Juniata 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.
Juniata County, Pennsylvania is a small but fully functioning judicial jurisdiction whose courts handle civil and criminal litigation, family matters, probate proceedings, and a wide range of other legal actions each year. Court records from those proceedings form the official documentary history of each case — encompassing pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, and exhibits. These records exist to promote accountability in the judicial system and to give the public a meaningful way to follow court activity. Whether you need records for legal research, a background check, a genealogy project, or a personal legal matter, knowing where to look and what to request can significantly speed up the process.
Locating Court Records in Pennsylvania:
Pennsylvania provides several pathways for accessing court case information. Official court resources, clerk offices, and public access terminals at the courthouse are all available to those who prefer in-person searches. For online access, the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania coordinates statewide records resources, and PennsylvaniaCourts.us can help you locate publicly available court case information across the commonwealth. The UJS web portal allows free docket sheet searches without requiring a login or fee.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Juniata County?
Juniata County is served by the Court of Common Pleas of the 41st Judicial District, which is shared with Perry County. President Judge Kenneth A. Mummah and Judge Andrew J. Bender preside over the district, with Court Administrator Christina L. Zook managing operations. At the county level, the Prothonotary's Office — led by Prothonotary Lori A. Ferry — serves as the combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts, handling all criminal, civil, and juvenile filings, docketing, and indexing for Juniata County.
Juniata County Courthouse
Address: 1 North Main Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 68, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Phone: (717) 436-7715 (Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts)
Fax: (717) 470-3088
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Courts website lists the courthouse address as 26 N. Main Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059, with court hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Methods for searching Juniata County court cases:
- UJS Web Portal (online, free) — The UJS Portal case search lets anyone search Pennsylvania court dockets at no charge by case number, participant name, offense tracking number, or state ID number. Results include docket sheets for Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court cases.
- In person at the Prothonotary's Office — Visit the courthouse at 1 N. Main Street during business hours. All records not sealed by law or court order are available to the public at all times. Note that the Prothonotary's Office does not perform index searches for judgments or liens on behalf of the public.
- By mail — Submit a written request to the Prothonotary at P.O. Box 68, Mifflintown, PA 17059. Describe the record sought in detail, including party names, case number if known, and approximate filing date. Enclose payment for applicable copy fees.
- Public Records Request — Juniata County's Right-to-Know policy allows formal records requests during normal office hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
- Court forms — Standard Pennsylvania court forms are available through the UJS Portal forms section. Additional Juniata County–specific forms, including custody forms, motions for continuance, and interpreter request forms, are posted on the 41st Judicial District page.
Are Court Records Public in Juniata County?
Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), all records held by government agencies — including court offices — are presumed to be public unless a specific exemption applies. This means that most civil and criminal case records filed with the Juniata County Prothonotary are open for public inspection and copying during normal business hours.
Records that are generally available to the public include civil case filings, dockets, orders, and judgments; criminal case dockets, charging documents, and sentencing orders; divorce decrees and property settlement agreements (subject to limited redactions); probate filings, wills admitted to record, and estate inventories; Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders; and Magisterial District Court docket sheets.
Records that are confidential or restricted include:
- Juvenile court files — restricted from public access under Pennsylvania law
- Adoption records — sealed by statute
- Jury deliberation notes — not retained as public records and destroyed after a case concludes
- Records sealed by specific court order (a $50.00 fee applies to seal a record through the Prothonotary)
- Mental health and certain dependency proceedings
Copies of court records cost $0.50 per page through the Prothonotary. Certified copies require an additional $2.25 for the first page and $2.00 for each additional page. Filings cannot be submitted by fax or email — all filings must be originals with original signatures.
Juniata County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Juniata County move through two levels of court. Minor criminal offenses, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings are handled at the Magisterial District Court level. Two Magisterial District Courts serve Juniata County:
- Magisterial District Court 41-3-01 — Mifflintown, P.O. Box 68, Mifflintown, PA 17059; Phone: (717) 436-7715
- Magisterial District Court 41-3-02 — 212 N. 4th Street, Port Royal, PA 17082; Phone: (717) 527-4949
Felony charges, serious misdemeanors, and cases bound over from Magisterial District Courts proceed to the Court of Common Pleas, where the Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts maintains all criminal filings, exhibits, witness records, and juror information. The Clerk of Courts also administers oaths, certifies legal documents, and processes the distribution of fines and costs collected.
To search criminal court records, the free UJS Portal provides docket sheet access for both Magisterial and Common Pleas criminal cases statewide, including Juniata County.
For criminal history background checks — including records maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police — use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (ePATCH) system. An individual background check costs $22.00, with an additional 2% credit card transaction fee (effective April 22, 2026) for online orders. Volunteer checks are free. Searches can also be submitted using Form SP4-164 by mail to the Pennsylvania State Police.
In-person criminal record requests go to the Prothonotary at 1 N. Main Street, Room 301, Mifflintown. Expungement of criminal records in Juniata County requires filing an expungement petition with the Prothonotary. The filing fee is $250.00.
Juniata County Civil Court Records
The Juniata County Prothonotary maintains all civil court records for the Court of Common Pleas. Civil actions cover a broad range of disputes, including contract and debt cases (assumpsit), personal injury and property damage (trespass), mortgage foreclosures, mechanic's liens, zoning appeals, equity actions, ejectment proceedings, and Protection from Abuse petitions.
Key civil filing fees (effective January 1, 2019):
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil action (assumpsit, trespass, equity, ejectment) | $122.75 |
| Mortgage foreclosure | $122.75 |
| Name change | $122.75 |
| Protection from Abuse | $122.75 |
| Confession of judgment | $19.50 |
| Copies (per page) | $0.50 |
| Certified copy (first page) | $2.25 |
| Certified copy (each additional page) | $2.00 |
| Arbitration appeal | $500.00 |
| Appeal from District Justice – Civil | $50.25 |
All filing fees must be paid at the time of filing, made payable to the Juniata County Prothonotary. Filings must include original signatures and a proper case caption. The office does not accept fax or email filings.
Small claims matters are initiated at the Magisterial District Court level and may be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas for a trial de novo. Civil court forms, including motions for continuance and self-represented litigant (SRL) forms, are available through the UJS Portal forms page and from the 41st Judicial District.
Juniata County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Juniata County are handled within the Court of Common Pleas and fall into several distinct categories, each managed by a different county office.
Divorce proceedings are filed with the Prothonotary. The filing fee for a divorce action is $149.25, with additional fees of $65.75 if custody is raised as an issue, $57.75 for each additional count such as alimony or equitable distribution, and $13.00 for the final divorce decree. Retaking a maiden name costs an additional $9.00. Divorce case forms and self-help guides are available through PA Law Help.
Child custody and visitation actions are filed with the Prothonotary at a cost of $132.00. Custody complaint forms and modification petitions are available on the 41st Judicial District page and through the UJS Portal. Both parties are generally required to appear in court for custody hearings, and a judge may decide matters based on submitted paperwork when in-person appearances are not feasible.
Child support, spousal support, and alimony are administered by the Domestic Relations Section, a division of the Court of Common Pleas:
Domestic Relations Section
Address: Juniata County Courthouse Annex, 30 N. Main Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 68, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Phone: (717) 436-7750
Fax: (717) 436-7751
Email: CSJuniata@pacses.com
The Domestic Relations Section establishes and enforces support orders, locates non-custodial parents, establishes paternity, and coordinates with the Pennsylvania State Collection and Disbursement Unit (PA SCDU) for payment processing. Support complaints can be filed in person at the office or initiated online through the state child support portal. Downloadable forms — including the Uniform Support Petition (Form UF-001), General Testimony (Form UF-501), and paternity establishment forms — are available on the Domestic Relations Section page.
Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions are filed with the Prothonotary at the $122.75 civil action rate. PFA orders are public records except for victim safety information that may be redacted by court order.
Marriage records are maintained by the Register of Wills. Interested parties may obtain copies in person or by mail from the Register's office at 1 North Main Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059 (P.O. Box 68, Mifflintown, PA 17059; Phone: (717) 436-7709).
For birth and death certificates, requests are processed at the state level through the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. A birth certificate copy costs $20.00 online (plus a $10.00 credit card fee), and applicants can use the birth certificate request form for mail requests. Death certificate requests follow the same process using the death certificate application form.
Juniata County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Juniata County — including the administration of decedents' estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships — are overseen by two offices: the Register of Wills and the Clerk of Orphans' Court, which operate together out of the Juniata County Courthouse.
Register of Wills
Address: 1 North Main Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 68, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Phone: (717) 436-7709
Fax: (717) 470-3092
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Clerk of Orphans' Court
Address: 1 North Main Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 68, Mifflintown, PA 17059
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Register of Wills is the official keeper of wills submitted for probate, letters testamentary, letters of administration, and related estate documents. The Clerk of Orphans' Court manages guardianship and conservatorship filings. Appointments for in-person visits to the Register and Recorder's Office can be made by calling (717) 436-7709.
Register of Wills fee schedule (updated November 17, 2025):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Probate of will (first page) | $15.00 |
| Each additional page of will | $3.00 |
| Certified letters testamentary or of administration | $15.00 |
| Short certificate | $4.00 |
| Copies (in office) | $0.35 per page |
| Copies by mail | $1.00 per page |
| Certification | $3.00 |
| Certification plus copies | $5.00 |
| Inventory filing | $10.00 |
| Inheritance tax return | $14.00 |
| Affidavit | $5.00 |
| Returned check fee | $25.00 |
Estate administration filing fees are scaled to the estimated value of the estate, ranging from $25.00 for estates valued at $5,000 or less up to $95.00 for estates valued between $75,001 and $100,000, with an additional $40.00 for each $100,000 increment above that threshold. A County Computer Fee of $10.00 and a JCS/ATJ fee of $41.25 apply to most filings.
How to request probate records:
- In person — Visit the Register of Wills office during business hours. Provide the decedent's full name and approximate date of death or filing year. An appointment is recommended.
- By mail — Submit a detailed written request to the Register of Wills at P.O. Box 68, Mifflintown, PA 17059. Include the decedent's name, date of death, and any case or estate number. Enclose payment for applicable copy fees.
- Online docket search — Docket sheets for Orphans' Court proceedings can be searched through the UJS Portal at no charge.
Orphans' Court forms, including guardianship petitions, auditing and administration forms, and Register of Wills model forms, are available through the Pennsylvania Courts public forms page. The 41st Judicial District also follows the Perry/Juniata County Local Rules of Orphans' Court Procedure, which govern local practice for all probate and guardianship matters in the county.