Mercer County Court Records

Court records refer to documents and files on legal trials in Mercer County. Such records include files and documents on civil, criminal, traffic, probate, family law, and appellate cases. Some examples of court records include:

• Docket Entries
• Case Details (filing date, case number, and case type)
• Names of the Plaintiffs and Defendants
• Case Documents (this includes complaints/petitions, motions, answers/responses, judgments, and orders)
• Evidence and Exhibits
• Sentencing Details
• Appellate and Post-trial Information
• Transcripts of Court proceedings.

Mercer County court records are part of Pennsylvania court records in the custody of several custodian agencies. Court records are important in dispensing fair, transparent, and equitable judgment within the legal trial system. In addition, there are reference documents for similar legal cases in the future.

Note: Multiple courts, including the Common Pleas, and Magisterial District Courts generate records during civil and criminal trials.

Are Court Records Public in Mercer County?

Yes, Mercer County court records are public. Under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL), government records must be open to public scrutiny unless federal or Pennsylvania laws, judicial orders, or privileges bar public disclosure or the records custodian agencies can establish reasons for non-availability.

Also, the Pennsylvania Open Meetings Law, Pennsylvania Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System, Commonwealth Court decisions, and local court policies reinforce the public right to access Mercer County court records.

Notwithstanding the openness of Mercer County court records, the RTKL exempts public access to court records that relate to

• Minors
• Adoption
• Records sealed or expunged by the court
• Grand Jury Information
• Victim Information
• Trade Secrets
• Ongoing law enforcement investigation
• Confidential Informant Information
• Child Custody
• Medical and Mental Health Information
• Attorney-client Information.

Mercer County Court Records Search

Mercer County court records custodians provide online and offline access to documents and information. To perform a general search for Mercer County court records, users may need to log in to the custodians' online repositories and use their online search tools to look for specific documents or information. Requesters can also visit the custodian agencies' physical locations and request access to court records. In addition, interested persons can search for Mercer County court records through third-party databases on specific documents.

Mercer County Court Records Search by Name

A name-based search for Mercer County court records refers to using a name as the search criterion to access documents and information on case trials within Mercer County's courts. To perform a name-based search for a Mercer County court record, log to the record's online repository and select the name as the search criteria from the available options. Also, include/provide the name of the record or its owner if the request is through mail, phone calls, faxes, or visits to the records custodian agency.

Mercer County Courts

Mercer County court system comprises the Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. In Mercer County and other Pennsylvania counties, the Common Pleas Courts exercise general jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases. It handles cases beyond the jurisdiction of the lower courts. In Mercer County, the Common Pleas Court entertains criminal felony cases, civil claims without financial limits, family law, and probate cases.

The Mercer County Magisterial District Courts handle preliminary hearings for criminal cases, DUI cases, some third-degree misdemeanors, and traffic violation cases. In addition, Mercer County Magisterial District Courts oversee civil cases relating to landlord-tenant disputes, as well as civil claims (subject to limits and do not include claims against the state). The list below is the contact information for the various Mercer County courts.

Mercer County Common Pleas Courts
Mercer County Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
112 Mercer County Courthouse, Mercer,
PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-3800 ext. 2248
email: mdepreta@mercercountypa.gov
Fax: (724) 662-1604

Mercer County Court of Common Pleas - Prothonotary (Civil)
105 Mercer County Courthouse, Mercer,
PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-7561
Fax: (724) 662-2021

Mercer County Orphans' Court
112 Mercer County Courthouse, Mercer,
PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-3800 ext. 2248
Fax: (724) 662-1604

Mercer County Magisterial District Courts

Mercer County Magisterial District Court 35-2-01
1217 Hall Ave, Sharon,
PA 16146
Phone: (724) 346-6541
Fax: (724) 346-5090

Mercer County Magisterial District Court 35-2-02
425 Idaho St, Farrell,
PA 16121
Phone: (724) 346-3591
Fax: (724) 346-4798

Mercer County Magisterial District Court 35-3-01
123 W Market St, Mercer, PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-5230
Fax: (724) 662-1725

Mercer County Magisterial District Court 35-3-02
574 Barkeyville Rd, Grove City,
PA 16127
Phone: (724) 458-4931
Fax: (724) 458-5415

Mercer County Magisterial District Court 35-3-03
14 N Race St, Suite 1, Greenville,
PA 16125
Phone: (724) 588-3210
Fax: (724) 588-4136

Mercer County District Court Records

Mercer County district court records refer to documents and files generated by the Mercer County Magisterial District Court during civil and criminal case trials. In Mercer County, the Magisterial District Court handles civil, criminal, traffic violations, and administrative function cases.

To access Mercer County district court records:

• Log in to the Pennsylvania Judicial Case Search Portal
  • Expand the drop menu and select an applicable search criterion from the available options
  • Provide the necessary information and search for Mercer County district court records
• Call or visit the Mercer County Clerk of Courts Office at 125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 112

Mercer,
PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-3800 ext. 2248
Fax: (724) 662-1604
Email: mdepreta@mercercountypa.gov

Mercer County Criminal Records

Criminal records are official documents that comprehensively detail an individual's involvement in criminal activities and prosecutions under the legal trial system. Comparable to other parts of the United States, Mercer County criminal records are public and accessible to interested persons. However, federal and state laws exempts public access to:

• Criminal records of minors
• Seal and expunged criminal records
• Criminal records whose public exposure may compromise ongoing investigations or pose security risks
• Information that may risk the security of victims, witnesses, or law enforcement officials.

In Mercer County, law enforcement agencies and the courts generate criminal records as official documentation of crime activities and criminal prosecutions. Law enforcement agencies in Mercer County create arrest records and other crime-related documents as evidence of their efforts to curtail crimes within the county.

To access Mercer County arrest records and other public records in the possession of law enforcement agencies:

• Identify the law enforcement agency in possession of the specific criminal records:
  • Log in to the County of Mercer Open Records Office and download a Standard Right-to-Know Request Form
  • Complete the RTK request form and submit it at the law enforcement agency's office as a formal request to access Mercer County criminal records. Accessing Mercer County criminal records
• Log in to the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) Website
  • Scroll down, and click Submit a New Records Check
  • Accept the Terms and Conditions for the use of PATCH
  • On the Requestor Details page, tick Individual Request or Company Request and click Continue
  • Provide the necessary information and click Next to access the Criminal History search portal.

Mercer County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Mercer County courts create criminal records as post-trial evidence of criminal case prosecutions within the courts. Mercer County post-adjudication records encompass Mercer County arrest records and documents relating to criminal case proceedings, conviction, and incarceration. In Mercer County, the county's Clerk of Courts Office is the custodian of post-trial criminal records.

To access Mercer County post-trial criminal records:

• Log in to the Pennsylvania Judicial Case Search Portal, select search criteria from the available options, provide the necessary information, and search for Mercer County criminal records
• Visit the Mercer County Clerk of Courts Office and submit a Right-to-Know request to access Mercer County's criminal records.

Get Mercer County Civil Court Records

Mercer County civil court records are official documents on civil case adjudications within Mercer County's Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. Typically, civil court records encompass but are not limited to documents, files, and information on

• Probate cases
• Family law matters prosecutions
• Employment Laws
• Contract Disputes
• Tort Claims
• Civil Rights
• Consumer Protection.

The Clerk of Courts Office is the custodian of civil court records in Mercer County. For privacy reasons, access to certain Mercer County civil court records may require proof of eligibility.

To access Mercer County civil court records, log in to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS Portal) and search for information on Mercer County civil court records. For documents and information not accessible online, visit the Mercer County Clerk of Courts Office and make a Right-to-Know request to access them.

Mercer County Family Court Records

Mercer County family law records refer to official documents on family matter-related trials within the county. Family law records include but are not limited to case files and documents relating to

• Adoption
• Child Custody
• Divorce
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Paternity
• Alimony
• Child Support
• Domestic Violence and Protective Orders
• Guardianship
• Name Change
• Child Welfare and Foster Care.

In Mercer County, the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles family law cases. For privacy and security reasons, access to Mercer County family law records is on a need-to-know basis, and only the involved parties, their representatives, and authorized entities can access them.

To access Mercer County family law records, visit the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJB) search portal and look for information on Mercer County family law records. For comprehensively detailed family law records, visit the Mercer County Clerk of Courts Office and request access records.

Mercer County family law records are the official documentation of legal proceedings on family matter-related cases within Mercer County; they provide historical data for genealogical research. Also, they are crucial documents for enforcing court orders relating to the rights of vulnerable persons.

Mercer County Marriage and Divorce Records

Mercer County marriage records refer to official documents relating to the union of individuals as couples and the dissolution of marriages within Mercer County, PA. Mercer County marriage certificates and divorce records have varying accessibility. Although Mercer County marriage and divorce records are public, there may be restrictions on public disclosure of some information on divorce records to protect the privacy of their owners.

To access a Mercer marriage certificate, call or visit the Mercer County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Office at:

125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 100, Mercer,
PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-3800 ext. 2244 (Marriage Licenses)

Mercer County divorce records are available through the Prothonotary's Office at the Mercer County Courthouse.

Mercer Birth and Death Records

Mercer County birth and death records are Vital Records documents that provide information on the birth and demise of persons within the county. Per Pennsylvania laws, Mercer County birth certificates and death decrees are private documents; they are accessible to the registrant's immediate and extended family members, their legal representatives, and government agencies with legal authority to access them.

Mercer birth certificates and death decrees are essential documents for several reasons. They are

• Crucial documents for epidemiological research and health policy formulation
• Data source for genealogical research
• Official identification documents
• Proof of eligibility in contested inheritance.

Mercer County birth and death records are the official documentation of events with significant effects on the lives of persons within the county; therefore, they are part of Mercer County Vital Records.

To access Mercer County birth and death certificates:

• Log in to the Online Vital Records Ordering Page on the Pennsylvania Department of Health's (DOH) Website
  • Scroll down and click Birth or Death Certificate to link to an online ordering form
  • Fill out the online form with the necessary information and click Next to proceed to the next step of the ordering process
• Call, email, or send a mail to:

Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Phone: (724) 656-3100 or (844) 228-3516 (toll-free).

Accessing Mercer County birth and death records through the DOH online ordering services cost $20.00 per page of the document.

Mercer County Probate Court Records

Probate court records refer to official documents relating to a demised person's estate. In Mercer County, the Register of Wills & Orphans' Court division of the Common Pleas Court handles probate cases. Mercer County probate court records include but are not limited to documents on

• Estate Administration
• Adoption
• Conservatorship
• Trust Administration
• Name Change
• Wills and their validity
• Distribution of Estate.

To obtain Mercer County probate court records:

• Download a Standard Right-to-Know Request Form from the County of Mercer Open Records Office webpage, fill it out, and mail it to:

Mercer County Register of Wills & Orphans' Court

125 S. Diamond Street, Suite 112
Mercer,
PA 16137

Also, requesters can call (724) 662-3800 ext. 2248, fax (724) 662-1604, or email a request to access Mercer County probate court records to mdepreta@mercercountypa.gov

Mercer County Property Records

Mercer County probate records refer to official documents on real estate within the county. Generally, property records documents and information include

• Property Deeds
• Plat Maps
• Parcel Number
• Zoning Information
• Easement Agreements
• Mortgage Information
• Property Sales History
• Property Tax Information
• Building Permits and Inspection
• Land Use Records.

The Mercer County Recorder of Deeds Office is the custodian of the county's property records within the county. To access Mercer County property records:

• Visit the Mercer County Recorder of Deeds Office Property Check Page
  • Create an account or log in as a guest
  • Enter the necessary information into the search tools and search for Mercer County property records.
• Visit the Mercer County Recorder of Deeds Office and submit a request to access the county's property records.

Mercer County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources may also provide easy and convenient access to Mercer County court records. Using third-party resources to obtain Mercer County court records eliminates the stress of in-person visits to the records custodian agencies and saves costs. In addition, third-party websites such as Pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us gather court-related documents and information from various courts within the Pennsylvania State, make them available in one database, and provide 24/7 access to interested persons from different locations. However, using some third-party online resources to source government documents poses the risk of incomplete or inaccurate information.