Mercer County, Pennsylvania Court Records
Court records in Mercer County are documents created from civil, criminal, family, or probate cases. Handling of these records falls within the county court system, which includes the Clerk of Courts for criminal matters, the Prothonotary for civil cases, and the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court for probate and estate matters. Magisterial District Courts handle minor criminal cases and preliminary hearings.
Court records are also linked to other records created by public agencies. For example, almost every criminal court case starts with an arrest; when that happens, both records may reference the same incident. Family court cases like divorces, adoptions, and custody hearings often involve vital records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death records. The record custodians for these records manage them separately.
Are Mercer County Court Records Public?
Yes. Court records in Mercer County are generally public under Pennsylvania's Case Records Public Access Policy (204 Pa. Code § 213.81). Members of the public have the right to see what happens in the court, to ensure that proceedings are not hidden, and to keep the government accountable.
Not all court records are public because they may come with limitations, e.g., a driver's license number, a Social Security number, an abused person's address, and also names and dates of birth of minors, except in criminal cases. There are cases where access may be limited to the parties involved, their attorneys, or other individuals authorized by the court, this is to protect privacy and sensitive information. Sealing specific records or portions of a case can be ordered by a judge or court under Pennsylvania law.
What Information is Available in Mercer County Court Records?
Court records in Mercer County generally contain:
- Case numbers
- Names of parties involved in a case
- Filing dates
- Court motions
- Petitions and complaints
- Orders issued by the court
- Judgments and rulings
- Hearing and trial dates
- Docket entries
- Attorney information
- Case status
- Sentencing information
- Final case dispositions
Mercer County Court Records Search
There are several ways to obtain court records in Mercer County. Most requesters can access records online, perform an in-person search, or send a mail-in request to the appropriate office.
- Online Access: Provides ways to search for different records. For example, to look up criminal case records, theUJS Portal can be used. As for civil records, docket entries are available throughInfocon County Access, but case images are not available online. PATCH is the official tool for requesting statewide criminal history checks. Persons should keep in mind that access may vary depending on the type of case.
- In-Person Access: Those who want to opt for the in-person method can visit the following offices at these locations:
125 South Diamond Street, Suite 112
Mercer, PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-3800
Mercer County Prothonotary's Office
125 South Diamond Street, Suite 105
Mercer, PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-3800
Mercer County Register of Wills & Orphans' Court
125 South Diamond Street, Suite 112
Mercer, PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-3800
- Mail and Phone Requests: Mail-in requests can be sent to the Prothonotary's Office. Individuals can pick cash, check, money order, or debit/credit card, although using a card comes with a service fee. It is recommended to check in with the office directly, as processing times are not usually set. Also, it's worth noting electronic filings and email requests will not be accepted.
Fees for Court Records In Mercer County
Court records in Mercer County are free to view, but requesting copies is where the fees come in. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, agencies may not charge requesters for searching, retrieving, or reviewing records. Instead, costs are usually limited to copying, certification, and other services related to producing the records.
According to thePennsylvania Office of Open Records Fee Schedule, agencies may charge up to $0.25 per page for black-and-white copies and up to $0.50 for color copies. Records sent electronically do not attract any extra fee, but certified copies come with an additional charge of up to $5.00 per record.
An agency may waive certain fees under some circumstances. Also, you may be asked to pay in advance when the total cost of fulfilling a request is higher than $100.
Mercer County Courthouse Locations
The Court of Common Pleas takes on major civil and criminal cases, family matters, and appeals from the Magisterial District Courts. The Magisterial District Courts, on the other hand, deal with minor cases like traffic and non-traffic violations, low-level misdemeanor cases, minor arraignments, and hearings for all criminal cases.
|
Court Name |
Address |
Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
|
125 South Diamond Street, Suite 112 Mercer, PA 16137 |
(724) 662-3800 | |
|
1217 Hall Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146 |
(724) 346-6541 | |
|
425 Idaho Street, Farrell, PA 16121 |
(724) 346-3591 | |
|
123 West Market Street, Rear, Mercer, PA 16137 |
(724) 662-5230 | |
|
574 Barkeyville Road, Grove City, PA 16127 |
(724) 457-4931 | |
|
14 North Race Street, Suite 1, Greenville, PA 16125 |
(724) 588-3210 |
Criminal Records Access in Mercer County
Mercer County's courts do not handle state criminal history record checks. Access to criminal records is provided by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) through thePATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) system. Users may perform official criminal history background checks online on anyone where permitted by law, and also access statewide criminal history records online or through a mail-in request.
Local criminal case records in Mercer County may be available through theUnified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS) Web Portal, where both residents and out-of-state individuals can search for court case dockets, docket entries, and court orders. If anyone prefers an in-person search can visit theMercer County Clerk of Courts office, but should note that not everything is available online, so they may have to contact or visit the courthouse in person.
Mercer County Probate Records
Probate records are official documents that are created when a person passes away. Since probate records are considered public records, people can request them, but certain information, such as adoptions or financial settlements involving minors, may be removed from public access. Examples of probate records include wills, trusts, guardianships, and adoptions.
In Mercer County, two divisions handle those records, which are the Register of Wills and the Orphans' Court. They both play different roles: the Register of Wills handles probate of wills and the settlement of the affairs of people who have passed away, while the Orphans' Court handles matters involving estates, guardianships, minors, and people who cannot manage their own affairs.
Mercer County Family Court Records
In Mercer County, the Court of Common Pleas handles family cases involving divorce, custody, adoption, and support. Under its umbrella, divorce cases may be heard by the Family Law Master, an attorney appointed by the court to review certain disputes and make recommendations. The Domestic Relations Office handles child and spousal support cases, while the Orphans' Court covers adoption cases. In the Prothonotary's Office, these cases are filed and maintained.
At theProthonotary's Office, a public terminal search is available to view family court records from 1994 to the present. When records are not available through the terminal, visiting in person or sending a mail-in request are both accepted options. Those who are interested in certified copies may request them from the Prothonotary's Office, but fees may apply based on theofficial fee schedule.
Federal Court Records in Mercer County
Not every court case goes through the state or county court; some are handled at the federal level, and they then become federal court records. In Mercer County, theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania handles such cases, i.e., federal proceedings, like federal criminal cases, bankruptcy, and other federal-related matters.
Public access to federal court records is through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). The system can be used to view case filings and docket information, but note that some filings can be sealed under federal rules and restricted from public viewing. Interested persons will have to create an account. Searches are done by using the party name, case number, or filing date.
