Greene County
Formed in February 1796 from sections of Washington County, Greene County is located in the southwest region of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It has an estimated population of more than 34,000 people and was named for General Nathanael Greene. Waynesburg serves as its county seat.
Greene County has a trial court structure that encompasses a court of common pleas and magisterial district courts. The Greene County Court of Common Pleas is a general jurisdiction court that oversees all county cases, including felonies, adoption, lesser offenses, and uncapped civil claims. It also handles cases relating to juvenile issues, delayed birth certificates, specific arbitration reviews, domestic relations, appeals of the lower courts, and certain administrative agency decisions.
The Common Pleas Court also encompasses three divisions, including:
- The Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Court Division for criminal cases
- The Court of Common Pleas - Prothonotary Division for civil cases
- The Greene County Orphans' Court
The Green County Orphan's Court, which is a part of the Clerk of Court Division, presides over most probate cases. Typical cases include wills and trusts administrations, guardians' appointments, adoptions, and parental rights terminations. Other divisions within the Court of Common Pleas include the Family Court and Domestic Relations divisions, which handle family and children-related cases.
Greene County's Magisterial District Courts exercise limited civil and criminal jurisdiction over cases. They oversee initial hearings for felonies, municipal ordinance violations, summary offenses suits, and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases. Apart from state-filed actions, the Magistrate District Court Judges adjudicate landlord-tenant matters, financially capped civil claims, and third-degree misdemeanor cases.
Greene County court records are records of judicial proceedings created during various case trials and maintained by a court clerk. They constitute a repository of diverse legal information that serves as a precedent to decide future cases and boosts citizens' confidence in the county's court system. Typical information in court records includes case parties' details, such as litigants' names and addresses, motions and pleadings, and court orders and decrees. Greene County courts maintain a broad selection of court records, including:
- Criminal records
- Probate records
- Civil records
- Juvenile records
The Greene County Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts maintains court records and manages public access. Per state law, court records are open to public disclosure upon request. Free online court case lookups are available to requesters through the Commonwealth's case search portal. Case information can also be accessed via mail, email, and through the public service terminal at the Greene County Courthouse. In addition, record seekers can view and duplicate hardcopy records by visiting the Clerk of Court's Office or the courthouses where their trials occurred.
