Jefferson County Family Court Records in Brookville, Pennsylvania
Jefferson County family court records are maintained by Prothonotary Kayla Kromer at the Court of Common Pleas in Brookville, Pennsylvania. The Jefferson County Prothonotary handles all civil and family court filings including divorce, custody, support, and Protection from Abuse matters. The courthouse is located at 200 Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825. You can search Jefferson County family court records through the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, or visit the Prothonotary's office in person during business hours for copies and certified documents.
Jefferson County Quick Facts
Jefferson County Family Court System
The Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas is part of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System, organized under 42 Pa.C.S. § 301. Jefferson County is located in western Pennsylvania, in the Allegheny Plateau region. The court in Brookville hears all family law cases filed by Jefferson County residents including divorce, custody, support, PFA, name changes, adoptions, and guardianship proceedings.
All Jefferson County family court matters are governed by Title 23 Pa.C.S. Domestic Relations. This statute sets out the grounds for divorce under Pennsylvania law, the best interests of the child standard for custody decisions, and the income-based Pennsylvania Support Guidelines used for calculating child and spousal support. Jefferson County judges apply these statewide rules alongside the court's local procedural requirements.
Criminal Summary Appeal forms are available through the Jefferson County court for appealing Magisterial District Judge decisions. Any person appealing a summary criminal conviction must file within 30 days of the MDJ's sentencing date. The appeal filing fee is $52.00 and is non-refundable. Jefferson County accepts UJS payment methods for criminal costs and fines, including appeals processed through the Clerk of Courts office under Deputy Clerk Ericka Gilbert Lundgren at 814-849-1658.
The Jefferson County government website at jeffersoncountypa.gov provides county department information and is the primary official resource for residents seeking to contact the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts in Brookville. The statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free access to Jefferson County case dockets.
Note: To request Jefferson County divorce records by mail, write to the Prothonotary's office with the full names of both parties, the approximate years of the case, and the township where the parties lived, along with payment for copy fees.
Jefferson County Family Court Records Access
Remote access to Jefferson County family court records is available through the INFOCON subscription service. The setup fee is $25, usage is billed at $1.10 per minute, and the minimum monthly charge is $25. INFOCON provides docket-level access to Jefferson County cases and may allow document retrieval depending on the county's configuration of the system. This service is most cost-effective for those who search Jefferson County records regularly.
Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, the Pennsylvania Public Access Policy limits remote access to dockets, orders, and published opinions. Full pleadings, financial affidavits, exhibits, and similar documents must be accessed in person at the Jefferson County Courthouse at 200 Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825, or by submitting a written mail request to the Prothonotary's office. Include full party names, approximate filing year, and the township involved when requesting divorce records by mail.
The free statewide UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch is the best starting point for identifying Jefferson County family court cases before subscribing to INFOCON or visiting the courthouse. Search by party name or docket number to find the case and confirm the correct docket before making a records request. The Jefferson County Prothonotary page provides additional details about the office's services and procedures.
The Jefferson County Prothonotary's office page shown below outlines the services and procedures for accessing family court records in Brookville.
The Jefferson County Prothonotary page at jeffersoncountypa.gov/departments/prothonotary provides instructions for requesting certified copies of family court records and contacting Kayla Kromer's office.
Types of Family Court Records in Jefferson County
Jefferson County family court records cover the full range of domestic relations proceedings heard at the Court of Common Pleas in Brookville. The Prothonotary maintains civil family case files including divorce, custody, and support matters. The Clerk of Courts maintains criminal and juvenile records. Each case type produces a unique set of documents filed under a court-assigned docket number and stored at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Divorce records in Jefferson County include the complaint in divorce, affidavit of consent or separation, any marital property settlement agreement, and the final divorce decree. To obtain a divorce record by mail, write to the Prothonotary with the full names of both parties, the approximate years the case was active, and the township of residence. Include payment for the applicable copy fee. The divorce decree is the document most commonly needed for name changes, remarriage, and property matters following a divorce in Jefferson County.
Custody records document the custody complaint, temporary and emergency orders, Guardian ad Litem reports when applicable, and the final custody arrangement covering legal and physical custody. Support records include income documentation, the support order, and subsequent modifications. PFA records reflect the complete process from the emergency petition through any final hearing, with final orders transmitted to the Pennsylvania State Police for the statewide registry. Criminal Summary Appeal records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and involve appeals from Magisterial District Judge decisions, with a 30-day filing deadline and a $52.00 non-refundable fee.
- Divorce records (including by mail request)
- Child custody and visitation orders
- Child support and spousal support cases
- Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders
- Criminal Summary Appeals ($52 fee, 30-day deadline)
- Adoption, guardianship, and name change records
Jefferson County Prothonotary Office
Prothonotary Kayla Kromer leads the Jefferson County Prothonotary's office at 200 Main Street, Brookville, Pennsylvania. The Prothonotary is the elected civil clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and is responsible for all civil family court records in Jefferson County. The office receives filings, assigns docket numbers, maintains the official case files, and provides certified copies of court orders and decrees upon request.
For criminal and juvenile matters, Deputy Clerk of Courts Ericka Gilbert Lundgren manages that division of the Jefferson County court records office. She can be reached by email at elundgren@jeffersoncountypa.gov or by phone at 814-849-1658. The Clerk of Courts office handles Criminal Summary Appeal filings, which carry a $52.00 non-refundable filing fee and must be submitted within 30 days of the MDJ's sentencing. UJS payment methods are accepted for all criminal costs and fines processed through the Clerk of Courts.
The Jefferson County government website shown below provides access to all county departments, including the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts offices.
The Jefferson County government website at jeffersoncountypa.gov provides comprehensive contact information for the Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, and all other county offices in Brookville.
| Court |
Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas Prothonotary: Kayla Kromer 200 Main Street Brookville, PA 15825 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts | Deputy: Ericka Gilbert Lundgren elundgren@jeffersoncountypa.gov | 814-849-1658 |
| Records Access | INFOCON subscription ($25 setup, $1.10/min, $25/mo min); in-person or mail at courthouse |
| Website | jeffersoncountypa.gov |
Legal Help for Jefferson County Family Court Cases
Jefferson County residents can access several legal assistance resources for family court matters. Free and reduced-cost services are available to qualifying individuals, and self-help tools are accessible to all residents regardless of income level.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves Jefferson County through regional offices in western Pennsylvania. Visit palegalaid.net to find the appropriate office and apply for free legal services. Legal aid handles custody disputes, PFA applications, support modifications, and divorce matters for qualifying individuals. The Temple Law Pennsylvania Family Court Research Guide provides an in-depth online resource covering statutes, procedures, and record access rules applicable to Jefferson County family court cases.
Downloadable court forms for custody, support, PFA, and divorce proceedings are available at pacourts.us/forms. These statewide standardized forms are accepted by the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas. The Pennsylvania Bar Association lawyer referral service at (800) 692-7375 can connect Jefferson County residents with family law attorneys handling cases in Brookville and surrounding communities.
Note: Jefferson County residents with low income may petition the court to proceed in forma pauperis, which can waive certain filing fees in civil family court proceedings including divorce and custody cases.
Nearby Counties
Jefferson County is surrounded by several Pennsylvania counties in the western region of the state. Family court jurisdiction depends on where the parties resided when the case was filed, so verify the correct county before seeking records or initiating new proceedings.