Wayne County Court Records Search
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Wayne County sits in the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania, with its county seat in Honesdale. The county operates a single Court of Common Pleas — part of the 22nd Judicial District — along with three Magisterial District Courts that handle preliminary hearings and minor cases. All principal court offices are housed in or near the Wayne County Courthouse at 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431. Because Wayne County consolidates the roles of Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court under one elected official, most record requests begin at the same office complex.
Pennsylvania residents and members of the public can search for court records through several channels, including clerk offices, online databases, and public access terminals. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal provides free access to docket sheets for Common Pleas courts, Magisterial District courts, and appellate courts statewide, including Wayne County filings. Additional resources may be found through PennsylvaniaCourts.us, which connects users to court directories, rules, and public records policies across the commonwealth.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Wayne County?
Wayne County offers three primary methods for locating court case information: online searching, in-person visits, and written requests by mail.
Online searching through the UJS Portal:
- Visit the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal (also accessible through the county’s Court Case Information page).
- Select the court level — Common Pleas, Magisterial District, or Appellate.
- Enter search criteria such as the participant’s name, case number, or docket number.
- Review docket sheet results, which display filing dates, charges or claims, scheduled hearings, and dispositions.
The portal is a free public service maintained by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. It does not require registration for basic docket sheet access. Specialized secure services — such as access to non-public docket information — require an approved login from a county clerk or district court administrator.
In-person requests can be made at the Prothonotary’s Office (for civil matters) or the Clerk of Courts (for criminal matters), both located in the Courthouse Annex:
Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts
Address: 925 Court Street, 2nd Floor Annex, Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-5970, ext. 4030
Fax: (570) 253-0687
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The Prothonotary maintains digital records from 1996 to the present. Most records are available to the public during office hours. When requesting copies, provide the case number or names of the parties involved. Copies of docket entries cost $1.00 per page; a computer-generated copy of full docket entries costs $10.00. Standard photocopies are $0.50 per page (8½ × 11), $1.00 per page (8½ × 14), or $1.50 per page (11 × 17). Certified copies cost $6.00 per page.
Mail requests should be sent to the appropriate division with a written description of the records sought, any known case identifiers, payment for applicable fees, and a stamped self-addressed envelope large enough to accommodate the documents. The office requires full payment before processing any request.
Are Court Records Public in Wayne County?
Court records in Wayne County are presumptively public under two overlapping frameworks: the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §§ 67.101–67.3104) and the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System.
Wayne County adopted its current Right-to-Know Law Policy on July 31, 2025. The county’s designated Agency Open Records Officer (AORO) is:
Andrew M. Seder, AORO
Address: Wayne County Courthouse, 925 Court St., Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-5970, ext. 1301
Fax: (570) 253-5432
Email: openrecords@waynecountypa.gov
Formal requests should use the RTKL Uniform Request Form. The agency has five business days to respond and may invoke an additional 30-calendar-day extension under Section 902 of the RTKL. Fees follow the statewide RTKL Fee Structure, and all charges must be paid before records are released.
Records that are not publicly accessible include:
- Social Security numbers and personal financial identifiers
- Medical and mental health records
- Active criminal and non-criminal investigation files
- Trade secrets and confidential proprietary information
- Educational records
- Sealed or expunged court files
- Juvenile court records
- Victim and witness addresses in protection-from-abuse cases
Under the UJS Case Records Public Access Policy, certain information must be filed using a Confidential Information Form (for personal identifiers such as SSNs, financial account numbers, driver’s license numbers, and minors’ names/dates of birth) or a Confidential Document Form (for financial source documents, medical records, custody evaluations, and settlement agreements). These protections apply to both in-person inspection and remote online access through the UJS Portal.
For criminal investigative records specifically, requests or appeals should be directed to District Attorney A.G. Howell at the Courthouse. For court-related records, contact Court Administrator Nicole Hendrix (nhendrix@waynecountypa.gov).
Wayne County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Wayne County are prosecuted in the Court of Common Pleas for felony and serious misdemeanor charges, and in the Magisterial District Courts for preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and bail proceedings. The Clerk of Courts serves as custodian of criminal court files.
Clerk of Courts
Address: 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-5970
Fax: (570) 253-0687
Key Clerk of Courts fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Appeal from summary conviction (DJ) | $60.00 |
| Appeal to appellate court | $60.00 (+ $91.25 check to appellate court) |
| Subpoena | $5.00 |
| All other filings | $21.00 |
| Private detective license (individual) | $200.00 |
| Private detective license (full) | $300.00 |
Criminal docket sheets can be searched free of charge through the UJS Portal’s docket sheets page. Searches can be conducted by defendant name, case number, or offense tracking number.
Magisterial District Courts handle preliminary arraignments, bail hearings, and summary trials. Wayne County has three MDJ locations:
MDJ 22-3-01
Address: Hawley Borough Building, 94 Main Ave., P.O. Box 350, Hawley, PA 18428
Phone: (570) 226-4981 | Fax: (570) 226-0829
Jurisdiction: Hawley Borough; Townships of Dreher, Lake, Lehigh, Palmyra, Paupack, Salem, and Sterling
MDJ 22-3-02
Address: Wayne County Courthouse, 925 Court St., Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-4560 | Fax: (570) 251-3629
Jurisdiction: Boroughs of Honesdale, Prompton, and Waymart; Townships of Canaan, Cherry Ridge, South Canaan, and Texas
MDJ 22-3-04
Address: 1065 Creamton Dr., Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 448-2061 | Fax: (570) 448-2057
Jurisdiction: Boroughs of Bethany and Starrucca; Townships of Berlin, Buckingham, Clinton, Damascus, Dyberry, Lebanon, Manchester, Mt. Pleasant, Oregon, Preston, and Scott
Statewide criminal history checks can be obtained through Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH). The online fee is $22.00 per search (plus a 2% credit card transaction fee effective April 2026). Mail-in requests using Form SP4-164 cost $22.00 or $27.00 if notarized.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office also maintains records related to warrants, protection-from-abuse enforcement, and prisoner transport:
Sheriff’s Office
Address: 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-2641
Fax: (570) 253-4092
Wayne County Civil Court Records
The Prothonotary’s Office is the filing point and custodian for all civil division records in the Court of Common Pleas. As the elected clerk of the civil division, the Prothonotary manages records related to civil lawsuits, judgments, liens, equity actions, eminent domain proceedings, protection-from-abuse petitions, and domestic relations filings including divorce.
Prothonotary’s Office
Address: 925 Court Street, 2nd Floor Annex, Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-5970, ext. 4030
Fax: (570) 253-0687
Email: esandercock@co.wayne.pa.us
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
The current fee schedule, effective 2026, is available as a Prothonotary Fee Schedule PDF on the county website. Selected civil filing fees include:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Commencement of any action (summons, complaint, petition) | $145.25 |
| Amended complaint | $75.00 |
| Confession of judgment complaint | $165.25 |
| Small claims / arbitration | $25.00 |
| Foreclosure / writ of execution | $25.00 |
| Lis pendens (on existing case) | $19.00 |
| Lien (Commonwealth, federal, municipal, mechanics) | $25.00 |
| Foreign judgment entry | $25.00 |
| DJ transcript judgment | $25.00 |
| Name change search charge | $10.00 |
| Discontinuance | $10.00 |
| Satisfaction | $10.00 |
| Certified copies | $6.00 per page |
| Standard copies (8½ × 11) | $0.50 per page |
All actions must be filed through the Prothonotary’s Office during business hours. A copy of any action requiring a hearing must also be forwarded to the Office of the Court Administrator on the 4th Floor of the Courthouse Annex. Copies of court documents and docket entries requested by mail must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope large enough for the documents.
Civil case docket sheets are searchable at no cost through the UJS Portal case search, where users can look up Wayne County filings by participant name, case number, or filing date.
Property records are maintained separately by the Wayne County Recorder of Deeds, located at 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431 (ext. 4040). The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (no recordings accepted after 4:00 p.m.). Property indexes and document images are searchable online through the Landex Webstore, where index searching is free and document copies can be purchased. Additional property and tax data can be accessed through the county’s Parcel Search and Tax Assessment pages.
Wayne County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Wayne County — including divorce, custody, support, protection-from-abuse orders, and paternity — are handled through the Court of Common Pleas. Filings are made through the Prothonotary’s Office, and the county’s Domestic Relations Office assists with child and spousal support matters.
Key family court filing fees (Prothonotary):
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce complaint (first count) | $151.25 |
| Each additional count in divorce | $66.25 |
| Additional count for custody in divorce | $76.25 |
| Divorce counterclaim | $85.00 |
| Final divorce decree | $20.00 |
| Certified copy of divorce decree | $15.00 |
| Complaint for custody | $171.75 |
| Custody modification | $75.00 |
| Custody contempt petition | $75.00 |
| Special relief petition | $75.00 |
| Divorce master | $750.00 |
| Retake maiden name | $15.00 |
| Out-of-county custody transfer | $10.00 |
| Out-of-county or out-of-state divorce decree filing | $10.00 |
The Domestic Relations Office processes child support complaints, conducts assessment hearings, monitors existing support orders, investigates modification requests, and initiates contempt actions for non-payment. The office also establishes paternity.
Domestic Relations Office
Address: 925 Court Street (Dimmick Building, 2nd Floor), Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-5970, ext. 4130
Fax: (570) 251-8240
All visitors must present government-issued identification. For additional resources, visit the Pennsylvania Child Support Program website.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court at the Courthouse. The current fee for a marriage license and record is $55.00, with each consent costing $2.00 and a three-day waiting period waiver at $10.00. A certified copy of a marriage record costs $15.00.
Birth and death certificates are not maintained by the county courts. Certified copies are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. Each certified copy costs $20.00. Birth certificates are restricted to the named individual, parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives. Death certificate access is similarly limited to those with a direct and legitimate interest. Requests can be made online, by mail (P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103), or in person at select regional offices.
Wayne County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters in Wayne County fall under the jurisdiction of the Register of Wills and the Orphans’ Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Register of Wills handles the initial probate of wills, issuance of letters testamentary or administration, and collection of Pennsylvania inheritance tax. The Orphans’ Court addresses contested matters, guardianships, adoptions, and accountings.
Register of Wills
Address: 925 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (570) 253-5970
Contact: Deborah L. Bates, Register of Wills
Free online index searching for estate documents is available through the Landex Webstore. The index is searchable at no cost, though document images are not available online and must be obtained in person or by mail.
Register of Wills fee schedule (effective November 2025):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Letters Testamentary — estate ≤ $1,000 | $20.75 |
| Letters Testamentary — $1,000–$5,000 | $30.75 |
| Letters Testamentary — $5,000–$10,000 | $40.75 |
| Letters Testamentary — $10,000–$20,000 | $50.75 |
| Letters Testamentary — $20,000–$30,000 | $60.75 |
| Letters Testamentary — $50,000–$75,000 | $90.75 |
| Letters Testamentary — $75,000–$100,000 | $100.75 |
| Each additional $100,000 or fraction | $40.00 |
| Replacement personal representative | $25.75 |
| Will probate or file only (first page) | $10.00 |
| Each additional page (will) | $2.00 |
| Informal accounting | $20.00 |
| Inheritance tax return filing | $20.00 |
| Supplemental inheritance tax return | $10.00 |
| Inventory (debts and deductions) | $10.00 |
| Certified copy (first page) | $20.00 |
| Each additional certified page | $3.00 |
| Short certificate | $5.00 |
| Estate name search | $5.00 |
| Copy per page | $0.50 |
| JCS Project fee | $41.25 |
All fees are payable at the time of filing. An additional probate fee applies when the Inheritance Tax Return or Inventory reveals assets exceeding the amount listed on the original petition.
Clerk of the Orphans’ Court fees (selected):
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adoption — Report of Intent to Adopt | $75.00 |
| Adoption — Petition | $30.00 |
| Relinquishment of parental rights | $15.00 |
| Decree (adoption or other) | $20.00 |
| Guardian — Petition and Appointment | $61.25 |
| Miscellaneous petitions | $66.25 |
| Minor’s settlement agreement | $61.25 |
| First and final account (first page) | $35.00 |
| Each additional account page | $2.00 |
| Account advertising | $75.00 |
| Claim against estate | $15.00 |
| Marriage license and record | $55.00 |
| Citation (per name) | $7.00 |
| Family settlement agreement | $15.00 |
Standard Orphans’ Court forms approved by the Pennsylvania Rules Committee are available for free download from the Unified Judicial System website. Probate docket sheets are also searchable through the UJS Portal by selecting the Common Pleas court level and entering the estate name or case number.
For genealogical research involving older estate and property records, the Wayne County Historical Society maintains an online database with more than 50,000 items. The Wayne County Bar Association also publishes a list of members for those seeking legal representation in probate or other matters.