Lackawanna County court records in Pennsylvania are maintained by the Clerk of Judicial Records and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court office. LackawannaCourt.us will help you navigate the publicly available information on court cases in this county. Additionally, you can use the UJS portal to search for cases, contact the Clerk of Judicial Records office, or visit the courthouse in person.
Lackawanna Court System Overview
Lackawanna County is part of the 45th judicial district of Pennsylvania and is the only county in this district. The Court of Common Pleas is located in Scranton. President Judge James A. Gibbons performs all administrative duties for the court as a whole. The Court of Common Pleas is divided into several divisions: criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court. Magisterial District Judges handle lower-level cases at the local level throughout the county.
Courts Serving Lackawanna
Residents of the county have access to several levels of the court system—from local magisterial district courts to the federal court.
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas
Family Court
Orphans' Court / Register of Wills
Magisterial District Courts
Several magisterial courts operate in the county, located in different areas. Specific addresses and phone numbers can be found on the county page on the UJS website.
U.S. Middle District of Pennsylvania (Federal Court)
What Types of Cases Lackawanna Courts Hear
The county courts hear a wide range of cases. Here is a complete list of categories:
- Criminal cases — felonies, misdemeanors, summary offenses
- Civil lawsuits, including small claims cases
- Family law — divorce, custody, support, protective orders
- Probate law — inheritance, guardianship, trust management
- Juvenile cases — confidential
- Traffic violations and DUI
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
District Court Cases in Lackawanna
The Court of Common Pleas is the general jurisdiction court that handles the most serious cases in the county. Serious criminal cases come here after a preliminary hearing in a magisterial court, where a judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed. Civil lawsuits exceeding the jurisdiction of the magisterial court are also filed directly with the Court of Common Pleas. The court hears appeals from magisterial judges' decisions and post-conviction proceedings. The President Judge assigns cases to judges in the respective divisions. The Clerk of Judicial Records has been maintaining all documents of this court since 1878.
Magistrate Court Cases in Lackawanna
Magisterial district judges are the first point of contact for most residents with the court system. They conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases and fully hear misdemeanor and summary offense cases. Traffic fines and DUI cases start here.
Under Pennsylvania law, magisterial courts hear civil claims up to $12,000. Small claims cases are limited to the same amount but have a simplified procedure. Magistrates also issue arrest and search warrants, set bail, and conduct hearings on protective order violations.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Lackawanna
Family Law. Divorce, child custody, support, protective orders from domestic violence (PFA), and paternity cases are handled by the family court division of the Court of Common Pleas. Family court judges and administrative staff work at the Family Court Center at 123 Wyoming Avenue, first floor, Scranton, PA 18503.
Probate and Guardianship. Inheritance, guardianship, trust management, and related matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Orphans' Court, managed by the Register of Wills. Marriage certificates and certified copies of original marriage records can also be obtained there.
Juvenile Matters. Juvenile Court handles juvenile delinquency cases and child protection cases. These records are confidential under Pennsylvania law and not available for public search.
How Cases Move Through the Lackawanna Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with the filing of a criminal complaint with a magisterial judge or prosecutor. A civil case starts with the filing of a civil complaint with the court clerk.
- Judge Assignment. After registration, the case is assigned to a specific judge. In criminal cases, a magisterial judge conducts a preliminary hearing.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment. In civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pretrial Phase. Filing motions, exchanging evidence (discovery), plea negotiations, or mediation.
- Trial or Resolution. The case concludes with a jury verdict, plea agreement, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, filing an appeal with the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, or enforcing the court's decision.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Lackawanna
Administrative duties for all court divisions are performed by President Judge James A. Gibbons. Court Clerk Mauri Kelly is responsible for criminal cases, while the Clerk of Judicial Records maintains civil and family documents.
Local court rules of the 45th judicial district are published on the county page on the Unified Judicial System website. These rules govern filing deadlines, motion formats, and hearing procedures.
Public Access to Records. Under the public access rules of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, most court documents are publicly accessible. Exceptions apply to juvenile cases, certain family cases, and sealed materials. You can view the public access policy on the UJS website.
Hearings are generally open to the public. Some hearings may be held remotely — check with the specific court division office.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Lackawanna
- Court Case Search. The UJS portal allows free case searches by name, case number, or calendar event. Data is available for all levels of Pennsylvania courts.
- County Public Records. The public records page provides access to civil and family cases, assessment database, and hearing archives on assessment appeals.
- Clerk of Judicial Records. The Clerk's office accepts requests for certified copies of Court of Common Pleas documents. Visit in person or call for procedure details.
- Marriage Certificates and Orphans' Court Records. The Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court issues marriage licenses and certified record copies. Credit and debit cards are not accepted.
- State Inmate Search. The Department of Corrections Locator is updated daily and allows finding individuals in state facilities, including Lackawanna County Jail. For parolee searches, use the separate tool on the state website.
- Sex Offender Registry. Megan's Law is the official Pennsylvania State Police website for searching registered offenders by county, municipality, or zip code.
- Crime Statistics. County crime data can be found in arrest reports, which include information on the number and types of recorded crimes.
- Resident Assistance. The Lackawanna County Assistance Office provides social services and is located at 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton.
To start searching court records, visit LackawannaCourt.us or contact the court office directly.