Bradford County
Located in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, Bradford County was formed in 1810 from Luzerne and Lycoming Counties. It was originally named Ontario County and renamed in 1812 after a former chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and U.S. Attorney General, William Bradford. Its land area of 1,147 square miles makes it the second-largest county in the state by land area, and about 60,000 people live within the county's boundaries. Towanda is its county seat, and its largest borough is Sayre.
The two primary courts that serve the legal needs of the people living in Bradford County are the Magisterial District Court and the Court of Common Pleas. The Bradford County Court of Common Pleas hears major criminal and civil cases. It also hears family law disputes, including divorce, annulment, and child custody. Its Orphan's Court handles all probate matters such as guardianship, adoption, and estates.
Minor civil and criminal cases, including traffic infractions, landlord-tenant disputes, and small claims, are heard at the Bradford County Magisterial District Court. Additionally, preliminary hearings for felony cases can be handled by this court. There are seven branches of the Bradford County Magisterial District Court, each with a Magisterial District Judge located in different municipalities in the county.
The Bradford County Magisterial District Court hears minor civil and criminal cases, such as small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings for felonies. The Bradford County Magisterial District Court has four branches, each with a Magisterial District Judge located in different municipalities.
Bradford County public court records are records from cases such as civil, criminal, divorce, probate, and traffic cases handled in the county courts. These records include case court schedules, depositions, court filings, writs, warrants, court transcripts, motions, orders, and judgments. These records are available for public inspection and request unless made confidential by law or court orders. The Bradford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Court maintains records from the Court of Common Pleas. The Bradford County Register and Recorder serves as the Clerk of the Orphans' Court Office and maintains probate records.
In Bradford County, the public has access to the following types of court records unless sealed by court orders:
- Civil Records
- Family Records
- Criminal Case Records
- Probate Records
- Traffic Violation Records
The public can access court records at the courts where the cases are heard. Bradford County's non-confidential court records can also be seen online via the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal.
