Alternatively, requests can be made in person during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Copies of Centre County marriage records cost $8 per copy, payable by check or money order.

Divorce records can be obtained online, by email, by mail, and in person at the Centre County Prothonotary’s Office. Online requests can be made through the Case Search portal. A search can be conducted by case number, participant name, participant address, reference number, or date of death. A completed Record Request Form is required to initiate email and mail requests. The form can also be dropped off at the office during business hours.

Centre Birth and Death Records

The Clerk of Orphans’ Court issues birth and death records from 1893 through 1905 in Centre County. Requests can be made by mail or in person. To request by mail, submit an Information Request Form with the appropriate fee to the court. In-person requesters can visit the courthouse from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals interested in obtaining birth and death records from 1906 to the present can do so at the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. The Division only issues birth and death records to eligible applicants who are 18 years of age or older. Centre County birth certificates can be issued by mail and in person to applicants who are 16 years of age or older. Eligible applicants for birth and death records are:

• The subject of the record (for only Centre County birth certificate)
• Spouse, ex-spouse, parent or step-parent, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, son, daughter, step-son or step-daughter, grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild and great-grandchild
• Power of Attorney
• Attorney or legal representative
• Representative of the decedent's estate (for only Centre County death certificate)
• Individuals showing a direct financial interest in the decedent
• Government office that has assumed administration of an estate
• Extended family members who indicate a direct relationship with the decedent

Record seekers can apply for Centre County vital records (birth or death) online, by mail, or in person. The Division of Vital Records issues birth and death certificates online through a third-party vendor. Copies of birth and death records cost $20 each, but online requests attract a $10 processing fee payable by credit card. Online requests are returned by first-class mail or picked up at a Vital Records Office. Mail requesters must complete an Application for Birth or Death Certificate. The form, an acceptable form of ID, and an appropriate fee must be sent to:

Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
Birth Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103

Walk-in services are provided at any of the Vital Record Public Offices. Requests can be made Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Same-day services are available in most offices for requests received by 2:30 p.m. The processing time of Centre County birth certificates is approximately 2 weeks, and death certificates are processed for 3 weeks.

Centre County Probate Court Records

The Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans' Court is the custodian of all probate court records in Centre County. Probate court records, such as wills and estate records from 1800 to the present, are available for search and processing by mail and in person. Mail requesters must submit an Information Request Form to the courthouse. Plain copies of probate court records cost. 50 cents each, and the search fee is $10. Payments can be made by cash, check, and money order. The Office accepts credit or debit card payments if a call is made at (814) 355-6724. Phone payments attract a convenience fee of 2.5%.

Centre County Property Records

Centre County has various property record custodians that maintain deeds, mortgages, property taxes and assessments, and subdivision plans. Record seekers can find property records in the following offices:

• The Recorder of Deeds Office: Property records dating back to 1800 are available for public inspection during business hours at the Recorder of Deeds office. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alternatively, individuals can request property records online through Web Information Access (WEBIA). A subscription is required for this service.
• Assessment Office: Property records tax assessments are part of Centre County public records and are accessible through computer terminals in the office's lobby. Requests can also be made through the Web Information Access portal, which requires a subscription.
• TheTreasurer’s Office: During business hours, individuals can visit the Office in person to request property records. The property owner’s name or property address is required to process the search.

Centre County Court Records Online

Third-party websites like Pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us offer access to court records, typically searchable by first or last name. These sites often provide initial search results for free but charge a small fee for full reports. However, it's important to note that the court information provided by these sites may not be completely accurate, so it should be verified against official sources.