Armstrong County Court Records Search
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Armstrong County is located in western Pennsylvania along the Allegheny River, with the borough of Kittanning serving as the county seat. The county’s judicial system operates within the 33rd Judicial District and includes the Court of Common Pleas, the Orphans’ Court Division, and four Magisterial District Courts — all headquartered in or around the Armstrong County Courthouse. The Prothonotary maintains civil records, the Clerk of Courts is responsible for criminal filings, and the Register of Wills handles probate and estate matters. Each office operates from the courthouse at 500 E. Market Street in Kittanning.
Individuals looking to locate Pennsylvania court records can do so through a combination of in-person visits to the appropriate county office, written requests, and electronic search tools. PennsylvaniaCourts.us provides access to court-related resources and may help users find publicly available case information across the state’s unified judicial system, including Armstrong County. The statewide online docket search portal, clerk offices, and public access terminals at the courthouse each offer distinct ways to look up case records.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Armstrong County?
Armstrong County court cases can be researched online, in person, or by mail depending on the type of record and the office that maintains it.
Online Case Search
The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal is the primary free tool for searching Armstrong County court records electronically. Available search options include:
- Participant name
- Docket number
- Date filed
- Organization name
- Offense tracking number (OTN)
- State identification (SID) number
- Incident or complaint number
- Attorney name
- Citation number
The portal returns detailed docket information including case status, charges, dispositions, bail data, calendar events, attorney details, and financial information.
In-Person Searches
Visitors can access court records at two primary offices in the Armstrong County Courthouse:
Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts (Civil and Criminal Records)
Address: 500 E. Market Street, Suite 103, Kittanning, PA 16201
Phone: (724) 548-3252
Fax: (724) 548-3351
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Register of Wills / Recorder of Deeds / Clerk of Orphans’ Court
Address: 500 E. Market Street, Suite 102, Kittanning, PA 16201
Phone: (724) 548-3280
Fax: (724) 548-3236
Hours: Research 8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.; Over-the-counter transactions 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
This office accepts cash or check only — no debit or credit cards.
Mail Requests
To request copies of court records by mail, individuals can submit a completed Request for Access Form to the Court of Common Pleas. Fees for copies obtained through this method do not exceed $0.25 per page. Mail requests to the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts should be directed to the courthouse address above and include sufficient detail to identify the case.
Court of Common Pleas
The Armstrong County Courthouse houses all court operations:
Armstrong County Courthouse
Address: 500 E. Market Street, Kittanning, PA 16201
Phone: (724) 543-2500
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Magisterial District Courts
Armstrong County has four Magisterial District Courts that handle preliminary hearings, minor criminal offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil claims up to a statutory dollar threshold:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| MDJ 33-3-01 (Judge DeComo) | 206 Fifth Avenue, Ford City, PA 16226 | (724) 763-7866 |
| MDJ 33-3-02 (Judge Bussard) | 128 South Grant Avenue, Kittanning, PA 16201 | (724) 543-2313 |
| MDJ 33-3-03 (Judge Andring) | 241 Market Street, Leechburg, PA 15656 | (724) 842-3571 |
| MDJ 33-3-04 (Judge McCausland) | 720 Main Street, Rural Valley, PA 16249 | (724) 783-6886 |
Are Court Records Public in Armstrong County?
Pennsylvania establishes a presumption of public access to court records through the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System and the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Under Section 3.0 of the Public Access Policy, courts must fulfill record requests through any available means. Custodians will release publicly accessible documents but will exclude confidential information.
Confidential Records and Information
The following documents and data points are excluded from public disclosure in Armstrong County:
- Social Security numbers
- Driver’s license numbers
- State identification (SID) numbers
- Financial source documents and income/expense statements
- Financial account numbers (only the last four digits of an active account may be disclosed if part of a case)
- Medical and psychological records
- Juvenile educational records
- Children, Youth, and Family Services records
- Agreements between case parties
- Marital property inventories and pre-trial statements
- Names and dates of birth of juveniles (unless charged as a defendant in a criminal case)
- Contact information of abuse victims, including address, work schedule, and employer details in family court cases
Under Section 1.0 of the Public Access Policy, court records are defined as documents such as judgments, orders, opinions, decrees, indices, and dockets received and maintained by the courts. Internal memoranda, notes, drafts, worksheets, correspondence, and work products of judges and staff are not court records and are not subject to public access.
Guardianship and adoption files in Armstrong County have been sealed and impounded by the court. Only an attorney of record or the guardian may access these files. All other persons must submit a request for access.
Armstrong County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records in Armstrong County are maintained by the Clerk of Courts, which is housed within the same office as the Prothonotary at Suite 103 of the courthouse. The Clerk of Courts processes criminal cases certified to the Court of Common Pleas, maintains juvenile records, processes bail, and reports dispositions to the Department of Transportation.
Searching Criminal Records
Criminal case dockets can be searched on the UJS Web Portal by defendant name, docket number, OTN, or SID number. Each case listing shows charges, grades, offense dates, dispositions, sentencing details, and bail information.
Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Checks
For a formal criminal background check, the Pennsylvania State Police offers two methods:
- Online via PATCH: The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system provides instant results. The fee is $22 per request, with an additional $2 for a notarized copy. Payment is by credit card or pre-established billing account.
- By mail: Complete Form SP 4-164 and mail it with a $22 fee (certified check or money order) to:
Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository – 164
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Subjects of records (or their legal representatives) may request their own criminal history using Form SP 4-170 for $20. Volunteers seeking background checks for qualifying organizations can use Form SP 4-164A at no charge.
Arrest and Jail Records
The Armstrong County Jail maintains arrest and booking records. These are available in person during business hours at:
Armstrong County Jail
171 Staley’s Court Road
Kittanning, PA 16201
The Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office is located at Suite 106 of the courthouse.
Armstrong County Civil Court Records
The Prothonotary serves as the chief custodian of civil records for the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas, with responsibility for filing, docketing, indexing, and preserving all civil case documents. Civil dockets and indices are available for public inspection at the courthouse.
Civil Filing Fees
The Prothonotary’s fee schedule sets the following rates for common civil filings:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil suit (writ of summons, condemnation, equity, quiet title, foreclosure, etc.) | $145.25 |
| Divorce complaint (1 count) | $160.25 (add $40.25 per additional count) |
| Custody complaint (includes $250 conciliator fee) | $408.75 |
| Custody modification petition (includes $250 conciliator fee) | $255.00 |
| District Justice civil appeal | $145.25 |
| Arbitration (includes $20 chairman fee) | $60.00 |
| Arbitration appeal | $15.00 ($350 payable to County) |
| Protection from Abuse surcharge (hearing held) | $100.00 |
| Confession of judgment / promissory note | $75.25 |
| Subpoena | $5.00 |
Copy Fees
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy — first page | $3.00 |
| Certified copy — each additional page | $1.00 |
| Inter-office copies — per page | $0.50 |
| Mailed copies — per page | $1.00 |
| Fax — first page | $3.00 |
| Fax — each subsequent page | $1.00 |
Copies obtained through the formal Request for Access Form are capped at $0.25 per page.
Online Civil Record Search
Civil case dockets are searchable through the UJS Web Portal and through the Court of Common Pleas docket sheets page maintained by the Unified Judicial System.
Armstrong County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Armstrong County — including divorce, custody, support, protection from abuse, and domestic relations — are handled by the Court of Common Pleas. The Prothonotary maintains domestic relations records and filings.
Divorce Records
Divorce proceedings are filed in the Court of Common Pleas. The initial complaint costs $160.25 for one count, with an additional $40.25 for each added count. If custody is included, the additional custody count costs $298.75 (which includes the $250 custody conciliator fee). Certified copies of divorce decrees are available from the Prothonotary at $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for additional pages. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.).
Marital property inventories and pre-trial statements filed in divorce cases are confidential and excluded from public access.
Custody and Support
Custody complaints carry a filing fee of $408.75, which includes a $250.00 custody conciliator fee. Modification petitions cost $255.00. Support matters are processed through the Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses in Armstrong County are issued by the Clerk of Orphans’ Court, part of the Register and Recorder’s Office. Both applicants must appear in person with valid photo ID, know their Social Security numbers, and pay a $66.00 cash fee. Applications are accepted Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (by appointment).
A three-day waiting period applies, after which the license is valid for 60 days. Previously married applicants must bring certified divorce decrees for all prior marriages or an original death certificate if a prior marriage ended by death.
Copies of marriage certificates (marriage duplicates) are available for $7.50 each, in person or by mail. Mail requests should include the names of both parties, the date of marriage, payment by check or money order payable to Clerk of Orphans’ Court, and a self-addressed envelope.
Birth and Death Records
The Register of Wills office maintains local birth and death records. Death records from 1893 through 1905 are available at the office (also accessible through Landex.com). Records from 1805 through 1947 are on microfilm, and records from 1947 to the present are computerized. Certified copies cost $5.50. The office is open for research Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
For records from 1906 onward, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries issues birth and death certificates at $20.00 per copy. Requests can be submitted online (additional $10.00 vendor fee), by mail using the appropriate birth certificate application or death certificate application, or in person at a Vital Records Office location. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (requests must be submitted by 2:30 p.m. for same-day processing). A valid form of identification is required.
Mail requests should be sent to:
Pennsylvania Bureau of Health Statistics and Registries
Division of Vital Records
Birth Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Armstrong County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters in Armstrong County are handled by the Register of Wills and the Orphans’ Court Division. The Register of Wills appoints personal representatives to administer estates, probates wills, and serves as agent for the collection of Pennsylvania inheritance tax.
Probating an Estate
To probate a will in Armstrong County, the executor named in the will must appear in person at the Register of Wills office and provide:
- A typed petition for probate and grant of letters
- The original will and any codicils
- An original death certificate
- A witness to the will (or a notarized Affidavit of Subscribing Witnesses if the will is self-proven)
- Two checks — one for probate fees (based on the value of the estate) and one to the Armstrong County Legal Journal for advertising
If the decedent did not have a will, the next-of-kin should visit the office to begin intestate proceedings. An estate checklist is available for individuals not working with an attorney.
Short Certificates
Short certificates — the Register’s official certification that an estate proceeding is on record — can only be issued after the formal opening of an estate or probate of a will. The Register of Wills cannot issue a short certificate without an estate on file.
Inheritance Tax
Pennsylvania inheritance tax rates are:
- 0% for transfers to spouses and charities
- 4.5% for transfers to lineal descendants
- 12% for transfers to siblings
- 15% for transfers to all other persons
A 5% discount applies to any portion of tax paid within three months of death. Questions about inheritance tax may be directed to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue at (717) 787-8327.
Searching Probate Records
Probate records are available for public inspection at the Register of Wills office during research hours (8:00 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., Monday – Friday). A valid ID and the decedent’s name or case number may be needed. Most Orphans’ Court forms — including guardianship, adoption, and estate forms — are available through the Unified Judicial System website.
Guardianship and Adoption Records
Orphans’ Court handles petitions for guardianship, adoption, and estate accountings. Due to the sensitive nature of guardianship and adoption files, these records have been sealed and impounded by the court. Access is limited to the attorney of record or the guardian. Anyone else must submit a formal request for access. Guardianship tracking assistance is available through a dedicated helpline at (877) 227-2672.
Register of Wills Fees
The Register of Wills publishes a separate fee schedule. Probate fees are based on the gross value of the estate. Short certificates, certified copies, and related services carry additional charges as set by the office.