Snyder County Court Records Search

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    Snyder County is located in central Pennsylvania, with Middleburg serving as the county seat. The county’s court system handles a full range of civil, criminal, family, and probate matters through the Court of Common Pleas and two Magisterial District Courts. Court records generated by these proceedings — including petitions, orders, subpoenas, writs, and transcripts — are maintained primarily by the Snyder County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts, the Register of Wills, and the Recorder of Deeds, all housed at the Snyder County Courthouse in Middleburg.

    Pennsylvania court records can be searched through several channels depending on the type of case and how recent the filing is. Clerk offices, courthouse public access terminals, and online tools all provide pathways to case information. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal (UJS) — accessible through PennsylvaniaCourts.us — allows users to search publicly available docket sheets for criminal court cases statewide, including matters filed in Snyder County’s 17th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas. For civil and orphans’ court filings, direct contact with the Prothonotary’s Office or the county’s own online portal is typically required.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Snyder County?

    The method for searching Snyder County court records depends on the case type and the stage of litigation.

    Online Search Options:

    • UJS Web Portal (ujsportal.pacourts.us): Provides free public access to criminal court docket sheets for Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. Search by participant name, case number, offense tracking number, or attorney name.
    • CountySuite Online Civil Portal (eportal.snydercounty.org): Snyder County’s own portal for civil case searches and electronic filing. The Prothonotary’s Office now accepts electronic filings through this platform.
    • Landex Remote (landex.com): Provides online access to property records maintained by the Recorder of Deeds. An index search is free; document copies require a fee.
    • Assessment/Tax Records Portal (infoconcountyaccess.com): Provides online access to property assessment records from the Snyder County Assessment Office at a fee of $1.10 per minute.

    In-Person and Contact Search:

    All civil and criminal court files can be reviewed in person at the courthouse. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is the main office for civil case files, criminal case files, and marriage and divorce records. The Register of Wills handles probate and estate records.

    Snyder County Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts
    Address: 9 West Market Street, P.O. Box 217, Middleburg, PA 17842
    Phone: (570) 837-4202
    Email: prothonotary@snydercounty.org

    Snyder County Register of Wills & Recorder of Deeds
    Address: 9 West Market Street, P.O. Box 217, Middleburg, PA 17842
    Phone: (570) 837-4224
    Fax: (570) 837-4299
    Email: szerbe@snydercounty.org
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Recording accepted until 3:45 p.m.)

    Are Court Records Public in Snyder County?

    The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) establishes that records maintained by government agencies — including court clerks — are presumed to be public and available for inspection and copying upon request. Under the RTKL, any person may submit a records request to the appropriate office and, upon payment of applicable fees, receive copies of responsive records.

    However, a significant number of records are shielded from routine public disclosure by court orders, specific statutory exemptions, or the RTKL’s built-in limitations. Records that are commonly restricted from public access in Snyder County include:

    • Juvenile delinquency and dependency records — withheld to protect minors
    • Sealed and expunged criminal records — removed from public access by court order
    • Mental health proceeding records — protected under state mental health statutes
    • Records pertaining to a court’s adjudicative functions — exempted from the RTKL’s scope
    • Attorney-client privileged communications embedded in court filings
    • Personal identification information such as social security numbers, account numbers, and dates of birth — subject to redaction even in otherwise public records

    Only parties to a case, their authorized attorneys, or individuals with a court order may access fully restricted records. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles appeals when a records request is denied by a county agency.

    Snyder County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Snyder County are handled at two levels. Magisterial District Courts conduct preliminary arraignments, preliminary hearings, and summary offense proceedings, while the Court of Common Pleas handles all felony and misdemeanor trials and appeals from the district courts.

    Court of Common Pleas — 17th Judicial District
    Address: Snyder County Courthouse, 9 West Market Street, Middleburg, PA 17842
    Phone: (570) 837-4207 | Fax: (570) 837-4282
    President Judge: Lori R. Hackenberg, (570) 837-4238

    Magisterial District Court 17-3-03
    Address: 1025 U.S. Route 522, Selinsgrove, PA 17870
    Judge: Scott Zeigler
    Phone: (570) 374-0111 | Fax: (570) 374-2771
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Magisterial District Court 17-3-04
    Address: 32 East Market Street, Middleburg, PA 17842
    Judge: Bo Trawitz
    Phone: (570) 837-4213 | Fax: (570) 837-4355
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Criminal docket sheets for both the Common Pleas Court and the Magisterial District Courts are searchable for free through the UJS Web Portal Case Search. Searches can be conducted by party name, case number, or citation number.

    For arrest records, incident reports, and law enforcement-generated documents, contact the Snyder County Sheriff’s Office. Open records requests must be submitted on the official Right-to-Know Law Request Form and directed to the Open Records Officer:

    Snyder County Sheriff’s Office — Open Records Officer
    Chief Deputy Lucas Bingman
    Address: 9 West Market Street, P.O. Box 217, Middleburg, PA 17842
    Phone: (570) 837-3311 | Fax: (570) 837-0168
    Email: lbingman@snydercounty.org
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Sheriff’s Office Record Copy Fees:

    Record TypeFee
    Black & white copy$0.25 per page
    Color copy$0.50 per page
    Certification of record$5.00
    Inspection of redacted records$0.25 per page
    Audio/video recording copy$25.00 per recording

    All fees must be paid before records are released. For a statewide criminal background check, the Pennsylvania State Police maintain the ePATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) system. An individual criminal history check costs $22.00; notarized copies require an additional $5.00. Volunteer checks are available free of charge through the same portal.

    Snyder County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in Snyder County follows a two-tier structure. The Magisterial District Courts handle small claims and civil disputes involving amounts up to $12,000, operating under the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure for Magisterial District Judges. For claims exceeding $12,000, or for complex civil matters, cases must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas.

    The Snyder County Prothonotary maintains all civil case records filed in the Court of Common Pleas and is responsible for signing and sealing writs and court process. Filing fees effective November 12, 2025 include:

    Filing TypeFee
    Civil Complaints and Petitions$172.75
    In Re Filings$197.25
    Divorce Complaints(See current schedule — call (570) 837-4202)

    Note that a separate processing fee applies for checks payable to specific entities, and fees for additional services such as subpoenas, continuances, and certified copies are outlined in the full Snyder County Prothonotary Fee Schedule. The complete 2025 fee schedule is available through the Prothonotary’s Office at (570) 837-4202 or via email at prothonotary@snydercounty.org.

    Civil case searches for Common Pleas matters are available through the CountySuite Online Civil Portal. For Magisterial District Court civil dockets, the UJS Web Portal supports case lookups by party name and case number.

    Property records — including deeds, mortgages, satisfaction pieces, subdivision plans, and notary commissions — are maintained by the Snyder County Recorder of Deeds. Online access to recorded document indexes is available at no cost through Landex Remote, with fees applying for document downloads and prints. E-recording of eligible instruments is accepted through CSC (Corporation Service Company) and Simplifile. Recording fees vary by document type; the Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Association fee calculator at padeeds.com provides estimates for deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, and powers of attorney. All recording checks must be made payable to “Snyder County Recorder of Deeds”, with separate checks required for each recorded instrument.

    Property assessment records — including tax history, deed references, and assessed values — are accessible online through the Snyder County Assessment Office Records Portal at a fee of $1.10 per minute. In-house copies are available at the Assessment Office for $0.50 per page (black and white) and $1.00 per page (color).

    Snyder County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Snyder County — including divorce, child custody, child support, protection from abuse orders, and adoption proceedings — are handled by the Snyder County Court of Common Pleas. There is no separate family court; these cases flow through the Common Pleas docket under the 17th Judicial District.

    Divorce records maintained by the Prothonotary date back to 1804. To retrieve a specific divorce record, requesters should have the full names of both parties, the marriage date, and the approximate divorce date. The Prothonotary can also provide copies of custody orders, support orders, and related family law filings from active or closed cases.

    Marriage records issued in Snyder County are also maintained by the Prothonotary. Only marriages for which the license was issued in Snyder County are recorded in this office. Requesters should have the full names of both parties and the date of marriage to facilitate retrieval.

    Birth certificates for individuals born anywhere in Pennsylvania since 1906 are issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Division of Vital Records. Eligible parties — including the record subject, their spouse, parents, siblings, half-siblings, stepchildren, grandparents, grandchildren, attorneys, and legal representatives — may request copies through several methods:

    Death certificates are similarly non-public records. They are available only to the decedent’s spouse, children, siblings, parents, or other close relatives and their legal representatives. The cost is $20 per certificate, with a $10 online processing fee when ordered through the Pennsylvania DOH online service. A downloadable Application for Death Certificate is available for mail and in-person requests.

    Snyder County Probate Court Records

    Pennsylvania does not have a separate probate court. In Snyder County, all probate matters — including the probate of wills, estate administration, and related proceedings — are handled through the Orphans’ Court division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Register of Wills serves as the administrative officer for these proceedings and is responsible for preserving all will and estate filings.

    To open an estate in Snyder County, the following materials are generally required:

    1. Petition for Grant of Letters (Form RW-02)
    2. Original Last Will and Testament and any codicils
    3. Death certificate of the deceased
    4. Oath of Witness (Forms RW-03, RW-04, and RW-05 as applicable)
    5. Renunciations (Form RW-06), if applicable
    6. Affidavit and Release of Beneficiary from Bond (available from the Register’s Office)
    7. A check for the probate fee payable to “Snyder County Register of Wills”

    Inheritance taxes collected on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Inheritance Tax Division, must be paid by separate check payable to “Register of Wills, Agent”.

    The Snyder County Orphans’ Court also now accepts electronic filings. Parties with active probate or estate matters should confirm current e-filing procedures directly with the Register of Wills office.

    For accessing probate case records — including filed wills, inventories, and estate account filings — contact the Register of Wills at the information below, or search through the UJS Web Portal for cases that have been digitized. Older records extending back many decades are available in paper format at the courthouse.

    Register of Wills & Recorder of Deeds — Snyder County
    Officer: Stacey L. Zerbe
    Address: 9 West Market Street, Middleburg, PA 17842
    Phone: (570) 837-4224
    Fax: (570) 837-4299
    Email: szerbe@snydercounty.org
    Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Individuals seeking information about the probate process in Pennsylvania, including self-help forms, may also consult the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas page for Snyder County maintained by the state’s court administration.