Court records in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, are maintained by the court clerk and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court office. LuzerneCourt.us will help you find publicly available information about court cases. Additionally, you can use the UJS portal, contact the Clerk of Judicial Records of Luzerne County, or visit the office in person. These resources cover criminal, civil, family, and probate cases.
Luzerne Court System Overview
Luzerne County is part of the 11th judicial district of Pennsylvania. The court of general jurisdiction — Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas — handles criminal, civil, family, and orphans' cases. At the lower level, Magisterial District Courts serve specific areas of the county. The courthouse is located in downtown Wilkes-Barre.
The court operates on weekdays. It is advisable to confirm the specific schedule with the office, as office hours may vary for different departments. Local court rules regulate procedural matters within the 11th judicial district.
Courts Serving Luzerne
State Court of General Jurisdiction
Magisterial District Courts
Several Magisterial District Courts operate in the county, each serving a designated area. Addresses and phone numbers of specific magisterial courts are available through the UJS portal by searching the judicial district.
Federal District Court
Luzerne County falls under the jurisdiction of the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Federal bankruptcy cases are also heard by this court.
What Types of Cases Luzerne Courts Hear
The courts of Luzerne County hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil lawsuits, including small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, alimony
- Probate cases: estates of deceased persons, guardianship, trust management
- Juvenile cases
- Child protection and adoption cases
- Traffic violations and DUI
District Court Cases in Luzerne
The Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas hears serious criminal cases after a preliminary hearing in a magisterial court. Civil lawsuits exceeding the jurisdictional limit of the magisterial court also come here. The court hears appeals from magisterial judges' decisions and post-sentence proceedings.
Cases are assigned to judges of the Court of Common Pleas. Criminal cases typically come after a bindover — when a magisterial judge determines there is sufficient evidence to transfer the case to a higher court. Civil cases begin with the filing of a complaint with the Prothonotary. You can view docket sheets online.
Magistrate Court Cases in Luzerne
Magisterial District Courts are the first point of contact for most county residents. They handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, preliminary hearings in felony cases, and DUI arraignments.
Civil cases in magisterial court are limited to amounts up to $12,000 under Pennsylvania law. Small claims are up to the same limit but with a simplified procedure. Magisterial judges also issue search and arrest warrants. In some high-volume areas of the county, certain judges specialize in specific categories of cases.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Luzerne
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, alimony, protective orders, and paternity establishment are handled by the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Petitions for termination of parental rights also fall under this division.
Probate Cases
The Orphans' Court Division handles cases involving the estates of deceased persons, guardianship appointments, and trust management. Documents are filed with the Register of Wills of Luzerne County.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile Court hears cases under the Juvenile Act and child protection cases. Juvenile case records are confidential under Pennsylvania law — access to them is strictly limited.
How Cases Move Through the Luzerne Court System
- Case Initiation: a criminal complaint, civil lawsuit, or petition is filed with the appropriate court.
- Judge Assignment: the case is assigned to a specific judge of the Court of Common Pleas or a magisterial judge.
- Initial Hearings: in criminal cases — arraignment; in civil cases — planning conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: parties file motions, conduct discovery. In criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Case Trial: a jury or judge renders a verdict. Civil cases may end in a settlement or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: sentencing, appeal filing, or enforcement of the judgment.
Each stage is recorded in the case docket, which can be viewed through the UJS case search system.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Luzerne
The administration of the courts of the 11th judicial district is carried out by the President Judge along with the Trial Court Administrator. This administration coordinates the schedule of hearings, case distribution, and office operations.
Local court rules of Luzerne County are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Earlier editions, including court administration rules, are also available online.
Regarding public access: most court records in Pennsylvania are publicly accessible under the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. Some records — juvenile cases, sealed cases, certain family cases — have restricted access. Requests for public records not related to court cases are governed by the Right-to-Know Law.
Hearings are generally open to the public. You can attend sessions in person at the courthouse. Some hearings may be held remotely — check with the court office or the Trial Court Administrator's office.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Luzerne
- Court Case Search: UJS Portal Case Search allows you to search for Court of Common Pleas and magisterial court cases by name, case number, or other criteria for free.
- Docket Sheets: The docket sheets page on the Unified Judicial System's website explains how to access dockets and what they contain.
- Public Court Records: General information on accessing court records is available on the Public Records page of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.
- Criminal History Check: Through the PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) system, you can order a criminal record check online. This is the official tool of the State Police.
- Inmate Locator: The Inmate Locator of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections allows you to find individuals under state supervision. For those in local facilities, this tool does not work — refer to the inmate and parolee search page.
- Arrest Warrants: The Warrants Division of the Luzerne County Sheriff's Office executes court-issued warrants.
- Sheriff's Sales: Information about real estate sales through the sheriff's office is available on the county's website.
- State Police Reports: Public Information Release Reports from the Pennsylvania State Police are published by region.
- Sheriff's Forms and Documents: Forms for service requests and other documents are available for download.
For additional information about court records and resources in Luzerne County, visit LuzerneCourt.us.