Prothonotary

                          
Notice: 2019 Custody Fee Increase
 
Effective January 1, 2019 all "new" Custody Filings and Divorce Filings *raising a claim for Custody* will increase $.50 pursuant to Custody Act 119.

                                    

NOTICE:

DURING THE LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS (FUNDING) OF THE FEDERAL GOVERMENT PASSPORT PROCESSING TIMES REMAIN AS FOLLOWS:

 ROUTINE SERVICE:  FOUR TO SIX WEEKS
 EXPEDITED SERVICE: TWO TO THREE WEEKS

   

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


Mission: To fulfill the statutory responsibilities in as efficient, cost effective manner as possible, while focusing on providing exemplary customer service and utilizing automation to achieve both efficiencies as well as improved public access to the civil record of the court.