Clearfield County
Located in the north-central region of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Clearfield County has an estimated population of 77,090. It was created from sections of Huntington and Lycoming Counties in 1804 by the commonwealth's second governor, Thomas Mckean. Clearfield is its county seat.
Clearfield County has several courts that serve residents within its trial court system, including a court of common pleas and magisterial district courts. The Clearfield County Courts of Common Pleas is the highest jurisdiction trial court in the county and has general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. It encompasses three divisions, including:
- The Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Court (Criminal) Division
- The Court of Common Pleas - Prothonotary (Civil) Division
- The Clearfield County Orphans' Court
It adjudicates felony and lesser offenses suits, zero-capped general civil claims and domestic relations cases, adoptions and juvenile matters, and certain arbitration reviews and administrative agency appeals. Cases relating to probate of wills, trust administrations, appointment of guardians/conservators, and termination of parental rights suits are within the Common Pleas Court's Orphans' Court division.
Clearfield Count's Magisterial District Courts are limited jurisdiction courts that hear summary offenses suits, certain DUIs, ordinance violations, most preliminary hearings, and third-degree misdemeanors. They also exercise authority to hear financially capped civil claims, and landlord/tenant cases, although they lack jurisdiction over State-filed civil actions.
Clearfield County court records are recorded details of different court proceedings in the county's various courts. These records, which include court dockets, rulings, decisions, and judgments, boost residents' confidence in the county's justice delivery system and provide valuable legal insights to researchers, attorneys, and analysts. Common Clearfield County court records created and preserved by court clerks include:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Probate records
- Domestic relations records
- Juvenile records
The Clearfield County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts maintains criminal and civil case records for the county-based courts. Per Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), members of the public are legally entitled to access non-confidential court records subject to making formal requests. Requesters can view limited case information at no cost using Pennsylvania's case search portal or public terminals at the County Courthouse. For more detailed court records, especially hardcopy records, requesters can visit the Clerk of Courts's Office in person or the clerks of the specific courthouses where their trials were held.
