York County Family Court Records in Pennsylvania
York County family court records are maintained by the Prothonotary at the York County Courthouse in York, Pennsylvania. Located in the 19th Judicial District in south-central Pennsylvania, York County's Court of Common Pleas handles all domestic relations matters including divorce, custody, support, protection from abuse orders, and adoption filings. The Prothonotary's office at 45 N. George Street is the primary custodian for family court filings in the district, with records dating back centuries. You can search York County family court records online through the UJS Portal, or contact the Prothonotary in York directly for transcript requests, document copies, and certified records.
York County Quick Facts
York County Family Court System
The Court of Common Pleas of York County operates within the 19th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 301, the court holds unlimited original jurisdiction over all civil and family law matters arising within York County. As one of Pennsylvania's larger counties by population, York County's family court handles a substantial volume of domestic relations filings annually across all case types. Multiple judges are assigned to family court matters in the 19th district, ensuring cases are heard in a timely manner.
York County family law proceedings are governed by Title 23 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, the comprehensive domestic relations framework covering all 67 counties. York County supplements these statewide statutes with local court rules that may affect filing requirements, hearing procedures, and documentation standards in specific case types. Residents and attorneys should review York County local rules before filing. The Prothonotary's office at 45 N. George Street can provide guidance on current filing requirements and fees for all family court proceedings in York County.
Note: York County's Orphans' Court is handled by a separate division reachable at 717-771-9288, while the Recorder of Deeds handles property records at 717-771-9608, separate from the Prothonotary's family court functions.
Accessing York County Family Court Records
York County family court records are governed by the statewide public access policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. Under Section 10 of that policy, family court records in Pennsylvania are not fully remotely accessible. Docket information and some case summaries are available through the UJS Portal, but complete case files require in-person access at the York County Courthouse or a direct request to the Prothonotary's office. The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch is a free starting point for searching York County cases by party name or case number.
Transcript requests from civil, custody, divorce, or PFA proceedings in York County are directed to the Prothonotary's Office at 45 N. George Street. The transcript fee schedule is $0.50 per page for electronic copies and $0.75 per page for paper copies. Online payment is available for transcript and copy fees. This makes York County more convenient for remote payment than many Pennsylvania counties that require in-person payment or mailed checks. For guidance on requesting transcripts, visit yorkcountypa.gov/224/Transcripts-Requests.
In-person access to York County family court records is available at the Prothonotary's office, reachable by phone at 717-771-9611 for civil matters and 717-771-9612 for criminal matters. Staff can search records by case number or party name and provide certified and plain copies of court documents. The Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, governs administrative records broadly, but court records in Pennsylvania follow the judicial public access policy rather than that statute. York County court records extending back to 1749 are part of a remarkable historical archive that may be of interest to genealogical researchers as well as legal professionals.
Types of Family Court Records in York County
The York County Prothonotary maintains the full range of family court records for one of Pennsylvania's most historically rich courthouse collections. Divorce records date from 1749 and include modern case files with the original complaint, any answer, equitable distribution agreements, and the final divorce decree. Marriage records in York County begin in 1885 and are maintained through the Prothonotary and related offices. These historical records have value for both legal proceedings and genealogical research.
Current family court records maintained by the Prothonotary include divorce, custody, support, and PFA case files. Custody records document initial petitions, parenting plans, temporary and final orders, and modification requests. Support records are coordinated with the York County Domestic Relations Section for income calculations, administrative orders, and enforcement. PFA records include emergency petitions, temporary orders, and final protection from abuse orders. Transcript requests for any of these civil, custody, divorce, or PFA proceedings go directly to the Prothonotary's office.
York County Orphans' Court handles adoption proceedings and guardianship matters from a separate office reachable at 717-771-9288. Adoption records are sealed once finalized. Guardianship records are generally accessible to interested parties. Probate records dating to 1773 are part of York County's extensive historical collection. Paternity actions and name change petitions are maintained as public records. Juvenile delinquency and dependency records are confidential under Pennsylvania law. The UJS Portal handles criminal case lookups, while the Prothonotary manages the civil and family records.
York County Prothonotary Office
Allison Blew serves as York County Prothonotary and manages the official repository of civil and family court records for the 19th Judicial District. The office at 45 N. George Street in York, reachable at 717-771-9611, processes all new family court filings, maintains historical records dating to 1749, issues certified copies of court documents, handles transcript requests with online payment capability, and responds to public records requests. The Prothonotary's office is the primary point of contact for all civil family court matters in York County.
The York County Prothonotary page provides information about family court services, transcript requests, and online payment options. Visit yorkcountypa.gov/prothonotary for current information about records access and Prothonotary services in York County.
The York County transcript request page provides details about fees and how to request filed transcripts from civil, custody, divorce, and PFA proceedings.
The York County government website provides comprehensive information about all county departments, courthouse locations, and services available for family court matters in York.
The York County government portal at yorkcountypa.gov connects residents with the Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Orphans' Court, Domestic Relations Section, and Recorder of Deeds for all matters related to family court proceedings in York County.
| Office |
York County Prothonotary Allison Blew 45 N. George Street York, PA 17401 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 717-771-9611 (Civil) | 717-771-9612 (Criminal) |
| Transcript Fees | $0.50/page electronic | $0.75/page paper. Online payment available. |
| Records History | Court and land records from 1749; marriage from 1885; probate from 1773 |
| Orphans' Court | 717-771-9288 (separate office) |
| Website | yorkcountypa.gov/prothonotary |
Legal Resources for York County Family Court
York County residents can access a range of legal assistance resources for family court proceedings. Pennsylvania Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to qualifying low-income individuals for matters such as custody, PFA, support, and divorce. The organization serves York County through its regional offices in south-central Pennsylvania. Apply or find contact information at palegalaid.net. Eligibility is determined by household income and the nature of the legal matter.
The Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us provides self-help guides and procedural resources for unrepresented litigants. Downloadable forms for common family court 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, including York County's extensive historical collection. The Pennsylvania court records site for York County at pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us/york/ provides county-specific guidance for accessing records.
Note: York County's online payment option for transcript fees makes it easier for parties to request court records remotely compared to many other Pennsylvania counties, and the 717-771-9611 civil phone line provides direct access to Prothonotary staff for questions about family court records.
Nearby Counties
York County borders several south-central Pennsylvania counties. Each maintains its own family court records at its own courthouse. If you need to confirm which county holds a specific case, verify the residential address used when the case was originally filed.