Lebanon County
Lebanon County was carved out from portions of Lancaster and Dauphin counties in 1813. Covering a total area of 362 square miles, the county is inhabited by 144,011 people. Its county seat and largest municipality is the city of Lebanon. It is located in south-central Pennsylvania, approximately 72 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
The Lebanon County court system consists of the Court of Common Pleas and six Magisterial District Courts. The original jurisdiction in all legal matters not specifically assigned to another court lies with the Court of Common Pleas. It hears a wide variety of criminal and civil cases, including property disputes, family law matters, probate matters, torts, felonies, misdemeanors, and juvenile cases. This court also handles appeals from the Magisterial District Courts.
The Magisterial District Courts primarily address summary offenses that are punishable by fine only, such as disorderly conduct, theft, harassment, and zoning infractions. They also preside over small claims cases under $12,000, landlord-tenant actions, traffic violations, and minor personal injury claims.
Public court records in Lebanon County are created with the initiation of legal actions by parties to a case in the office of the appropriate court clerk. Throughout the legal process, all documents submitted, including pleadings, opinions, motions, and exhibits, are organized and stored by the court clerk in an accessible manner. The court clerks mentioned below are responsible for case filing and maintenance of court records in Lebanon County:
- Clerk of Courts (criminal and juvenile matters)
- Prothonotary (civil, family, and lien matters)
- Register of Wills (adoption, guardianship, and estate matters)
The court clerks in Lebanon County are also responsible for providing public access to court records. These include criminal, civil, traffic, non-traffic, and probate court records, available through the office of the relevant clerk of court. Individuals who prefer the remote access option may utilize the Pennsylvania UJS web portal. This portal provides free access to docket sheets and case records for both Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas.
