Luzerne County
Luzerne County (the 2nd largest county by total area) is located in northeast Pennsylvania. It was named after Anne-César de La Luzerne who was an 18th century French soldier and diplomat. Luzerne County spans 906 square miles and was created from parts of Northumberland County on September 25, 1786. It holds the record as the most populous county according to the 2020 census (325,594).
The Courts of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts are constitutionally responsible for resolving cases and disputes while also increasing public trust in the court system. The jurisdiction of the Courts of Common Pleas includes evictions, small claims, minor criminal disputes, and traffic violation cases. They have appellate jurisdictions over the Magisterial District Courts.
The sixteen Magisterial District Courts are strategically located. They are the first-level trial courts. Magisterial District Courts adjudicate civil claims in which the amount of money involved in dispute is $12,000 or less, local code violations, summary criminal offenses, and conduct preliminary arraignments and hearings. In addition, they share jurisdiction with the Courts of Common Pleas over landlord-tenant lawsuits.
Court records are generated during trials and when judgments are passed on cases. They usually include exhibits, transcripts, and summons to mention a few that are filed by the Clerk of Courts/Prothonotary of Luzerne County. If you are interested in inspecting court records you may do so via an in-person visit to the office of the Clerk of Courts, by mail, fax, and call. Records are kept in a secure facility and archived to ensure an easy and efficient retrieval.
Court records that are not redacted from public view; and that are non-confidential include:
- Civil Court Records
- Criminal Court Records
- Family Court Records
- Traffic Court Records
Court users and the general public can utilize the website of the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System to search public court records. An alternative to this includes using the public computer terminals in the office of the Clerk of Courts to verify court records. In addition, when making payments, you may use a MasterCard to secure approval for the records you are interested in.
