Elk County
Elk County was created from parts of McKean, Jefferson, and Clearfield counties. It was named after the eastern elk that once lived there, according to history. It is part of the north-central Pennsylvania region of states, and its county seat is Ridgway. Elk County was created on April 18, 1843, and its largest city is St. Marys (home to the first Benedictine convent in the United States). The total land mass of Elk County spans 832 square miles, and it has maintained a population of more than 30,000 since 2020.
Two Courts of Common Pleas and two Magisterial District Courts control the legal landscape in Elk County. The Courts of Common Pleas, besides its general division, has an Orphans' Court. The Orphans' Court adjudicates adoption, guardianship, and estate administration cases. It settles disputes that may arise from the distribution of assets of a deceased person and validates wills. It keeps estate inventories (the lists of assets and liabilities of a deceased). The General Division resolves lawsuits involving personal injury, felony, misdemeanor, legal separation, child support, and custody. The Magisterial District Courts 59-3-02 and 59-3-03 serve different cities, boroughs, and towns. They accept bail for individuals charged with crimes. Some other responsibilities of the Magisterial District Courts include:
- Hold preliminary hearings to establish prima facie cases
- Process civil and criminal complaints
- Conducting summary trials
- Setting bonds
- Administration of paths and marriages
- Handling non-traffic citation cases
Court records provide future references to a case. They contain a variety of information depending on the case. This information includes case summaries, docket entries, bail/bond information, pleas, and spousal and child support orders. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is responsible by statute to provide security and access to court records.
To access court records, you can visit the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Portal. It provides a comprehensive case search that allows you to search by citation number, party name, attorney name, and filing date, among other search criteria. Also, you may visit the website or office of the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts at:
Elk County Courthouse
250 Main Street
P.O. Box 448
Ridgway, PA 15853
(814) 776-5344
The availability of court records enhances the transparency of the judicial system; as a result, the general public has trust in the system. Public court records can petition the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts for are:
- Civil Court Records
- Family Law Court Records
- Criminal Court Records
- Guardianship Court Records
- Probate Court Records
