Dauphin County Prothonotary Office
The Dauphin County Prothonotary is the elected civil clerk for the Court of Common Pleas. The office maintains civil case files and docket information for matters such as complaints, custody, divorce, mortgage foreclosure, protection from abuse, judgments, municipal liens, mechanics liens, federal tax liens, support arrearages, workers compensation liens, and writs of execution.
Dauphin County Prothonotary
101 Market Street, Room 102
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717-780-6520
What the Prothonotary Handles in Dauphin County
The Prothonotary is the right office for civil court file questions, not criminal prosecutions or probate estates. Divorce records are filed through this office because divorce is a civil and family Common Pleas matter. Criminal case files belong with the Dauphin County Clerk of Courts, and estate or marriage records belong with the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court.
- Civil complaints, petitions, answers, and docket entries
- Divorce, custody, and family civil filings
- Protection from abuse case records when public access is allowed
- Judgments, liens, writs of execution, and satisfaction entries
- Certified civil copies and office-counter civil record review
Dauphin County Civil Records Search
Dauphin County uses CountySuite for searchable civil records. The portal can help locate case numbers, party names, case categories, open dates, status, participant information, attorneys, judgments-only filters, category filters, and docket entries. Use UJS Case Search for statewide docket sheets and Magisterial District Court records, but use CountySuite or the Prothonotary counter for local civil file work.
- Open the Dauphin County CountySuite civil case search.
- Search by case number, party name, date range, case category, or judgment filter.
- Confirm that the case category matches the record needed.
- Contact the Prothonotary if a certified copy, older file, or image not shown online is needed.
Certified Copies From the Prothonotary
Certified copies are needed when the requester must prove that a civil filing or order is an official Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas record. The online index may help identify the file, but the certification must come from the office. Include the case number, party names, document type, filing date if known, number of copies, and return method.
| Request Detail | Required | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | Best practice | Prevents name-match errors and speeds the search. |
| Party names | Yes | Helps staff identify the correct civil file. |
| Document type | Yes | Identifies decree, judgment, complaint, order, or docket copy. |
| Number of copies | Yes | Controls copy and certification fees. |
Dauphin County Prothonotary Fees
Use the Prothonotary's live fee listing before filing or ordering copies because civil filing fees vary by action. The research confirms that divorce filing fees are published on the Prothonotary fee page and that the official fee page should control current amounts.
| Item | Where to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Civil filing fee | Prothonotary fee listing |
| Divorce filing fee | Prothonotary fee listing |
| Certified civil copy | Prothonotary office |
| Judgment or lien filing | Prothonotary fee listing |
Public Access Limits
Some Dauphin County civil records may be public only in part. Protection from abuse records, protected addresses, sealed filings, financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, minor names, and other confidential information may be redacted or withheld under Pennsylvania court policy. Court staff can explain office process, but a judge may be required to grant access to restricted material.