Clinton County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Clinton County in 2026
ClintonPARecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. Members of the public seeking court documents, property filings, vital records, or other official documents may access these records through a combination of online portals, in-person visits, and written requests submitted to the appropriate county offices. The availability and completeness of records may vary depending on the record type, the maintaining agency, and applicable state law.
Record categories that may be available through official channels include:
- Court records (civil, criminal, family, and probate)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
- Vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates)
- Tax assessment and property tax records
- Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
- Voting and election records
- County commission meeting minutes and agendas
- Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
- Land use and zoning records
Online Access: The Clinton County official website provides access to select public records through online portals. Civil court case schedules for the Court of Common Pleas are accessible through the county's civil court scheduling portal, which allows members of the public to search scheduled hearings and case information. Property and assessment records may be searched through the county's online database without prior registration.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Clinton County Courthouse to inspect records at the relevant office. The Prothonotary's Office maintains civil court records, while the Recorder of Deeds maintains property records. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal court filings.
Clinton County Courthouse 230 East Water Street Lock Haven, PA 17745 (570) 893-4010 Clinton County Government
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding official holidays. Requestors should bring a valid photo identification and, where applicable, the case number or document reference to expedite the search process.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the relevant office at 230 East Water Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745. Requests must include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, agencies are required to respond within five business days of receiving a written request.
Phone/Email: The Clinton County main line is (570) 893-4010. Individual offices may be reached through the county's main directory available on the official county website.
What Are Public Records in Clinton County?
Public records in Clinton County are official documents and information created or maintained by government agencies in the course of their official duties, as defined under Pennsylvania law. Under 65 P.S. § 67.102, a "public record" is any record of a Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency, or legislative agency that is not exempt from disclosure.
The following record types are maintained by specific offices within Clinton County:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil court records | Prothonotary's Office |
| Criminal court records | Clerk of Courts |
| Property deeds and mortgages | Recorder of Deeds |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage) | Pennsylvania Department of Health / Register of Wills |
| Probate and estate records | Register of Wills |
| Tax assessment records | Assessment Office |
| Business/fictitious name filings | Prothonotary's Office |
| Voting and election records | Election Bureau |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | County Commissioners' Office |
| Zoning and land use records | Planning and Zoning Office |
The Clinton County Recorder of Deeds maintains property-related instruments, while the Pennsylvania Department of Health serves as the primary custodian of vital records statewide.
Is Clinton County an Open Records County?
Clinton County operates in full compliance with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.), all local agencies, including county governments, are presumed to hold public records that are accessible to any person upon request. The law establishes that records are public unless a specific exemption applies.
As stated by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records: "The Right-to-Know Law presumes that all records of Commonwealth and local agencies are public records, unless the record is exempt under the law, a privilege, or a court order." This presumption places the burden of justifying non-disclosure on the agency, not the requestor.
Clinton County agencies are also subject to Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, which requires that official meetings of government bodies be open to the public and that meeting minutes be made available as public records. The county does not maintain a separate local open records ordinance that supersedes state law; the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law governs all public records requests submitted to county offices.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records serves as the oversight body for disputes arising from denied requests and publishes guidance for both requestors and agencies at openrecords.pa.gov.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Clinton County?
Current fees for public records in Clinton County are governed by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and the fee schedule established by the Office of Open Records. Fees vary by record type and the office maintaining the record.
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Black-and-white paper copies (letter/legal) | $0.25 per page |
| Certification of a record | $1.00 per record |
| Electronic duplication (CD/DVD) | Actual cost of media |
| Postage and mailing | Actual cost |
| Inspection of records | No charge |
- Inspection of public records at the agency's office is provided at no cost to the requestor.
- Fees for electronic records transmitted via email are not charged unless duplication costs are incurred.
- Agencies may not charge for the time spent searching for or retrieving records under standard Right-to-Know requests.
- Fee waivers are not explicitly mandated by state law for general requestors, though individual agencies retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances.
- Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records publishes the official fee schedule applicable to all local agencies under the Right-to-Know Law.
Does Clinton County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available at Clinton County government offices during regular business hours. Members of the public may review records in person without incurring any charge, provided the records are not exempt from disclosure. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: while viewing records on-site carries no fee, obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the standard fee schedule described above.
The following resources provide free access to certain public records:
- The Clinton County civil court scheduling portal allows free online access to Court of Common Pleas civil case schedules and hearing information.
- The Clinton County official website provides free access to meeting minutes, agendas, budget documents, and other administrative records.
- The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal offers free public access to docket information for cases filed in Pennsylvania courts, including those in Clinton County.
- Property assessment data may be searched at no cost through the county's online assessment database.
Members of the public seeking their own vital records from the Pennsylvania Department of Health are subject to standard certification fees, as free copies of vital records are not mandated under current state law.
Who Can Request Public Records in Clinton County?
Any person may submit a public records request to a Clinton County agency under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. The law does not restrict access based on residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation. Non-residents of Pennsylvania retain the same right to request public records as residents.
Key eligibility provisions include:
- Identification: Requestors are not required to provide identification when submitting a Right-to-Know request, though providing contact information is necessary for the agency to respond.
- Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the reason for their request. Agencies may not condition access on the disclosure of the requestor's purpose.
- Residency: Non-residents of Clinton County and Pennsylvania may submit requests and receive records on the same terms as residents.
- Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves follow the same process as any other requestor. For certain sensitive records, such as criminal history, additional identity verification may be required by the maintaining agency.
- Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as adoption records or juvenile court files, are subject to statutory restrictions regardless of who is requesting them.
As noted by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records: "Any person may file a request for public records with a Commonwealth or local agency."
What Records Are Confidential in Clinton County?
Certain records maintained by Clinton County agencies are exempt from public disclosure under Pennsylvania law. 65 P.S. § 67.708 enumerates the categories of records that local agencies are not required to disclose, including but not limited to:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Pennsylvania law.
- Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records compiled in the course of a criminal investigation are exempt until the investigation is closed or charges are filed.
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records.
- Medical and health records: Records protected under HIPAA and state health privacy laws are not subject to disclosure.
- Adoption records: Adoption proceedings and related documents are sealed by statute.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential.
- Personnel records: Employee records are exempt except for name, title, salary, and dates of employment.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Confidential commercial or financial information submitted to an agency is exempt.
- Security and infrastructure plans: Records detailing security measures for public facilities are withheld to protect public safety.
Agencies applying an exemption must notify the requestor of the specific statutory basis for the denial, and requestors may appeal denied requests to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Clinton County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Clinton County Recorder of Deeds 230 East Water Street Lock Haven, PA 17745 (570) 893-4015 Clinton County Recorder of Deeds
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Closed on official state and federal holidays.
Clinton County Prothonotary (Civil Court Records) 230 East Water Street Lock Haven, PA 17745 (570) 893-4013 Clinton County Prothonotary
Clinton County Clerk of Courts (Criminal Court Records) 230 East Water Street Lock Haven, PA 17745 (570) 893-4014 Clinton County Clerk of Courts
Clinton County Register of Wills (Probate and Estate Records) 230 East Water Street Lock Haven, PA 17745 (570) 893-4012 Clinton County Register of Wills
Clinton County Assessment Office (Property Tax Records) 230 East Water Street Lock Haven, PA 17745 (570) 893-4031 Clinton County Assessment Office
Pennsylvania Office of Open Records (Right-to-Know Law Appeals) 333 Market Street, 16th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 346-9903 Pennsylvania Office of Open Records