Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County, formed in 1811 from parts of Berks and Northampton Counties, was named after the Schuylkill River in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Its land area is about 778.6 square miles, and its estimated population is 143,201. The county seat is located in Pottsville.
Schuylkill County courts comprise the Magisterial District Courts as well as the Court of Common Pleas. The Court of Common Pleas is responsible for felony, civil, domestic relations, and juvenile cases. The court has several divisions, including Criminal, Prothonotary (Civil), and an Orphans' Court, which deals with adoption and probate cases. It receives appeals from administrative agencies and other lower courts. Schuylkill County has seven Magisterial Districts, which handle preliminary hearings of felonies, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, building violations, and small claims cases with claims less than $12,000.
Schuylkill County public court records include documents, transactions, or information created, received, or retained from court proceedings within the county. Examples of such public court records include the following:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Traffic records
- Family law records
- Probate records
Section 303 of Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law demands the court agencies located throughout the county give the public access to the different court records for residents within the county. To access court records, requests may be made in person or by mail to the Prothonotary Office (Civil Cases), Office of the Clerk of Courts (Criminal Cases) or Clerk of Ophans' office at:
Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas
401 North 2nd Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
Phone: (570) 628-1270 - Prothonotary (Civil)
Fax: (570) 628-1261
Phone: (570) 628-1140 - Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
Fax: (570) 628-1143
Phone: (570) 628-1382 - Orphans' Court
Fax: (570) 628-1384
Pennysylvania's Unified Judicial System provides public access to court records online and upon request. In Schuylkill County, interested persons can search for the Orphans' Court records online using the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Services. Also, the Prothonotary Division makes its case dockets available to the public online. The public can view and print the docket sheets online for the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division and Magisterial District Court from the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal. Anyone can obtain photocopies of court records, which cost $0.25 per page and $8 for certified records.
