Jefferson County
Jefferson County, named after former president Thomas Jefferson, was established in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1830. It encompasses a total area of 657 square miles and is home to approximately 44,000 residents. Brookville Borough serves as the government seat in Jefferson County, while Punxsutawney is its largest municipality.
The Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts serve Jefferson County. Generally, the Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters exclusive to minor courts. It handles civil actions related to various claims, equity matters, family law issues, lawsuits against the state, and appeals of decisions made by state agencies. Additionally, it hears criminal cases involving felonies and misdemeanors. The Orphan's Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over matters of estates, wills, trusts, adoptions, guardianship, and parental rights termination. On the other hand, Magisterial District judges in Jefferson County handle preliminary arraignments/hearings, bail, and decide if the Court of Common Pleas should adjudicate certain criminal cases. Other matters they preside over include landlord/tenant issues, civil actions with claims up to $12,000, and traffic violations.
Public court records in Jefferson County are created during legal proceedings handled by the county's Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. These records typically include documents filed or issued during hearings, such as motions, court orders, witness statements, and case transcripts. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts maintains physical copies of court records at the Jefferson County Courthouse, which may be provided to the public upon request. Some court documents or information are confidential under Pennsylvania laws and exempt from public disclosure.
The Clerk of Courts maintains the following types of public court records in Jefferson County:
- Civil Court Records
- Juvenile Court Records
- Family Law Court Records
- Criminal Court Records
- Traffic Court Records
Interested persons can search case information and docket sheets in Jefferson County on the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal. Users can search by several criteria, including party name, attorney, docket number, filing date, and complaint number. Alternatively, contact the Clerk of Courts by in-person visits, phone, or email at:
Jefferson County Courthouse
200 Main Street
Brookville, PA 15825
Phone: (814) 849-1606
Fax: (814) 849-1625
Email: tgeist@jeffersoncountypa.com
