Union County Family Court Records in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Union County family court records are maintained by the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts at the Union County Courthouse in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Located in the 17th Judicial District in central Pennsylvania, Union County's Court of Common Pleas handles all domestic relations matters, including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, protection from abuse orders, paternity, adoption, guardianship, and name changes. The combined Prothonotary office at 103 S. Second Street is the central filing office for all family court matters in the county. You can search Union County family court records through the statewide UJS Portal, or visit the Prothonotary in Lewisburg in person for full document access and certified copies.

Union County Family Court System

The 17th Judicial District encompasses both Union and Snyder Counties. Union County's Court of Common Pleas has unlimited original jurisdiction over all family law matters under 42 Pa.C.S. § 301. Judges assigned to the 17th district preside over divorce, custody, support, PFA, juvenile, and Orphans' Court proceedings filed in Union County. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts handles both civil and criminal court filings from the combined office in Lewisburg.

Pennsylvania family law proceedings in Union County follow Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, governing all aspects of domestic relations in the Commonwealth. Divorce proceedings require at least one party to have been a Pennsylvania resident for six months before filing. Custody matters proceed under Chapter 53 of Title 23, which sets forth the best interests of the child standard. Support matters are administered through the Domestic Relations Section of the Union County courthouse, which handles income calculations, payment processing, and enforcement actions.

Note: Union County shares its judicial district with Snyder County, so judges serving the 17th district handle cases from both counties on a rotating or assigned basis.

Accessing Union County Family Court Records

Union County family court records are subject to the statewide public access policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. Under Section 10 of that policy, family court records are not fully accessible remotely. However, Union County offers relatively accessible records through the UJS Portal. Use the case search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch to look up Union County cases by party name or case number. The Portal provides docket summaries, basic case information, and links to available orders and opinions.

For full case file access, visit the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts at 103 S. Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837, during office hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff can search by name or case number and provide photocopies of filed documents. Certified copies of orders or decrees are available for the applicable fee and are often required for legal purposes. Bring valid identification when visiting the courthouse in Lewisburg.

Written mail requests are accepted and should include full party names, the approximate year the case was filed, and a check or money order for applicable copy fees. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of any copies. Court records in Pennsylvania follow the judicial access policy rather than the Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, which applies to administrative government records. The Union County court records research site at pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us/union/ provides additional guidance for accessing records in this county.

Types of Family Court Records in Union County

The Union County Prothonotary maintains a comprehensive set of family court records. Divorce case files include the original complaint, any answer or counter-complaint, equitable distribution agreements, and the final divorce decree. Union County divorce records reflect all stages of a dissolution proceeding from initial filing through final order. These records are generally public under Pennsylvania's judicial access policy, with narrow exceptions for particularly sensitive information ordered sealed by the court.

Custody records in Union County document initial custody petitions, interim orders, parenting plans agreed to by the parties or ordered by the court, final custody decisions, and any subsequent modification petitions. Support records involve income calculations performed by the Domestic Relations Section, administrative support orders, and enforcement proceedings for non-payment. PFA records include emergency petitions, temporary orders, contested hearing results, and final protection from abuse orders. Each case type receives a separate docket number from the Prothonotary.

Orphans' Court matters including adoption and guardianship are filed through the same combined office. Adoption records are sealed by statute once finalized. Guardianship records are generally accessible to interested parties. Paternity actions and name change petitions are part of the public court record maintained by the Prothonotary in Lewisburg. Juvenile dependency and delinquency matters are confidential under Pennsylvania law.

Union County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts

Diane Miller's combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office in Lewisburg is the central records office for all Union County family court matters. The office processes new filings, maintains case files, issues certified copies of court documents, handles marriage license applications by appointment, and coordinates with other courthouse offices for related proceedings. The office hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday govern when in-person services are available. Marriage license applications require a scheduled appointment.

The Union County Prothonotary page at unioncountypa.org provides contact details, office hours, and information about specific services available through the combined office.

The Union County government website provides comprehensive county department information and courthouse resources for residents involved in family court proceedings.

The Union County government portal at unioncountypa.org connects residents with all county departments, including the Prothonotary, Domestic Relations Section, and other offices relevant to family court proceedings in Lewisburg.

Legal Resources for Union County Family Court

Union County residents involved in family court proceedings can access several legal resources serving central Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income individuals, including assistance with custody, PFA, support, and divorce matters in Union County. Apply or find the nearest office at palegalaid.net. Eligibility is determined by household income and the nature of the legal matter.

The PA Courts website at pacourts.us offers self-help resources and procedural guides for unrepresented litigants in all types of family court matters. Fillable forms for common filings are available at pacourts.us/forms. The Temple University court records research guide at guides.temple.edu explains how to research Pennsylvania family court records across all 67 counties and is a useful resource before contacting the Union County Prothonotary. The Pennsylvania court records site for Union County at pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us/union/ provides county-specific guidance for records research.

Note: Residents can contact the Pennsylvania Bar Association lawyer referral service at (800) 692-7375 to find a family law attorney licensed to practice in Union County and the 17th Judicial District.

Nearby Counties

Union County is located in central Pennsylvania and borders several nearby counties. If you are uncertain which county holds a particular family court case, confirm the address used at the time of filing. Each county maintains its own records independently.

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