Search Northampton County Family Court Records Online
Northampton County family court records are maintained by Prothonotary Holly Ruggiero at the 3rd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas in Easton, Pennsylvania. The courthouse at 669 Washington Street handles divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, Protection from Abuse proceedings, adoptions, and guardianships for Northampton County residents. Free online docket access is available going back to the mid-1980s, though document copies require a visit to the Easton courthouse or a mail request. You can also search Northampton County family court records through the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us.
Northampton County Quick Facts
Northampton County Family Court System
The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas serves the 3rd Judicial District and has jurisdiction over all civil and family law matters arising within the county. The court follows Title 23 Pa.C.S., Pennsylvania's domestic relations statute, in all family court proceedings. Northampton County includes major communities like Bethlehem, Easton, and Palmer Township, representing a diverse mix of urban and suburban populations along the Lehigh Valley and Delaware River corridor.
Northampton County provides a Civil Court Case Search system that allows free public access to docket information. Coverage extends back to the mid-1980s. This system is accessible online and enables anyone to look up case status, filing dates, party names, and hearing history without cost. This is one of the more accessible county systems in Pennsylvania for docket-level research. However, the system does not link to actual court documents, which are only available in person or by mail from the Prothonotary in Easton.
The Co-Parenting Education Program in Northampton County is available to parents who are involved in custody proceedings. This program helps parents develop communication strategies and co-parenting plans focused on the best interests of their children. Participation may be required in some cases by the presiding judge. Information about the program is available through the Northampton County court system.
Note: Northampton County's free online docket access covers cases from the mid-1980s forward. Cases from before this period require in-person research at the courthouse in Easton.
How to Access Northampton County Family Court Records
Free online docket access is available through the Northampton County Civil Court Case Search system. Visit the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas website at nccpa.org to access the online search portal. You can search by party name, case number, or other identifiers to find docket information for family court cases filed in Northampton County from the mid-1980s to present. No registration or subscription is required.
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us also provides statewide docket search capability. Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, dockets, orders, and opinions are remotely accessible but full case files require in-person or mail requests. The UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch can supplement your Northampton County research.
In-person access to documents is available at the Prothonotary's office at 669 Washington Street in Easton. Staff can retrieve documents from case files upon request. Bring valid identification. Copy fees apply. The office can provide certified copies of court orders, decrees, and other filed documents. Call ahead to confirm hours and fees before visiting the courthouse.
Mail requests are accepted. Provide the case number or party names, filing year, and a description of the documents needed. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, establishes your right to access public government records including court dockets. A third-party resource at pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us/northampton/ provides an additional index for Northampton County cases.
Types of Family Court Records in Northampton County
Northampton County family court records cover all domestic relations proceedings filed with the Court of Common Pleas. Divorce records include the complaint, affidavits, property settlement agreements, and the final decree of divorce. These records are publicly accessible unless sealed. Equitable distribution proceedings may involve complex financial disclosures, particularly for cases in the Bethlehem area where many residents have substantial marital estates.
Child custody records document all petitions, temporary and final orders, and modification proceedings in Northampton County. The Co-Parenting Education Program creates additional records in some cases. Support records cover child support and spousal support orders and the enforcement history managed through the Domestic Relations Section. Protection From Abuse records document PFA petitions and orders in Northampton County. These are civil proceedings with enforceable orders registered in law enforcement systems.
Adoption records are maintained by the Orphans' Court and are generally sealed after the adoption is finalized. Guardianship records are similarly handled through Orphans' Court. Juvenile dependency and delinquency records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and are confidential under Pennsylvania law. Name change petitions and paternity actions are public filings at the Northampton County courthouse in Easton.
The following record types fall under Northampton County family court jurisdiction:
- Divorce and equitable distribution
- Child custody and Co-Parenting Program participation
- Child support and spousal support
- Protection From Abuse orders
- Adoptions and guardianships (Orphans' Court)
- Name changes and paternity actions
Northampton County Prothonotary Office
The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas website at nccpa.org hosts the Civil Court Case Search for free online docket access to Northampton County family court records.
The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas website provides free access to the Civil Court Case Search system, where users can search dockets for family court records going back to the mid-1980s without cost or registration.
| Prothonotary |
Holly Ruggiero, Prothonotary 669 Washington Street Easton, PA 18042 |
|---|---|
| Court | Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, 3rd Judicial District |
| Online Access | FREE online docket search; coverage from mid-1980s; documents NOT linked online; documents require in-person or mail request |
| Website | northamptoncounty.org |
The Northampton County government website at northamptoncounty.org provides department contact information, office hours, and links to court services for residents of Easton, Bethlehem, and throughout the county.
The official Northampton County government website serves as the central resource for locating court offices, department contact information, and services for residents seeking Northampton County family court records in Easton.
Legal Help for Family Court in Northampton County
Northampton County residents have access to legal aid, bar association referrals, and court self-help tools for family court matters. The Lehigh Valley region, which includes Northampton County, has a well-developed legal services network that serves residents in Easton, Bethlehem, and surrounding communities.
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network provides free civil legal help to income-qualifying residents. Visit palegalaid.net to locate the Lehigh Valley Legal Aid office serving Northampton County. This office handles family law matters including custody, support, and PFA cases. Attorneys and legal advocates assist clients with filings at the Easton courthouse and provide representation in hearings.
The Temple University research guide at guides.temple.edu explains how to use the free Northampton County online docket search and how it relates to the statewide UJS Portal. Court forms for self-represented parties are at pacourts.us/forms. The Northampton County Bar Association can provide referrals to private family law attorneys in the Easton and Bethlehem area for those who do not qualify for legal aid but need legal representation in family court proceedings.
Note: Northampton County's Co-Parenting Education Program is a resource that can benefit parents involved in custody disputes, regardless of whether they have legal representation. Ask the court about program availability when your custody case is filed.
Cities in Northampton County
Northampton County includes major communities in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. All family court matters for residents of these communities are filed at the Prothonotary's office at the courthouse in Easton, the county seat.
Family court cases from Bethlehem and all other Northampton County municipalities are filed with the Prothonotary at the Court of Common Pleas at 669 Washington Street in Easton, Pennsylvania.
Nearby Counties
Northampton County is located in eastern Pennsylvania along the New Jersey border. The county shares borders with several neighboring Pennsylvania counties. Family court jurisdiction is determined by the county of residence of the filing party at the time the case is initiated.