Northumberland County Court Records

Court records in Northumberland County consist of documents and materials received, created, and filed in county courts concerning proceedings or actions taken by the court. As with Pennsylvania court records, these documents also provide details on court cases and typically include the following information:

• Party names
• File and disposition dates and other relevant dates
• Docket number along with incident or complaint numbers (if available)
• Court details
• Case type, status, and statute description
• Disposition details

Northumberland County court records provide summaries of cases and can serve as evidence of court actions. Persons can also use these records to prove or enforce court decisions or use them as references during appellate review.

Are Court Records Public in Northumberland County?

Yes, court records in Northumberland County are considered public records as per Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL). Individuals can access these records as long as the requester is a US citizen, the request is sent to the appropriate custodian, the record exists, and the record does not fall under the 30 RTKL exemptions which include:

• Health records
• Confidential criminal and non-criminal investigation records
• DNA and RNA records
• Driver’s license numbers, social security numbers, personal financial details, and personal identifying information
• Personnel records
• Autopsy reports by the medical examiner or coroner
• Records that disclose proprietary information and trade secrets
• Information on minors under 18 years old
• Drafts
• Records identifying social services recipients
• Records that, if disclosed, may jeopardize personal security or public safety

Note that while the RTKL grants custodians the right to deny requests for exempted records, the agency may provide these records at their discretion and in line with confidentiality laws. Also, Northumberland County public records with partial exemptions are still accessible once the custodian redacts the confidential sections from copies disclosed to the public.

Northumberland County Court Records Search

Persons seeking Northumberland court records can find case information online using the Unified Judicial System (UJS) search portal or upon sending records requests to the custodian who will find the record using case details provided in the requests. Regardless of the method, providing specific case information like case/docket numbers, party names, and accurate dates will help streamline the search process. However, requests to the court will require persons to direct requests to the proper custodian - which is usually the court where legal actions took place - and pay appropriate fees for copying or certifying records.

Northumberland County Court Records Search by Name

Persons can use party names to find Northumberland County court records online by conducting case searches on the Unified Judicial System (UJS) portal. To do this, users should select participant search, input the party’s first and last name, select Northumberland County, and include other known details like date of birth and estimated file date. The search results will show any similar matches with case summaries and users can download each result’s docket sheet or court summary.

However, directing search requests to the court is a different process. Firstly, persons should determine where the case was filed to know where to send requests. For instance, the Northumberland County Prothonotary maintains the Court of Common Pleas records, while the Magistrate District Courts maintain their records.

Next, record seekers should gather case descriptions like docket numbers, citation numbers, party names, and file dates and include them in a request form or letter to be sent to the custodian. Be sure to identify the needed record as well, whether it is a transcript of a witness statement or a certified copy of the final decree.

Lastly, requesters should send requests to the custodian via acceptable channels (mail, email, in-person, or fax) and pay applicable fees when required to complete the request process. The Northumberland County Prothonotary charges $0.25 per paper copy, $1.25 per mailed copy, $4.25 for the first certified page, and $1.25 for subsequent pages.

Note that custodians may ask for proof of identification when accessing records restricted to involved parties.

Northumberland County Courts

Northumberland County has four (4) Magisterial District Courts and one (1) Court of Common Pleas with an Orphans’ Court division. These courts are located at:

Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas
Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street,
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4148 (Criminal)
Phone: (570) 988-4151 (Civil)
Fax: (570) 988-4581

Northumberland County Orphans' Court
Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street,
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4143
Fax: (570) 988-4141

Mount Carmel Magisterial District Court 08-2-01
150 S Market Street,
Mount Carmel, PA 17851
Phone: (570) 339-2140
Fax: (570) 339-4433

Milton Magisterial District Court 08-3-02
45 Locust Street,
Milton, PA 17847
Phone: (570) 742-7446
Fax: (570) 742-2144

Shamokin Magisterial District Court 08-3-03
2 East Arch Street,
Shamokin, PA 17872
Phone: (570) 644-0736
Fax: (570) 644-3958

Sunbury Magisterial District Court 08-3-04
399 Stadium Drive,
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4485
Fax: (570) 988-3954

Northumberland County District Court Records

The Magisterial District Courts in Northumberland County are lower courts with limited jurisdiction over minor criminal and civil cases, such as:

• Summary offenses not involving delinquent acts
• Disputes under the Landlord and Tenant Act
• Civil cases with claims not exceeding $12,000
• Third-degree misdemeanors under Title 18, 30, and 35 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
• Traffic cases and certain DUI offenses with no injury and limited damages.
• Ordinance violations

Records of these cases are available at the specific court where the case was filed. To request copies, send request letters or forms that identify needed documents and contain specific case details like party names, filing dates, and citation/docket/incident numbers to the court that heard the case. The court clerk usually charges a fee for regular or certified copies that requesters must pay before receiving the record. Requesters may pay fees along with the initial requests or after receiving the clerk’s reply containing a breakdown of costs.

Northumberland County Criminal Records

Northumberland County criminal records provide information on an individual’s criminal activities in the county. These records usually include the subject’s Northumberland County arrest records, court disposition details, and offender details. However, localized background check services may not be available through the Sheriff’s County or other law enforcement agencies in the county.

Nevertheless, since criminal justice agencies in Northumberland County supply arrest and disposition details to the Pennsylvania State Police central repository, individuals may still access Northumberland criminal records by conducting statewide background checks with this agency.

Interested persons may conduct online criminal background check requests with the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History or PATCH system for $22 per request. For mailed requests, individuals can obtain their criminal records for personal review for $20, while eligible employers, organizations, and persons can get notarized copies of a criminal record for $27 ($22 for the request and $5 for a notarized copy). Background checks for volunteer purposes are free and do not come with notarized copies.

Eligible persons should print appropriate request forms on the “Help” drop down menu, fill them out and send them along with fees and proof of identification to:

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

For Northumberland County arrest records, direct requests to the specific arresting body. Arrest information may also be available in court or inmate records.

Northumberland County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Online criminal case lookup for Northumberland court records is possible with the Unified Judicial System (UJS) portal. Users can access records by conducting searches under the following categories:

• Participant name
• Citation number
• Complaint number
• Docket number
• Filing date
• Incident number
• State Identification Number (SID)
• Offense Tracking Number (OTN)
• Attorney, etc.

The portal provides case information of each matched result, as well as downloadable court summaries and docket sheets.

Alternatively, record seekers may request criminal case information from the Northumberland Court where criminal proceedings occurred. For instance, the Northumberland County Prothonotary who maintains records for the Court of Common Pleas does criminal record checks for $11. Interested persons should contact the Prothonotary Office or send filled request forms to:

Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street,
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4148

Get Northumberland County Civil Court Records

All Northumberland Courts can handle civil cases. However, while the Court of Common Pleas has general jurisdiction over all case types, the Magisterial District Courts have limited jurisdiction over civil cases involving landlord-tenant disputes and claims not exceeding $12,000.

Interested persons can get civil court records from the Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas by sending filled request forms to the Prothonotary at:

Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street,
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4148

For regular requests, the Prothonotary charges $0.25 per paper copy and $2.25 per page for original transcripts, Expedited or same-day requests and mailed copies cost more. If required, the requester may include payment with the initial requests or pay fees after receiving a cost breakdown in the Prothonotary’s response.

Getting Northumberland County civil court records from Magisterial District Courts involves directing requests to the court where proceedings took place. Civil case records filed in any Northumberland Court Court are accessible online with the UJS search portal.

Northumberland County Family Court Records

The Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas hears most cases involving Domestic Relations or Family Law, such as:

• Dissolution of marriage or divorce
• Annulments
• Alimony or support
• Child custody
• Paternity
• Property division and rights

The Northumberland County Prothonotary maintains this court’s records. However, not all family court records are available to the public, especially concerning information about minors, financial records, sealed records, and other sensitive personal data. Access to exempted records may be restricted to the involved parties and persons with legitimate interests, or the court can redact sections with private information from copies provided to the public.

To get copies of Northumberland family court records, send request forms containing case details to the Prothonotary at:

Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street,
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4148

Requesters should also pay fees when required and provide valid means of identification to access restricted information. The Prothonotary charges $0.25 per paper copy, $1.25 per mailed copy, $4.25 for the first certified page, and $1.25 for subsequent pages. Family court case information may also be accessible online with the UJS portal.

Northumberland County Marriage and Divorce Records

Northumberland County marriage records are available at the Register and Recorder Office, while divorce records are available with the Court of Common Pleas Prothonotary. Both custodians are located in the same building and record seekers may make requests in person or send request letters or forms containing marriage/divorce descriptions to:

Northumberland County Register and Recorder
201 Market Street,
1st Floor
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4143

Northumberland County Prothonotary
Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street,
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4148

When required, requesters should provide valid picture identification to prove their right to access records and pay fees in acceptable forms (cash, check, money order, or credit card). Note that Northumberland County marriage certificates are copies of the marriage license submitted to the Register/Recorder after the ceremony and duly certified. On the other hand, Northumberland divorce records from the Prothonotary are the certified divorce decrees issued by the court. Divorce case information may be available online.

Northumberland Birth and Death Records

Northumberland County birth certificates and death records are not available locally. Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records maintains records of births and deaths that occurred in Northumberland County (and all over the state) since 1906. However, Northumberland County birth records and death certificates are not public under the Right To Know Law and are strictly accessible by:

• The subject’s parent and step-parents
• The subject’s grandparents and great-grandparents
• The subject’s spouse
• The subject’s direct descendants and adopted children
• The subject’s siblings and half-siblings
• Legal representatives and individuals with Power of Attorney
• Ex-spouses, extended family members, and estate representatives with documentation (death records only)
• The record subject (birth records)
• Persons with financial interest in the deceased (death records)
• Government agencies charged with the deceased’s estate management (death records)

Eligible persons may make requests in-person or mail completed birth or death certificates application forms, fees, copies of ID, and other requirements to:

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

These Northumberland County vital records cost $20 per copy. Additionally, the Northumberland County Register and Recorder accepts genealogy requests for $25 per name and $0.50 per copy.

Northumberland County Probate Court Records

The Court of Common Pleas, Orphans’ Court Division, handles probate matters in Northumberland County. Probate cases are those involving a deceased person’s wills, survivors, heirs, and property. However, certain documents filed in the court concerning these cases may be inaccessible to the public. These include:

• Autopsy reports
• Personal financial records
• Adoption records and information on minors
• Medical information on incapacitated persons needing guardianship, etc.

Persons may access public probate court case records like decrees and dockets online or by directing requests to the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court or Prothonotary located at:

Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street,
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4148

Requesters should identify the needed record, provide case details, pay fees, and provide valid identification when required. Regular paper copies cost $0.25 per page, while certified copies cost $4.25 for the first page, and $1.25 for subsequent pages.

Additionally, the Northumberland County Register and Recorder maintains codicils, letters of administration/testamentary, adoption records, and reports on guardians of estate/persons. Interested persons may contact the Register and Recorder Office at:

201 Market Street,
1st Floor
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4143

Northumberland County Property Records

Property records in Northumberland County include deeds, property assessments, maps, and other documents that provide information on a property, its owner, value, or characteristics. The Assessment Bureau and Recorder of Deeds maintain most property records in Northumberland County. The Assessment Bureau maintains and issues parcel information, maps, and assessment reports, while the Register and Recorder’s Office mostly provides copies of property deeds.

To obtain records, interested persons should contact the respective custodian at:

Northumberland County Assessment Bureau
Administration Center
399 Stadium Drive
Sunbury, Pennsylvania 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4112
Fax: (570) 988-4576

Northumberland County Register and Recorder
201 Market Street,
1st Floor
Sunbury, PA 17801
Phone: (570) 988-4143

Northumberland County Court Records Online

Members of the public can look up online case information using the Unified Judicial System (UJS) portal. Alternatively, Northumberland County court records may be accessible online through third-party resources like Pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us. These sites may offer an easy-to-use interface and tools to conveniently find, view, and download Northumberland court records from anywhere, saving users from going through more stressful request processes. However, information obtained from these sites may be unverifiable.