Access Luzerne County Family Court Records
Luzerne County family court records are filed at the Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The Prothonotary at 200 N. River Street, overseen by Tara DeCosmo, maintains all civil and family court filings for the 11th Judicial District, including divorce, custody, support, Protection from Abuse, and adoption cases. Online docket access goes back to the 1980s. You can search Luzerne County family court records through the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. In-person access and certified copies are available at the Wilkes-Barre courthouse during business hours.
Luzerne County Quick Facts
Luzerne County Family Court System
The Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas handles all family law matters for residents of the county. The court operates within the 11th Judicial District and follows Pennsylvania procedural rules established under Title 23 Pa.C.S., which governs domestic relations. Judges assigned to the family division hear cases involving divorce, equitable distribution of marital property, child custody and visitation disputes, child support, and Protection From Abuse petitions.
Family court matters in Luzerne County are filed with the Prothonotary for civil and family cases or the Clerk of Courts for criminal and juvenile proceedings. The Domestic Relations Section separately handles support enforcement and related matters. Adoption and guardianship proceedings fall under the Orphans' Court division. Each branch maintains its own records, so searchers may need to contact multiple offices depending on the type of family court record they need.
The Register of Wills in Luzerne County also holds records relevant to many family matters. Marriage licenses have been on file since 1885. The office provides several online access methods including Landex Remote and Landex Webstore platforms, as well as IQS Infodex. Marriage license applications can now be initiated online. Virtual appointments are available via Skype, and the Hazleton Annex office is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM for residents in the southern part of the county.
Note: Luzerne County family court records coverage goes back to the 1980s through the online system, though some older records may require an in-person visit to the courthouse.
How to Access Luzerne County Family Court Records
Luzerne County provides online access to court records through the county's portal. You can search records as a guest by clicking the guest access option. The system covers cases going back to the 1980s. When documents are available, they can be retrieved at a fee of $0.35 per page. This is one of the more accessible county systems in Pennsylvania for remote records retrieval.
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us also provides statewide case search capability. Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, the public has remote access to dockets, orders, and opinions but must visit the courthouse in person or submit a mail request to obtain full case files. Basic docket information is free to search through the UJS Portal. For documents not available remotely, contact the Luzerne County Prothonotary directly.
In-person access is available at the main courthouse at 200 N. River Street in Wilkes-Barre. Staff can assist with name searches and case number lookups. Mail requests are also accepted. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, governs your right to request public government records, including court dockets accessible under that framework.
A third-party resource at pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us/luzerne/ also provides a search interface for Luzerne County records. These services can supplement your search but may not reflect real-time court filings.
Types of Family Court Records in Luzerne County
Luzerne County family court records span a wide range of proceedings governed by Pennsylvania domestic relations law. Divorce records include the complaint, proof of service, any counterclaims, agreements on property distribution, and the final decree. Equitable distribution orders are part of the divorce file and may reference marital assets in the Wilkes-Barre area and throughout the county.
Child custody records include petitions, temporary and final custody orders, parenting plans, and modification requests. These records are sensitive because they involve minors. While the docket is generally accessible, certain case documents may be restricted to protect the privacy of children involved in Luzerne County custody proceedings.
Support records include both child support and spousal support orders. The Domestic Relations Section handles enforcement of these orders in Luzerne County. Protection From Abuse records document PFA petitions, temporary orders, and final orders. These are part of the public record unless sealed by the court. Juvenile records, including dependency and delinquency matters, are generally confidential and not publicly accessible.
The following record types fall under family court jurisdiction in Luzerne County:
- Divorce and equitable distribution proceedings
- Child custody and visitation orders
- Child support and spousal support
- Protection From Abuse petitions and orders
- Adoption and guardianship (Orphans' Court)
- Name change petitions
- Paternity determinations
Note: Juvenile dependency and delinquency records in Luzerne County are confidential by statute and are not available to the general public through standard records requests.
Luzerne County Prothonotary and Court Offices
The Register of Wills office provides access to historical records and current marriage licenses. The Luzerne County government website at luzernecounty.org contains information about fees, services, and online access options including Landex Remote and the Landex Webstore.
The Luzerne County Register of Wills maintains marriage licenses, historical birth and death records, and online search tools through the Landex platform for remote access to Luzerne County family court records.
| Prothonotary |
Tara DeCosmo, Prothonotary 200 N. River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 |
|---|---|
| Court | Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, 11th Judicial District |
| Online Access | Available - search records as guest; coverage back to 1980s; $0.35/page for documents |
| Website | luzernecounty.org |
The Luzerne County government homepage at luzernecounty.org links to all court-related departments, including the Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Domestic Relations, and Register of Wills.
The official Luzerne County government website provides a directory of all county offices, including court services and Prothonotary contact information for family court records access in Wilkes-Barre.
Legal Help for Family Court Matters in Luzerne County
Navigating family court in Luzerne County can be complex. Whether you are dealing with a divorce, a custody dispute, or a support matter, legal assistance can make a significant difference in your outcome. Several organizations serve Luzerne County residents who need help with family law matters.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network provides free civil legal assistance to income-qualifying residents throughout Pennsylvania, including Luzerne County. Visit palegalaid.net to find local offices and determine if you qualify for help with family court matters. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Legal Services office serves Luzerne County residents with a range of civil and family law issues.
The Temple University Beasley School of Law maintains a research guide for Pennsylvania court records at guides.temple.edu. This resource explains how to search for records across different Pennsylvania court systems. For additional research on case law and statutes, the guide includes links to primary sources governing family court proceedings under Pennsylvania law.
The Luzerne County Bar Association can provide referrals to local family law attorneys in Wilkes-Barre. Self-represented litigants can also access court forms through the Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us and through the UJS Forms Portal at pacourts.us/forms.
Note: If you need legal help with a PFA order in Luzerne County, local domestic violence organizations can provide emergency assistance and safety planning alongside legal advocacy services.
Nearby Counties
Luzerne County borders several counties in northeastern and east-central Pennsylvania. If you are searching for family court records and are unsure which county has jurisdiction, check the address of the filing party at the time the case was started. Pennsylvania courts require cases to be filed in the county where the plaintiff resides or where key events occurred.