Clearfield County Public Records
Clearfield County public records are maintained by elected offices and county departments in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. The county courthouse in Clearfield houses records covering civil and criminal court cases, real property, estate matters, and vital information. Residents and researchers can access Clearfield County public records in person at the courthouse or through statewide online systems. This page explains what records are available, where to find them, and how to request records that are not immediately accessible online.
Clearfield County Quick Facts
Clearfield County Records and Government
Clearfield County government operates from the county seat of Clearfield, where the courthouse houses the major public records offices. The Prothonotary maintains civil court records. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal records. The Recorder of Deeds records real estate documents. The Register of Wills handles estate filings and marriage licenses. The Assessment Office maintains property values. Each of these offices maintains specific categories of public records and provides access to residents under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.
The official Clearfield County website at clearfieldcounty.org provides information about county departments, contact details, and services available to residents. Clearfield County is a largely rural county in central Pennsylvania with a significant natural resources industry. The county's property records include extensive documentation related to timber, mineral, and oil and gas rights, reflecting the area's historical use of land resources. These land-related records are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds and are public.
Budget documents, financial reports, and commissioner meeting minutes are public records in Clearfield County. These can be requested through the county's Agency Open Records Officer. The county's fiscal records reflect how local government allocates resources across public safety, infrastructure, human services, and other county programs.
The Clearfield County website is the first stop for residents researching public records in the Clearfield area and throughout central Pennsylvania.
Clearfield County Court Records
The Prothonotary in Clearfield County is the official clerk for civil cases in the Court of Common Pleas. All civil case records, including lawsuits, judgments, protection from abuse orders, and other civil filings, are maintained by this office. The Clerk of Courts handles all criminal case records for Clearfield County. Both offices are open at the courthouse in Clearfield during regular business hours. Staff can assist with locating cases and providing certified copies of court documents.
Clearfield County court records can be searched online at no cost through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. The portal covers all Pennsylvania courts and lets you search civil, criminal, and family court cases from Clearfield County by party name or case number. Magisterial district court records for Clearfield County, including small claims and summary cases, are also available through the portal. The PAeDocket app provides mobile search access. For full case documents or certified copies, contact the Clearfield County courthouse directly.
Clearfield County Recorder of Deeds
The Recorder of Deeds in Clearfield County records and maintains all real estate documents filed for properties in the county. Deeds, mortgages, mortgage satisfactions, easements, rights-of-way, and subdivision plans are all kept by this office. Given Clearfield County's rural character and history of resource extraction, the deed records often include conveyances of timber rights, mineral rights, and oil and gas leases in addition to standard property transfers. These specialized records are important for anyone researching land use and ownership in Clearfield County.
Find contact information for the Clearfield County Recorder of Deeds at clearfieldcounty.org/recorder-of-deeds/. The office in Clearfield maintains a grantor-grantee index of all recorded instruments. Copies of recorded documents are available for a fee. Title companies, real estate attorneys, energy companies, and individual researchers regularly use these records. Property assessment records from the county Assessment Office complement deed records and are also public.
The Clearfield County Recorder of Deeds in Clearfield maintains the public record of all real estate transactions and land documents filed in the county, including specialized records related to natural resource rights.
Note: Records related to oil, gas, and mineral rights in Clearfield County may require specialized title searches beyond a standard real estate deed review. Consult a qualified attorney for complex resource rights research.
Right-to-Know Requests in Clearfield County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law entitles any U.S. resident to request government records from Clearfield County. Submit your written request to the county's Agency Open Records Officer. The county must respond within five business days. Use the standard RTKL form from the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. Appeals from denied requests must be filed with the OOR within 15 business days of the denial, and the OOR handles appeals at no cost to the requester.
Common Clearfield County records available under the RTKL include commissioner meeting minutes, budget and financial documents, county contracts, bid awards, and sheriff's sale records. Many routine records can be obtained by calling the relevant county office in Clearfield directly. A formal RTKL request ensures a documented response within the required five-day window. The OOR's mediation program is also available to help resolve disputes between requesters and Clearfield County without a formal appeal proceeding.
Vital Records in Clearfield County
The Register of Wills in Clearfield County issues marriage licenses and handles estate records. Applicants for a marriage license must appear at the courthouse in Clearfield. The Register also probates wills, issues letters testamentary, and maintains all orphans' court records for the county. These are public records searchable at the Register of Wills office during business hours. Estate records are particularly valuable for researchers tracing land ownership and family history in rural Clearfield County.
Birth and death records for Clearfield County are held by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Certified copies can be ordered through the Department of Health online or by mail. The state holds records from 1906 forward. For records predating state registration, local historical resources may hold additional information. The Pennsylvania Auditor General publishes audit reports that cover Clearfield County programs, and these are available at paauditor.gov. These reports cover how state funds are used in county programs and provide another layer of public records access for Clearfield County residents interested in government accountability.
Nearby Counties
Clearfield County is in central Pennsylvania. Neighboring counties maintain their own public records offices and court systems accessible through county courthouses.