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Northampton County, Pennsylvania Court Records

Northampton County court records are legal documents created, entered, filed, and maintained by a court or custodian in connection with a case or proceeding. These records also include court-created documentation, such as dockets, indices, orders, opinions, judgments, and decrees (in paper or electronic form). Court records help track what was filed and the court’s decision in a case, promote due process and accountability, and preserve historical accounts of decisions and outcomes.

In Northampton County, the Court of Common Pleas is the county’s trial-level court, handling major criminal cases, complex civil claims, family matters (divorce, child custody, and support), juvenile cases, estate matters, adoptions, and other disputes.

Under Pennsylvania’s trial court system, different custodians typically maintain documents filed within their jurisdiction. In Northampton County, the Clerk of Courts maintains Criminal Court records, while the Prothonotary is responsible for the recording and filing of civil legal documents. The Orphans’ Court Division is the record keeper for probate-type matters (e.g., adoptions, guardianships). Magisterial District Judges in Northampton are responsible for lower-level cases and preliminary stages of criminal cases (e.g., initial arraignments or hearings); they may also issue search warrants and set bail.

Pennsylvania’s statewide Case Records Public Access Policy establishes a framework for maintaining and providing public access to the state’s court records. The policy defines what constitutes a case record, a record request, and public access options (in person or remotely, where available), as well as which information is restricted or confidential.

In Pennsylvania, court records are separate from vital records (maintained by the Department of Health) or arrest information (maintained by local police departments and sheriffs’ offices). Federal case files (for cases filed in the U.S. District Court and not the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas) are available through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).

Are Northampton County Court Records Public?

Yes. Most Northampton County court records are generally considered public unless specific statutes or rules restrict or prevent access to certain case types and documents.Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System (UJS) Case Records Public Access Policy is the "controlling state law" that governs public access to case records across the UJS (including Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts).

In practice, requesters may access dockets and filings of most public case types (subject to redaction or confidential filing rules). These court records include criminal case dockets and filings, with certain exceptions (e.g., warrants, affidavits, grand jury matters), as well as civil, family law, and landlord-tenant cases.

It is worth noting that even when a case is "public," the Case Records Public Access Policy requires that certain sensitive identifiers and documents be treated as confidential information (Section 7.0) or confidential documents (Section 8.0). Some court records that are restricted or closed to the public include:

  • Juvenile records
  • Juvenile dependency and delinquency records
  • Adoption and certain Orphans’ Court cases
  • Guardianship proceedings for allegedly incapacitated persons
  • Mental health treatment proceedings
  • Child support and domestic-relations protections
  • Grand jury proceedings and related documents
  • Sensitive and personally identifying information, including Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers, driver’s license numbers, and State Identification (SID) Numbers.

What Information is Available in Northampton County Court Records?

Depending on the court level and the case type (criminal, civil, family, etc.), the information contained in Northampton County court records usually falls into these categories:

1. Case-identifying information (the "front page" details): case caption or parties, docket number or case number, and the court or filing office, case type, and attorney appearances and representation details.

2. The docket typically contains filing dates and the titles of documents filed (complaint, motion, petition, etc.), court actions and events (hearings scheduled/held, continuances), orders issued, and important events (e.g., case transferred, case closed)

3. Filed documents and court-generated documents

  • Criminal cases (Common Pleas and MDJ levels): criminal complaints or charging documents (and later filings that refine charges), bail-related entries, hearing notices, continuances, motions (e.g., suppression motions), responses, and related orders, plea entries, trial listings, verdict information, sentencing information, and post-sentence filings.
  • Civil cases: complaint or petition and proof of service, answers and preliminary objections, motions and petitions, court orders, judgments, and (in some cases) enforcement-related filings
  • Family law: divorce pleadings, custody petitions, and related motions, orders (custody orders, divorce decrees, and support orders), hearing notices, and other court scheduling documents.

4. Outcomes and dispositions

  • Disposition (dismissed, withdrawn, guilty plea, verdict, judgment entered, decree granted)
  • Final orders, judgments, or decrees, and dates entered
  • Sentences (criminal) and sometimes financial obligations ordered (fines or restitution), depending on access rules

Northampton County Court Records Search

The following section explains the public access and search options for obtaining Northampton County court records.

Online access

Docket Sheets: Requesters may conduct a statewide docket search for most Court of Common Pleas docket sheets (and other UJS courts) using Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System Web Portal Case Search. Users may search by participant name, docket number, Offense Tracking Number (OTN), and other identifiers. They may also view and print search results (docket sheets) online.

Northampton County Civil (Prothonotary) Online Case Search: This platform allows users to mainly access Court of Common Pleas civil case docket information, not all court cases. The Case Search page allows searches using a case number, participant name, participant address, and reference number.

Wills and Orphans’ Court online portal: The Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court offers online access to public records through the "Visit Our Online Portal" link on its website. For a fee, users may access estate (probate) case information and documents in the office, public Orphans’ Court filings, and marriage record information (1994 to the present). The portal also supports online marriage applications.

Note: Online access to Northampton County court records varies by court or issue. While most civil filings or probate cases are typically public and available online with few restrictions, others may be subject to legal confidentiality rules. Family law, juveniles, adoption, guardianships, or sealed court cases are often inaccessible to the general public online.

In-person access

Individuals seeking copies, certification, or staff assistance in finding Northampton County court records may visit the relevant courthouse filing offices (record custodians).

For criminal records from the Northampton County Criminal Court Division, inquirers may submit a request form for publicly available documents to the Clerk of Courts (the record custodian). Requesters may also obtain courthouse contact details and business hours for the Prothonotary and the Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court from the respective record keepers’ websites.

Mail and phone requests

For criminal records, interested parties may contact the Northampton Criminal Court Division to search (for a $10.00 fee) and request criminal records by mail. Such mail requests are expected to include a business check, a certified check, or a money order payable to "Criminal Division." Only requesters who wish to obtain a receipt for mailed payments are required to include a self-addressed stamped envelope in their mailed request.

For civil filings and related questions, requesters may contact the Prothonotary by phone at (610) 829-6500. Those seeking records maintained by the Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court may email their probate request to Probates@northamptoncounty.org or call 610-829-6487 or 610-829-6486 (provided specifically for probate requests and questions).

Fees for Court Records in Northampton County

Civil Records (Prothonotary/Civil Division

According to the civil/prothonotary fee schedule published by the Northampton County (effective December 1, 2025), the cost of obtaining copies of court records is as follows:

  • A certified copy of a court record (any paper) from the office costs $5.75 and $1.25 per additional page.

Copy fees depend on who makes the copies:

  • Photocopies made by the Prothonotary’s Office cost $0.30 per page.
  • Photocopies made by the requester using public copy equipment attract a fee of $0.25 per page.
  • Copying fee for mail-in requests (e.g., docket entries requested by mail) costs $1.00 for the first page and $0.30 per additional page.

Register of Wills (Probate) Records

The Northampton County Wills fee schedule lists photocopies at $0.50 per page. Certification of a will or any other document attracts a fee of $10.00 plus applicable photocopy charges ($0.50 per page).

Online access (Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court portal): This is a fee-based service. As of January 2026, the subscriber options available include $5.00 per day, $30.00 per month, or $150.00 per year, plus $0.25 per page for documents and a $2.00 per online transaction processing fee.

Vital Records (birth and death)

In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Health typically maintains most vital records, not the county. Requesters may obtain death records from 1893 to 1936 from the Northampton County Register of Wills Office. However, they must request death records from 1936 to the present from the State "Division of Vital Records" (i.e., Pennsylvania’s vital records office). The Vital Records Office charges $20.00 per birth or death certificate, and an additional $10.00 processing fee for online orders.

Northampton County Courthouse Locations

Northampton County Court of Common Pleas (Main Courthouse)

669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042

(610) 829-6500

The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas is the trial-level court for the county. The different divisions within the court and their case types are as follows:

  • Civil Division (Common Pleas): Handles civil litigation and filings, including money damage actions and related civil matters. Civil filings processed through Northampton County’s Prothonotary (Civil Division) include mortgage foreclosures, personal injury, medical malpractice, mechanics’ liens, judgments, federal tax liens, name changes, and certain appeals.

Phone: (610) 829-6457 (Clerk of Court/Prothonotary contact)

  • Criminal Division (Common Pleas): Criminal prosecutions ranging from serious felonies (including homicide) to misdemeanors.

Phone: (610) 829-6453 (Criminal Division contact)

  • Family/Domestic Relations (Common Pleas and Domestic Relations Section): Hears family matters, including divorce, custody, and support. The Domestic Relations Section (DRS) specifically handles support-related functions, such as establishing and enforcing support orders (child/spousal), establishing paternity, locating absent obligors, and enforcing medical support and alimony orders.

Domestic Relations Section (Support)

Address: 126 S. Union Street, Easton, PA 18042

Phone: (610) 829-7700

Custody Office (Family-related court services)

Address: 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042

Phone: (610) 829-6960

  • Orphans’ Court/Register of Wills (Common Pleas): Orphans’ Court matters at this level include estate/probate affairs and adoptions, among other Orphans’ Court case types.

Orphans’ Court / Register of Wills (Probate)

Address: 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042

Phone: (610) 829-6488; (610) 829-6487 or (610) 829-6486 (for probate questions)

  • Juvenile Court (Common Pleas): Handles cases involving individuals under the age of eighteen charged with criminal acts or alleged to be dependent children.

Juvenile Justice Center

650 Ferry Street

Easton, PA 18042

Phone: (610) 829-6850

Juvenile Probation

650 Ferry Street

Easton, PA 18042

Phone: (610) 829-6880

  • Magisterial District Courts: Typically handle preliminary hearings in criminal matters, traffic citations and other summary offenses, emergency protection from abuse applications, issue search and arrest warrants, set bail, and small civil claims (up to a jurisdictional dollar limit).

Note: each magisterial district has its own local office address and phone number across Northampton County. Interested parties may access these details via the Magisterial District Judge Listing page.

Criminal Records Access in Northampton County

In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) manages the official state-level criminal history record check, not county courts. The PSP disseminates criminal history data to the public on request via its Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system.

When someone submits a criminal history background check online, PATCH compares the user-submitted details against the criminal history database maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. The process results in a state criminal history background check, which differs from a docket sheet or certified court records obtained from a county courthouse.

In contrast, requesters may access local criminal case records (case dockets and docket sheets) via the statewide Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal. Using the platform’s Public Web Docket Sheets, users may search, view, and print docket sheets for Criminal Courts of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Courts, and the Philadelphia Municipal Court.

On the UJS Case Search page, visitors may search using several criteria, including participant name, docket number, and OTN (Offense Tracking Number).

Individuals seeking certified copies or assistance locating a record may contact the Clerk of Court’s criminal division at (610) 829-6453 or visit the courthouse at 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042.

Northampton County Probate Records

Northampton County probate records comprise court files and office records used to manage a deceased person’s estate after death and to protect people who need help making decisions. In Northampton County, the Register of Wills maintains estate administration records (including estates dating back to 1752), while the Orphans’ Court Division oversees wills and probate filings, and related "estate records," including estate accountings and distributions.

Typical examples of probate filings include a will, a petition to open an estate administration (granting authority to an executor or administrator), inventories and accountings, and filings related to trust or charitable trust matters. For matters concerning living persons, probate filings may also include guardianships (for minors or adults found incapacitated) and guardianship of the estate (similar to what some states call a conservatorship).

While recent notices or forms and specific lookups may be available through the office’s online portal, dated and comprehensive documents may require an in-person visit.

Note: Certain matters (e.g., guardianship proceedings concerning an incapacitated individual) are considered confidential or restricted by law.

Northampton County Family Court Records

In Northampton County, family matters, such as divorce, custody, and support, are heard at the common pleas level. At the same time, court offices provide associated services, including the Prothonotary (civil filings), the Custody Office, and the Domestic Relations Section (support).

Divorce Records (filed in the Prothonotary/Civil Division)

Online access: The UJS Web Portal’s Case Search offers public access to case information or dockets across the state. The platform also flags cases as "limited access" when necessary.

Requesters may also access civil court cases online via the Prothonotary’s "CountySuite" Civil Case Search portal.

Courthouse access and where to obtain certified copies: According to the county’s divorce public guidance, divorce complaints are filed in the Prothonotary’s Office at the courthouse. Likewise, requests for certified copies of civil filings (not sealed or restricted) typically go through the Prothonotary/Civil Division at the courthouse (669 Washington St, Easton).

Custody Records

Online access: Requesters may access dockets, procedural entries (that do not reveal sensitive financial or personal information), court orders, and opinions via the UJS Web Portal.

Courthouse access: Requesters may obtain certified copies (when available) through a dedicated office handling custody filing, as listed by Northampton County (669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042); Phone: (610) 829-6960.

Note: Custody filings may contain confidential information (e.g., protected addresses or identifiers). Therefore, some filings or entire cases may be restricted by statute, rule, or court order.

Support Records (child or spousal support)

Online access: Users with a login or credentials may search Pennsylvania dockets related to Child Support cases by logging onto the PA Child Support Website.

Adoption Records (Orphans’ Court)

Online access: The Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court office provides remote access to certain probate-related records and some Orphans’ Court files that are not sealed or restricted. Requesters may also contact the Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court directly by filling out an online inquiry form.

Access to copies: Those seeking certified copies may also contact the office at (610) 829-6492.

Federal Court Records in Northampton County

At the federal level, Northampton County falls under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This is the federal trial court where most federal civil and criminal cases connected to Northampton County are filed and heard. The District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is separate from Northampton County’s state courts.

Individuals seeking federal case files and dockets may access them online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). This portal provides electronic public access to federal court records and allows subscribers to search for cases filed in the court.

Alternatively, interested parties may visit the Easton Federal Courthouse (Easton, PA) to view PACER-indexed cases on public access terminals on the premises; they may also send a records request email to the Clerk’s Office through the platform. The Clerk’s Office also provides in-person assistance to the public regarding access to case files, certified copies, and procedural questions about federal records.

Northampton County Court