Blair County Court Records

Blair County sits in the central-western part of Pennsylvania, with the borough of Hollidaysburg as its county seat. The county's judicial system operates under the Court of Common Pleas of the 24th Judicial District, which covers all major criminal, civil, family, and orphans court matters. Six magisterial district courts support that court by handling preliminary hearings, minor criminal offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil claims up to $12,000. Three row offices at the Blair County Courthouse handle day-to-day recordkeeping: the Prothonotary (civil records), the Clerk of Courts (criminal records), and the Clerk of Orphans Court (probate, vital records, and marriage licenses).

If you're looking for Blair County case information, PennsylvaniaCourts.us can help you find publicly available records. The Pennsylvania courts website also hosts docket searches, e-filing tools, and public-access resources for every county. You can search online, visit the courthouse in person, send a written request by mail, or call the appropriate office directly.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Blair County?

Blair County cases can be found through several channels, depending on the case type and how much detail you need.

Online Docket Search via UJS Portal

The UJS Portal Case Search is the main free tool for searching Blair County cases online. It covers Courts of Common Pleas, magisterial district courts, and appellate courts across Pennsylvania. You can search by:

Participant name (first and last)
Docket number
Organization name
Offense tracking number (OTN)
Police incident or complaint number
State ID number

Results show the case caption, case status, filing date, county, court office, primary participants, and date of birth. You can view and print docket sheets directly from the portal. A help guide explains each search parameter in detail.

In-Person Record Requests

All three record-keeping offices are in the Blair County Courthouse and share the same address:

Blair County Courthouse
Address: 423 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814) 693-3000
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Office	Suite	Phone	Records Maintained
Prothonotary (Civil)	Suite 144	(814) 693-3080	Civil cases, divorce, custody, equity
Clerk of Courts (Criminal)	Suite 144	(814) 693-3080	Criminal cases, sentencing, appeals
Clerk of Orphans Court	Suite 144	(814) 693-3080	Probate, estates, marriage licenses, vital records

Robin G. Patton currently holds the combined role of Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, and Clerk of Orphans Court.

Magisterial District Courts

Blair County has six magisterial district courts for limited-jurisdiction cases:

Court	Address	Phone
MDJ 24-1-02	2601 Fifth Ave., Altoona, PA 16602	(814) 941-4550
MDJ 24-1-03	615 Fourth Street, Altoona, PA 16602	(814) 942-6421
MDJ 24-3-01	5628 East Pleasant Valley Blvd., Tyrone, PA 16686	(814) 684-4617
MDJ 24-3-02	5929 California Ave., Altoona, PA 16602	(814) 944-4371
MDJ 24-3-03	311 Union Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648	(814) 693-3210
MDJ 24-3-04	310 Airport Drive, Martinsburg, PA 16673	(814) 793-2495

A detailed overview of magisterial district judge assignments and geographic coverage is available through the Blair County website.

Mail Requests

To request records by mail, write to the appropriate office at 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 144, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Include the case number or the parties' names and approximate filing dates, the type of document you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment by check or money order.

Are Court Records Public in Blair County?

Pennsylvania law presumes court records are open to the public. The Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) requires government agencies, including judicial agencies, to provide financial records under its terms. For case-specific court records, however, the controlling authority is the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System, codified at 204 Pa. Code 213.81. Under this policy, the public may request and obtain case records unless they fall within specifically listed exceptions. Blair County courts follow these statewide rules.

Records that are generally accessible to the public include:

Criminal docket sheets and filings in the Court of Common Pleas
Civil complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments
Probate filings such as wills, estate accountings, and letters testamentary
Magisterial district court case dispositions
Marriage license applications (after issuance)

Categories of records excluded from public access include:

Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and driver's license numbers
Records sealed or expunged by court order
Juvenile delinquency records
Grand jury proceedings
Ongoing criminal investigation materials
Mental health and substance-abuse treatment records
Trade secrets and proprietary information
Protective-order details identifying victims
Jury selection lists and juror questionnaires

Filers are responsible for redacting protected information before submitting documents to the court. If protected identifiers are inadvertently included, the affected party or the court may order redaction. Accessing sealed or otherwise restricted records requires a formal petition and court order.

Blair County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Blair County are prosecuted by the District Attorney's office. Felonies and most misdemeanors go before the Court of Common Pleas; preliminary hearings and summary offenses are heard in the magisterial district courts. The Clerk of Courts keeps all criminal case files from the Court of Common Pleas.

Searching Criminal Case Records

Go to the UJS Portal Case Search and choose your search parameter — participant name, docket number, or OTN.
Filter by court type, date range, and county to narrow results to Blair County criminal matters.
Review the docket sheet, which shows charges, bail information, hearing dates, dispositions, and sentencing details.

Docket sheets from the UJS Portal are informational and not official certified records. For certified copies or court transcripts, contact the Clerk of Courts at (814) 693-3080.

Court Transcripts

To request a transcript of criminal proceedings, complete the Request for Transcript or Copy form and submit it to the Clerk of Courts. Transcript costs per page are:

Ordinary: $2.50
Expedited: $3.50
Daily: $4.50
Same-day delivery: $6.50

Each category also carries per-page surcharges for copies, and hard copies add $0.25 per page to the base rate.

Criminal History Background Checks

The Blair County Clerk of Courts does not issue comprehensive criminal-history reports. For a statewide check, use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system, run by the Pennsylvania State Police. You can submit a request online or by mailing the completed Form SP 4-164. The fee is $22.00 per individual check, with an additional $5.00 for a notarized report. As of April 2026, online PATCH requests via credit card carry a 2% processing surcharge.

The dissemination of criminal-history record information is governed by Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act under Title 18, Chapter 91. Criminal justice agencies may access CHRI at reasonable times; non-criminal-justice agencies and record subjects must follow the statutory request procedures.

Blair County Sheriff's Office

The Blair County Sheriff's Office processes warrants, provides courtroom security, and handles civil process service. For questions about active warrants or arrest information:

Blair County Sheriff's Office
Address: 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 111, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814) 693-3100
Fax: (814) 695-4737

Blair County Civil Court Records

The Prothonotary is the official keeper of civil records for the Blair County Court of Common Pleas. This office handles the filing, docketing, and certification of all civil-division matters — personal-injury litigation, contract disputes, equity actions, divorce proceedings, custody cases, and protection-from-abuse petitions.

Searching Civil Records

Civil case docket sheets are searchable for free through the UJS Portal. Search by participant name, docket number, or other identifiers. If you need a more detailed file review or certified copies, visit the Prothonotary's office during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) or submit a request by mail:

Prothonotary's Office
423 Allegheny Street, Suite 144
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814) 693-3080
Fax: (814) 317-1600

Civil Filing Fees

Blair County follows the fee schedule set by the Prothonotary's office. Selected fees from the Prothonotary fee bill include:

Divorce complaint: approximately $210.20 (inclusive of surcharges)
Appeal to appellate courts: Prothonotary fee $65.00 plus appellate court fee $90.25 plus assessment $145.00
Board of Viewers: $132.00

Certified copies carry a per-page fee. The Prothonotary's complete fee schedule can be reviewed at the office or on the Blair County website.

Small Claims and Magisterial District Court Civil Cases

Civil claims of $12,000 or less can be filed in one of Blair County's six magisterial district courts. These courts handle landlord-tenant disputes, minor contract claims, and similar matters in an expedited format. Docket sheets for magisterial district court cases are also searchable through the UJS Portal.

Property Records

Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and other real-property documents are held by the Register of Wills & Recorder of Deeds, located at 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 145, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. In-person copies cost $0.25 per page. Requests submitted by mail, email, or fax cost $1.00 per page plus a self-addressed stamped envelope; certified copies add $2.00 per document. Recording fees for deeds start at $87.75 for the first page plus $3.00 for each additional page, with a $2.00 certification fee. The office also provides remote online access to recorded land records through the Landex document search system.

Blair County Family Court Records

Family-law matters in Blair County are split between two offices. The Court of Common Pleas hears divorce, custody, equitable distribution, and protection-from-abuse cases — all with records kept by the Prothonotary. Support orders, paternity determinations, and enforcement proceedings fall under the Domestic Relations section of the court. Adoption records and marriage licenses are handled by the Clerk of Orphans Court.

Divorce Records

Divorce complaints are filed with the Prothonotary's office. To request a certified copy of a divorce decree by mail, send the names of both parties, the approximate date the divorce was finalized, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for the applicable fee to the Prothonotary's Office at 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 144, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.

Marriage Licenses

Marriage license applications are processed by the Clerk of Orphans Court. Both applicants must appear in person with:

Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or military ID)
$54.00 fee (cash or card; no checks)
A certified copy of the final divorce decree (with a judge's signature) if either party was previously married, or a death certificate if widowed

An online marriage application can be completed in advance through the Blair County Orphans Court Marriage License Bureau, but the application isn't finalized until both parties appear at the office. Pennsylvania law (Title 23) requires a three-day waiting period after in-person application. Licenses are valid for 60 days and may be used anywhere in the Commonwealth. Application hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To get a certified copy of a marriage license after it has been issued, send a written request to the Prothonotary's Office with the year of marriage, names of both spouses (including maiden names), a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order for $9.00 payable to the Prothonotary's Office.

Birth and Death Records

The Clerk of Orphans Court holds historical birth and death records from 1893 through 1906. Records from 1906 to the present are maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. To request a certificate:

Download and complete the official application for a birth certificate or death certificate.
Submit the completed form with a copy of valid photo identification and a fee of $20.00 (payable to Vital Records) by mail to:

Division of Vital Records
Birth Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Alternatively, visit any of the Division's public office locations in person.

Eligible requesters include the record subject, immediate family members, legal representatives, and persons with a direct interest in the record.

Adoption Records

Adoption proceedings in Blair County are heard by the Orphans Court. Adoption records are confidential and sealed upon finalization. Access is restricted to the parties involved and requires a court order.

Blair County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Blair County go through the Orphans Court division of the Court of Common Pleas. Administrative functions are carried out jointly by the Clerk of Orphans Court and the Register of Wills. The Register of Wills accepts filings for the probate of decedent estates, while the Clerk of Orphans Court keeps dockets and files for estate accountings, guardianship proceedings, and petitions involving incapacitated persons.

Searching Probate Records

Probate case docket sheets may be available through the UJS Portal for electronically filed matters. Many probate records, however, remain in paper format and must be reviewed in person at the Clerk of Orphans Court or Register of Wills office — Suite 144 and Suite 145 respectively at 423 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. The Orphans Court forms page on the Unified Judicial System website has downloadable forms for guardianship reports, estate inventories, and other filings.

Estate Administration

When a Blair County resident dies, the personal representative typically files the original will and a petition for grant of letters with the Register of Wills. Estates below a certain threshold may qualify for small-estate proceedings. Key steps in the probate process include:

Filing the decedent's will (if one exists) and a petition for probate or letters of administration
Receiving letters testamentary or letters of administration
Publishing a notice to creditors
Inventorying and appraising estate assets
Filing an accounting with the Orphans Court
Petitioning for distribution and closing the estate

The Clerk of Orphans Court fee bill details the applicable filing, certification, and service fees for probate and guardianship proceedings.

Guardianship and Incapacitated Persons

Petitions for guardianship of an incapacitated person are filed with the Orphans Court. The court appoints counsel for the alleged incapacitated person, and a hearing is held to determine whether a guardian should be appointed. Guardianship records are generally accessible to the public, though medical and psychological evaluations filed in the case may be restricted.

Register of Wills

The Register of Wills office accepts wills for probate, issues letters testamentary, and processes inheritance-tax returns. The office shares its physical location with the Recorder of Deeds at Suite 145 of the courthouse. Contact information and the FAQ page for the combined Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds office offer guidance on accessing estate and property records, including information about available online search tools.