Lawrence County Family Court Records - New Castle, Pennsylvania
Lawrence County family court records are maintained by Prothonotary Jodi L. Esper at the 53rd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The Lawrence County Prothonotary handles all family court filings including divorce, custody, support, and Protection from Abuse matters. The courthouse is the Lawrence County Government Center at 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101. You can search Lawrence County family court records through the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, or contact the Prothonotary's office in New Castle for in-person access and certified copies.
Lawrence County Quick Facts
Lawrence County Family Court System
The Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas operates within Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System under 42 Pa.C.S. § 301. Lawrence County is located in western Pennsylvania near the Ohio state border, with New Castle serving as the county seat. The 53rd Judicial District hears all family law matters for Lawrence County residents including divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, Protection from Abuse orders, adoption, guardianship, name changes, and paternity actions.
Lawrence County family court proceedings are governed by Title 23 Pa.C.S. Domestic Relations. This statewide statute defines the grounds for divorce in Pennsylvania, the factors courts consider in custody determinations, and the method for calculating support obligations. Lawrence County judges apply these rules together with the court's local procedural requirements to resolve family law disputes in the New Castle area.
The Lawrence County Prothonotary is Jodi L. Esper, whose office maintains all civil and family court records in the 53rd Judicial District. The Prothonotary maintains divorce records. Marriage records are kept separately by the Register of Wills at the Lawrence County Government Center. Both offices are located at 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101. Understanding which office holds the records you need will help you make a more efficient request when you visit or write to the Lawrence County Courthouse.
The statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free docket-level access to Lawrence County cases. Search by party name or docket number to locate specific cases before subscribing to INFOCON or visiting the courthouse in New Castle. The Lawrence County government website provides contact information for all county departments.
Note: Lawrence County marriage records are public records held by the Register of Wills and are available to any member of the public regardless of their relationship to the parties named in the record.
Lawrence County Family Court Records Access
Remote access to Lawrence County family court records is available through the INFOCON subscription service. INFOCON charges a $25 setup fee, $1.10 per minute of usage, and a minimum monthly charge of $25. This system provides docket access and may allow document retrieval depending on how Lawrence County has configured the system. INFOCON is the preferred remote access method for legal professionals and researchers who search Lawrence County records on a regular basis.
Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, the Pennsylvania Public Access Policy governs what court records can be accessed remotely. Docket sheets, court orders, and published opinions are available through authorized systems. Full pleadings, financial affidavits, custody evaluations, and other case documents require an in-person visit to the Lawrence County Prothonotary at 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101, or a written mail request with appropriate fee payment.
The free statewide UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch is available to anyone without a subscription and shows docket-level information for Lawrence County family court cases including case numbers, party names, filing dates, and case status. Use this free tool first to identify the correct docket number before paying for INFOCON access or traveling to the courthouse in New Castle.
A third-party search resource for Lawrence County court records is shown below and can help locate case information as a starting point for further research.
This Pennsylvania court records index provides an additional search pathway for locating Lawrence County family court filings before contacting the Prothonotary or subscribing to INFOCON.
Types of Family Court Records in Lawrence County
Lawrence County family court records include all domestic relations proceedings filed at the 53rd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas in New Castle. The Prothonotary maintains divorce records and all civil family case files. The Register of Wills maintains marriage records. Each case type generates its own set of documents filed under a unique docket number and stored at the Lawrence County Government Center.
Divorce records in Lawrence County are filed with and maintained by the Prothonotary's office. These include the divorce complaint, proof of service, any affidavit of consent or separation, property settlement agreements, and the final divorce decree. The decree is the legally binding document dissolving the marriage and is the most commonly requested record for legal purposes such as remarriage and name changes. Marriage records are held separately by the Register of Wills at the same courthouse location. Child custody records in Lawrence County contain the custody complaint, any temporary or emergency orders, and the final custody order covering both legal and physical custody of the children.
Support records document income submissions, the support order calculated under the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines, and any subsequent modifications. Protection from Abuse records in Lawrence County reflect the full PFA process from the initial petition through any final hearing, with final orders sent to the Pennsylvania State Police for the statewide registry. Adoption records are sealed under Pennsylvania law. Name change petitions, guardianship proceedings, and paternity actions are also filed through the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas and are maintained by the Prothonotary.
- Divorce records (Prothonotary)
- Marriage records (Register of Wills)
- Child custody and visitation orders
- Child support and spousal support cases
- Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders
- Adoption and guardianship records
- Name change petitions and paternity actions
Lawrence County Prothonotary Office
Prothonotary Jodi L. Esper leads the Lawrence County Prothonotary's office at the Lawrence County Government Center, 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101. As the civil clerk of the 53rd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas, the Prothonotary receives all civil and family case filings, maintains the official docket, stores case files, and provides certified copies of court orders and decrees to authorized requestors.
To request Lawrence County family court records in person, visit the Prothonotary's office at 430 Court Street during regular business hours. Staff can search by party name or docket number and provide copies of documents on request. Certified copies of divorce decrees and other court orders are available for a per-page fee plus a certification charge. For mail requests, include the full names of all parties, the approximate filing year, the docket number if known, and a check or money order for estimated copy fees. The Lawrence County government website provides current contact details and any updates about courthouse services.
The Lawrence County government website shown below is the primary official resource for residents and researchers seeking contact information and services at the 53rd Judicial District courthouse in New Castle.
The Lawrence County government website at lawrencecountypa.gov provides contact details for the Prothonotary and Register of Wills, as well as information about all county services available to New Castle area residents.
| Court |
Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas 53rd Judicial District Prothonotary: Jodi L. Esper Lawrence County Government Center 430 Court Street New Castle, PA 16101 |
|---|---|
| Records Access | INFOCON subscription ($25 setup, $1.10/min, $25/mo min); in-person or mail at courthouse |
| Website | lawrencecountypa.gov |
Note: INFOCON is a subscription service and charges apply from the moment of login; obtain the docket number through the free UJS Portal before starting an INFOCON session to minimize usage time and cost.
Legal Help for Lawrence County Family Court Cases
Lawrence County residents facing family court proceedings have access to legal assistance resources through Pennsylvania statewide programs. Free and reduced-cost legal services are available to qualifying individuals in the New Castle area.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid serves Lawrence 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 based on income. The Temple Law Pennsylvania Family Court Research Guide provides comprehensive coverage of Pennsylvania family court procedures, applicable statutes, and record access policies relevant to Lawrence County's 53rd Judicial District.
Downloadable court forms for custody, support, PFA, and divorce cases are available at pacourts.us/forms. These statewide forms are accepted by the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas in New Castle. The Pennsylvania Bar Association lawyer referral service at (800) 692-7375 can connect Lawrence County residents with family law attorneys practicing in New Castle and western Pennsylvania.
Nearby Counties
Lawrence County is located in western Pennsylvania near the Ohio state border. Several Pennsylvania counties border Lawrence County. Family court jurisdiction is based on residence at the time of filing, so verify the correct county before requesting records or filing new cases.