Clinton County Court Records Search
PennsylvaniaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on PennsylvaniaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Clinton County, Pennsylvania, occupies the north-central region of the state, anchored by its county seat of Lock Haven. Its court system is rooted in the Court of Common Pleas of the 25th Judicial District — a general trial court with jurisdiction over criminal, civil, family, and orphans’ court matters — supported by three Magisterial District Courts that handle lower-level civil and criminal proceedings at the local level. Court records generated and maintained by these courts are official legal documents that capture the life of a case from initial filing through final disposition. They commonly include docket sheets, filed pleadings, opinions, orders, decrees, judgments, and indices — each identified by docket number, case type, filing date, participant names, dates of birth, and court office.
Finding court records in Pennsylvania starts with knowing which office maintains them and what search tools are available. In Pennsylvania, residents and researchers can access publicly available case information through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals located at the courthouse, and various online tools. KansasCourts.us is not relevant here — for Pennsylvania, the governing portal is PennsylvaniaCourts.us, which can help users locate court case information and navigate statewide judicial resources. Records may also be searched directly through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal, which provides free public access to docket sheets across the Commonwealth.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Clinton County?
The most direct path to Clinton County court case information begins with the UJS Portal, which aggregates criminal and civil docket records from all Pennsylvania courts of common pleas and magisterial district courts into a single searchable interface. Users can search by party name, docket number, offense tracking number, or police incident number without creating an account.
For cases not yet available online, or when certified or physical copies are needed, the Clinton County Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts is the primary point of contact. This combined office handles both the civil division (Prothonotary) and the criminal division (Clerk of Courts) and maintains records dating back to 1839.
Clinton County Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts
Address: 230 East Water Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: (570) 893-4007
Email: Prothonotary@ClintonCountyPA.Gov
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday — 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
To request specific case records, requesters must complete the Case Records Request Form and submit it in person or by mail to the address above. Copies are provided at a cost of $0.50 per page. Staff cannot provide legal advice; those who need guidance on representing themselves may use the resources available at the courthouse Law Library.
Residents who prefer in-person research can use the Clinton County Law Library, located on the second floor of the Clinton County Courthouse. The Library provides a public access computer terminal for electronic records lookups, access to the county website, and ample workspace for reviewing case documents and court forms.
Clinton County Law Library
Address: 230 East Water Street, 2nd Floor, Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: (570) 893-4127
The courthouse itself is found at the same Water Street address. The court complex is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Are Court Records Public in Clinton County?
Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) establishes a general presumption that records maintained by state and local government agencies — including courts — are public documents accessible upon request. This presumption extends to most court dockets, filings, opinions, orders, and judgments generated by the Clinton County courts.
However, the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, effective January 1, 2022, governs what specific information within court records may be withheld or redacted. Certain categories of information are shielded from public release regardless of the broader presumption of openness. Under Section 708 of the RTKL, the following types of records and information are exempt from mandatory disclosure:
- Medical and psychological records
- Contact information for victims of abuse or domestic violence
- Personal identification data such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account numbers, and state identification numbers
- Juvenile court records
- Adoption records (sealed by court order)
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations
When a record request is denied in whole or in part, the agency must identify which exemption applies. Requesters who dispute a denial may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Clinton County also maintains its own Right-to-Know policy and receives public records requests through its Commissioners’ Office.
Clinton County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Clinton County originate in one of three Magisterial District Courts for preliminary arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary hearings. More serious matters — felonies, misdemeanors appealed from the district level, and major traffic offenses — proceed to the Court of Common Pleas, where the Clerk of Courts Division of the Prothonotary’s Office maintains all official criminal court files.
The three Magisterial District Courts are:
Magisterial District Court 25-3-01
Address: 301 Frederick Street, Suite 100, Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: (570) 893-4086 | Fax: (570) 893-4060
Magisterial District Court 25-3-02
Address: 385 Beech Creek Avenue, P.O. Box 174, Mill Hall, PA 17751
Phone: (570) 726-4064 | Fax: (570) 726-7920
Magisterial District Court 25-3-03
Address: 112 Ninth Street, Renovo, PA 17764
Phone: (570) 923-9931 | Fax: (570) 923-1218
Docket sheets from all three Magisterial District Courts, as well as the Court of Common Pleas criminal division, are searchable online through the Pennsylvania UJS Web Portal. Searching by the defendant’s name or docket number returns case status, charging information, and scheduling entries at no cost.
Arrest records, warrants, and incident reports originating from law enforcement activity are maintained by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, located on the first floor of the courthouse at 230 East Water Street, Lock Haven. These records fall under the RTKL and are generally available to the public. Requesters should submit a written request to the Sheriff’s Office, identifying the subject of the record and the approximate date of the incident.
For individuals seeking a statewide criminal history report — most commonly needed for employment or licensing purposes — Pennsylvania’s PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) system administered by the Pennsylvania State Police provides background checks online. As of April 2026, online PATCH requests incur a 2% transaction fee per credit card payment in addition to the standard fee.
Clinton County Civil Court Records
Civil matters in Clinton County — including contract disputes, personal injury actions, real estate litigation, and small claims — are filed with and maintained by the Clinton County Prothonotary. The civil records date back to the county’s founding in 1839 and represent the most voluminous category of courthouse records.
Civil Record Search Options:
- Online: Use the UJS Web Portal to retrieve docket sheets for civil cases in the Court of Common Pleas.
- In Person: Visit the Prothonotary’s Office on the first floor of the courthouse during regular business hours. Staff can assist in locating case files by docket number or party name. Copies cost $0.50 per page.
- By Mail or Submission: Complete the Case Records Request Form and mail it to the Prothonotary’s Office at 230 East Water Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745.
- Public Access Terminal: The Law Library on the second floor of the courthouse offers an electronic terminal for self-directed research.
Small claims matters — generally involving disputes over modest monetary amounts — are handled at the Magisterial District Court level. The appropriate district court depends on where the defendant resides or where the transaction occurred. The three district courts listed above collectively serve all of Clinton County. Litigants appearing before a Magisterial District Judge in a civil matter do not need an attorney, but they must serve the opposing party according to the applicable procedural rules.
Property records, including deeds, mortgages, and right-of-way documents, are recorded and maintained by the Clinton County Recorder of Deeds, a function housed within the Register & Recorder’s Office at 2 Piper Way, Suite 239, Lock Haven. These documents are accessible online through the county’s Online Public Records Access portal, which contains over 200,000 scanned documents including historical deed records.
Clinton County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Clinton County — including divorce, child custody, adoption, and protection-from-abuse proceedings — are handled within the Court of Common Pleas. Divorce and custody proceedings are filed with and maintained by the Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts. Domestic violence protection orders and related filings are also a function of the Court of Common Pleas.
Divorce Records: Divorce filings originate in the Prothonotary’s Office. To request records from a divorce proceeding, submit the Case Records Request Form to the Prothonotary at 230 East Water Street, Lock Haven, or search the UJS Portal using the parties’ names or the docket number.
Child Custody: Custody matters are litigated in the Court of Common Pleas. Unlike child support, custody proceedings are not administered through the Domestic Relations Office; those matters must be filed directly with the Prothonotary.
Child Support and Spousal Support: The Clinton County Domestic Relations Section is the dedicated office for establishing and enforcing child support orders, addressing paternity questions, and handling filings for spousal support and alimony pendente lite. Filing through Domestic Relations carries no fee. Support payments can be made online or by debit/credit card in person, with a 3% convenience fee.
Clinton County Domestic Relations
Address: 232 East Main Street, Suite 200, Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: (570) 893-4050 | Fax: (570) 893-7673
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday — 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Marriage Licenses: Marriage licenses are issued by the Clinton County Register & Recorder. The fee is $40.00, payable by cash or check on the day of application. Both applicants must appear in person. The Register & Recorder also maintains marriage records dating from October 1885 to the present.
Vital Records (Birth and Death Certificates): Birth and death certificates are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records. The standard fee for either certificate is $20.00, with an additional $10.00 processing fee for online orders placed through the MyCertificates portal. These records are restricted — access is limited to the registrant and qualifying family members or legal representatives. Mail-in requests require completion of the applicable application form and submission of valid ID.
Historical genealogical records, including marriage records from old family Bibles, church records, and local archives, may also be available at the Heisey Museum (362 East Water Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745; (570) 748-7254) and the Ross Library (232 West Main Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745; (570) 748-3321).
Clinton County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Clinton County — including the administration of decedents’ estates, probating of wills, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and adoptions — are handled through the Clinton County Orphans Court and the Register of Wills, both operating under the umbrella of the Register & Recorder’s Office. The Register of Wills probates estates and collects Pennsylvania inheritance tax; the Orphans Court handles more complex filings including adoption petitions and contested guardianships.
Clinton County Register & Recorder (Register of Wills / Orphans Court)
Address: 2 Piper Way, Suite 239, Lock Haven, PA 17745
Phone: (570) 893-4020 (Orphans Court) | (570) 893-4010 (Register & Recorder)
Fax: (570) 893-4041
Email: regrec@clintoncountypa.gov
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday — 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday — 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Probate filings are subject to a published fee schedule maintained by the court. The following is a representative sample of current filing costs:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Estate / Administration | $150.00 |
| Will Only Admitted to Probate (+ $1.00/page for waivers) | $55.00 |
| Will for Record Only | $40.00 |
| Guardianship (Incompetent or Minor) | $140.00 |
| Conservatorship | $140.00 |
| Adoption | $91.00 |
| Trusts | $115.00 |
| Release of Estate (+ $1.00/page for waivers) | $95.00 |
| Reopen Estate | $20.00 |
| Will Contest (without jury) | $65.00 |
| Will Contest (with jury) | $175.00 |
| Change/Conformity of Name (Adult or Minor) | $86.00 |
| Wrongful Death | $40.00 |
| Subpoena | $35.00 |
Probate court records, including filed inventories, account statements, and court orders in estate matters, are maintained at the Register & Recorder’s Office and are generally open to public inspection. Certified or authenticated copies carry an additional per-page charge.
Adoption records are an important exception: all adoption filings handled in the Clinton County court system are sealed by court order. An adopted individual wishing to access their own sealed adoption records must retain an attorney to petition the court, demonstrating specific grounds for the record to be opened. Even a properly filed petition does not guarantee access — the court retains discretion over whether to unseal the record.
For current Orphans’ Court forms applicable to Pennsylvania courts, including those for guardianship, audit and administration, and adoption, the Unified Judicial System maintains a forms repository on its public website. Parties with estate or probate questions specific to their circumstances are strongly encouraged to consult a Pennsylvania attorney, as courthouse staff are not authorized to provide legal advice.