Pike County Court Records Lookup

Pike County Courts, PA *

Pike County sits in the far northeast corner of Pennsylvania, along the Delaware River on the border with New Jersey and New York. Its population has increased significantly over the years, thanks to new residents, those from New York working as commuters, and summer home residents in the Poconos, meaning landlord-tenant disputes, estate and probate cases, and cases involving out-of-state residents often wind up on the courthouse's dockets.

In the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System, Pike County's judicial system includes both a Court of Common Pleas and four Magisterial District Courts, which handle civil and criminal cases, family and juvenile matters, estate administration, and more. Official court records are available from the courts to assist residents, employers, landlords, and their lawyers with backgrounds, ongoing matters, and more. The dual-office structure of Pike County courts, along with its four geographically distributed district courts, makes it useful to familiarize oneself with its processes in advance.

Overview of the Pike County Court System

The Pike County courts fall under the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System, serving as the 60th Judicial District, which comprises one President Judge and one Senior Judge. Unlike the typical county courthouse, where court-related business is consolidated into a single building, Pike County houses various offices throughout the town of Milford at several separate addresses. The Prothonotary's Office, the Clerk of Courts Office, Administration, and the Domestic Relations Office are not even in the same building.

While certain court proceedings are still held in the Pike County Courthouse, it is not the location where most administrative business is transacted. Further spreading the reach of the Pike County courts, each of Pike County's several rural townships and boroughs houses its own Magisterial District Court. If one is dealing with a court matter in Pike County for the first time, it is important to determine not only which court hears the case but also which office maintains the relevant files.

Types of Courts in Pike County, Pennsylvania

The specific jurisdiction of each Pike County court varies, and each court maintains a unique classification of records. As Pike County covers a large area and has a high level of out-of-state involvement, it is imperative that the correct court be determined prior to the filing of any petition or request.

Court of Common Pleas

Pike County Court of Common Pleas is the trial court of general jurisdiction in the county and the highest trial court in the 60th Judicial District. The court has its administrative office in Milford. The court has general jurisdiction over serious civil and criminal cases and is the trial court of appeals for decisions from the Magisterial District Courts.

Jurisdiction includes:

• Felony criminal prosecutions
• Major civil cases and appeals from Magisterial District Courts
• Family law matters
• Juvenile delinquency and dependency proceedings
• Orphans Court: estates, adoptions, and guardianships
• Protection from Abuse orders

Criminal case records are handled by the Clerk of Courts, and the civil files by the Prothonotary, located on Broad Street in Milford. Child and spousal support, paternity, and enforcement are dealt with by the Domestic Relations office, located in the County Administration Building. The Orphans Court is an arm of the Court of Common Pleas in Milford.

Primary Location: Pike County Courthouse

Magisterial District Courts

Pike County is divided into four Magisterial District Courts, each with a separate geographic jurisdiction and presided over by elected Magisterial District Judges. The court offices are distributed throughout the county to provide services to rural townships and boroughs, and can be found in Milford, Hawley, Shohola, and Dingmans Ferry.

Jurisdiction includes:

• Summary criminal offenses
• Misdemeanor preliminary hearings
• Traffic and vehicle code violations
• Civil claims up to $12,000
• Landlord-tenant and eviction proceedings
• Protection from Abuse orders

The court docket for each district is available on the UJS Web Portal, and a district court decision can be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas within 30 days. Since the county's townships are large in geographic size, before heading out, it's well worth knowing who serves that address by doing a quick district court search on the website.

Primary Location: Justice buildings throughout Pike County

Orphans' Court

Orphans' Court in Pike County is formally a part of the Court of Common Pleas, but its records are kept by the Register of Wills in Milford. Because Pike County has such substantial second-home and estate activity, this is a busy part of the court for non-resident homeowners. If a deceased person owned assets in Pike County, or if a trust or guardianship affects property located in Pike County, the property falls under the jurisdiction of the Orphans' Court, even if the owner died in another state.

Jurisdictions include:

• Probating wills and administering intestate estates
• Guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults
• Trusts and estate accounting
• Adoptions and termination of parental rights
• Wrongful death and survival action petitions

Old estate files predating digitization may exist only on paper and must be requested in advance.

Primary Location: Pike County Administration Building

How to Access Pike County Court Records

Almost all court records in Pike County are public under the Case Records Public Access Policy for the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, but juvenile records, sealed records, and adoption records are exceptions. Unlike many other counties that combine their offices, in Pike County, criminal records are kept by the Clerk of Courts and civil records by the Prothonotary, which means there are two separate offices to contact.

Online Access

The Pike County court records are accessible primarily through the UJS Web Portal and include docket sheets from both the Court of Common Pleas and the four Magisterial District Courts. It can be searched by party name, docket number, OTN(Offense Tracking Number), and complaint number. The Pike County Courts website also provides a search engine for Pike County records only. The above websites include only records from digitally recorded files, and the absence of information on any site does not necessarily prove that a case does not exist.

Alternative Online Options

The UJS portal produces dockets but not complete images, and different search pages for each type of record. For research, when the exact location of a record is unknown, or when examining multiple record types or nearby counties, online commercial search services such as CourtCaseFinder consolidate public records for individual case types and other available public records. If a party is in New York or New Jersey and would like to examine cases in Pike County, these are useful first steps before contacting County offices directly.

In-Person Requests

The Pike County court offices are located in several places in Milford. The Clerk of Courts Office keeps all the criminal case files. The Prothonotary's Office keeps all the civil case files. The Register of Wills keeps all the estate and probate files. The more precise full names, approximate filing dates, and docket number(s) that one can provide, the quicker it will be to find a record.

Archived Records

Some older Pike County court records may be in paper form only. Court and divorce records have been stored by the Prothonotary since 1814, and the older land records by the Recorder of Deeds since 1814. Research into judicial records dating back to before the digital period can be conducted through the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg. The Pike County Historical Society stores family files, newspaper clippings, and cemetery records and can do research upon request. The Pike County Public Library contains genealogical databases and local histories to which a researcher will be granted access.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

The UJS Web Portal can be used for all court levels in Pike County. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts are distinct offices in this county, unlike some other counties in Pennsylvania. Documents involving civil cases will be filed with the Prothonotary. Criminal filings are filed with the Clerk of Courts. Attorneys submitting documents in civil matters to the Prothonotary will be required to provide an original document and three copies and pay in cash or by money order. Case subjects mandatory for e-filing will use PACFile.

Every document submitted must comply with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure and the 60th Judicial District's local rules, available from the court administration's office in Milford. If a litigant is dealing with an estate or property for a non-resident client, be prepared for extra processing time on certified records if the case has an older file housed on paper.

How to File a Case in Pike County

To file suit in Pike County, one must determine the correct venue; the appropriate documents must be completed and submitted, and the procedural rules appropriate to the case at hand must be followed. A failure of either of the first two will result in a delay of the lawsuit.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

The Court of Common Pleas in Milford handles felonies, serious civil matters, family law cases, juveniles, and estate matters. Claims less than $12,000 in civil matters and all landlord-tenant cases, all summary offenses, and traffic violations go to the Magisterial District Court covering the area where the crime was committed or where the defendant lives. The Magisterial District Judges' MDJ directory lists each MDJ's jurisdiction, so a filer can be sure they have the correct court.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

The Pennsylvania Courts website is a good resource to find general forms for most types of cases. The Pike County Courts website provides forms specific to that county and directions from that court. Documents need to be completed in full and signed where required. All attachments have to be present. Missing documents are the most common reason for rejections. Court clerks are always willing to help answer questions about forms and paperwork.

Step 3: File the Case

It is important to know where to file a case. The Court of Common Pleas criminal cases are filed with the Clerk of Courts in Milford. The Court of Common Pleas civil cases are filed with the Prothonotary at the same Broad Street location. Cases in the Magisterial District Courts are filed directly with that court. Cases required to e-file are filed via the PACFile statewide e-filing system. Keep a copy of the e-filing receipt with the assigned docket number throughout the entire process.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Filing fees are determined by the type of case and the court. It is best to contact the clerk of the specific court before planning to file to verify the filing fee, as an insufficient payment will prevent filing one's documents. If a resident cannot afford the filing fee, a Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis can be filed with the court. If granted, filers may pay a reduced filing fee or no filing fee at all.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Once filed, the other side must be properly noticed. Service is completed by the district court in the Magisterial District Court, the Pike County Sheriff's Office, or a certified process server in Common Pleas civil cases. The filer cannot serve the papers. A certificate of service must be returned to the court and kept in a file for use during the hearing.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

The progress of the case can be monitored via the UJS Web Portal, where docket entries, hearings, and dispositions from Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts are available. The court calendar and scheduling can be accessed on the Pike County Courts website. Court dates can be changed on short notice. A default judgment can be entered if a civil case appearance is missed. A bench warrant can be issued if a criminal case appearance is missed. People can also call the appropriate Court Clerk's office for help with monitoring the case.

Pike County Courthouse Directory

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Several agencies can assist the citizens and property owners of Pike County when legal matters arise.

Free Legal Assistance

North Penn Legal Services offers free civil legal aid to low-income residents in Pike County. Their Stroudsburg office serves both Monroe and Pike Counties, offering legal services through individual representation, phone advice, or a self-help manual. Legal aid is available for family law, housing, consumer issues, public benefits, employment, and domestic violence issues. The Pennsylvania Courts' self-help portal offers standardized forms and instructions to help navigate different types of cases.

For cases involving domestic violence in Pike County, the Domestic Violence Service Center offers help to abused individuals through advocacy, shelter services, and assistance with the Protection from Abuse process. Eligible veterans can receive help from either the Veterans Benefits Administration or the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Pennsylvania SeniorLAW HelpLine provides senior citizens with free legal advice on public benefits, estate planning, housing issues, and elder abuse.

Local Legal Support

The Pike County Bar Association has a directory of attorneys, and, given Pike County's profile, it is worthwhile to look for an attorney who practices cross-border property law, landlord/tenant law, and estate planning for non-resident owners. The Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society is useful for anyone seeking older estate or property records for Pike County families. PA Law Help provides legal information and attorney referrals by topic throughout the state for every civil legal issue imaginable.

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