Prothonotary

                                                                    CASE TERMINATIONS

The list of 2020/2021 Lancaster County Prothonotary cases that are pending Termination due to lack of prosecution pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 230.2 can be found via the “Case Terminations” link on the left-hand side of this webpage.
 
  

 Effective January 1, 2022 the Lancaster County Prothonotary will no longer be accepting      electronic filings of Credit Card Cases.  All Credit Card Cases must be filed in person or by mail/overnight carrier.  This is pursuant to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas creation of the Credit Card Diversion Program.  Please refer to the courts website for more information
 
  
Effective December 1, 2021 the Lancaster County Prothonotary will no longer be accepting electronic filing of Judgment actions.  As of this date, all filings must be made by hard copy in person or by mail/overnight carrier.  The requirement of filing with service copies and envelopes/postage pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. No. 236(a) will be strictly enforced.

 

  

EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2021 THE LANCASTER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS WILL INITIATE A RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE DIVERSION PROGRAM.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION.

 

https://www.court.co.lancaster.pa.us/260/Foreclosure-Diversion-Program

  

          Pursuant to Administrative Order of June 21, 2021, No. 553 Judicial        Administration Docket from the PA Supreme Court, all COVID-related      Administrative Orders are hereby terminated effective July 6, 2021.

                     All mask mandated will end for all effective June 28, 2021.

Pursuant to Judicial Administrative Order dated May 26, 2021, the Lancaster County Courthouse is OPEN to the public pursuant to CDC guidelines.  Filings are encouraged to continue via mail or electronic filing but there are no restrictions to filing in person.  Requests for assistance are also encouraged to call or use the department-specific emails on the right-hand side of this website.

 

Effective immediately the Prothonotary Office will resume use of attorney boxes for distribution of permissible materials.

 Passport applications will be handled by appointment only. They may be scheduled via phone or email.

 

                                                                  

                                                                          IMPORTANT NOTICE

                           RE: ACTION OF DIVORCE OR ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE

RULE 1920.42— Obtaining Divorce Decrees Under Section 3301(c) or Section 3301(d) of the Divorce Code

EFFECTIVE — OCTOBER 1, 2019 —AMENDED PRAECIPE TO TRANSMIT RECORD  http://www.pacourts.us/assets/files/setting-4294/file-4572.pdf?cb=ab3649

  

                                                            Notice:  

 Effective January 6, 2018, all documents filed in the Lancaster County Prothonotary Office must follow and comply with the AOPC’s Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania: Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts.

 

PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE PROTHONOTARY OFFICE, PLEASE REFER TO THE PA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND LANCASTER LOCAL RULES OF COURT FOR APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS AND RULES.

About the Prothonotary

The Office of Prothonotary is responsible for the recording and filing of legal papers for the civil side of the court system. These legal papers and documents can include topics and issues such as:

Accepts passport applications Administers oaths Appeals Change of names Civil actions Conducts ceremonies for naturalization Custody Divorce Issues certificates Judgments

Mechanical, municipal, county, and state and federal income tax liens Mental commitments Mortgage foreclosures Petitions for opening ballot boxes on recounts Power of attorney registrations Protection from abuse Quiet titles School audit reports Treasurer sale deed records