Clarion County
Clarion County is located in the northwestern region of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Established in 1839, the county is named after the Clarion River, which flows through it. The county seat is the Borough of Clarion, a small community known for being home to Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Clarion County covers approximately 610 square miles and has a population of about 37,489 residents.
The court structure of Clarion County comprises the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts. The Court of Common Pleas is the county's trial court of general jurisdiction. It primarily handles criminal cases, including felonies and lesser offenses. It also oversees juvenile cases, adoptions, domestic relations matters, arbitration reviews, and certain appeals from administrative agencies. Its Orphans' Court Division addresses probate matters, such as wills, estate administration, trusts, termination of parental rights, conservatorships, and guardianships. Additionally, the court has jurisdiction over general civil claims without monetary limits and hears appeals from decisions made by the county's magisterial district courts. On the other hand, the Magisterial District Courts in Clarion County have limited jurisdiction and handle cases such as preliminary hearings for felonies, proceedings to set bail, and certain third-degree misdemeanors. It also deals with summary offenses, including traffic violations and municipal ordinance breaches. At the same time, the court hears civil claims for monetary amounts within financial limits and lord-tenant disputes.
Clarion County court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and include documents of criminal or civil case proceedings such as copies of court notices, and court dockets generated during court proceedings. Common examples of Clarion County's court records are:
- Criminal Records
- Civil Records
- Family Law Records
- Probate Records
Most court records are accessible to the public per Pennsylvania Right To Know Law except for records of confidential matters like juvenile, adoption, and medical records. Records can be accessed online through Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System Web Portal using search criteria such as docket number, party name, and citation number. Alternatively, requesters can obtain these records in person from the Clarion County Courthouse at:
421 Main Street
Clarion, PA 16214
Phone: (814) 226-1119
Certified copies cost $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.
