Perry County Pennsylvania Public Records
Perry County public records are available through county offices in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. The county seat is a small borough in central Pennsylvania just west of Harrisburg. Court documents, property records, land instruments, vital records, and government filings are all maintained by county departments. Most of these records are open to the public under state law. This guide covers the offices that hold Perry County public records and explains how to search and access them.
Perry County Quick Facts
Perry County Records and Offices
The Perry County government operates from the courthouse in New Bloomfield. The county is rural and largely agricultural, located west of the Susquehanna River between Cumberland and Juniata counties. Despite its rural character, Perry County maintains a full set of public records through its row offices. The Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Register of Wills, Sheriff, and other elected officials each maintain separate record sets.
Perry County residents and out-of-county researchers can access public records by visiting the courthouse in New Bloomfield, by contacting individual departments by phone or mail, or by using online tools provided by the state and county. The county website at perryco.org lists department contacts and available services. Many routine records can be located with just a name, address, or case number.
Note: Perry County courthouse hours are standard county business hours. Call ahead to confirm a department is open before making the trip to New Bloomfield.
Perry County Court Records
The Court of Common Pleas serves Perry County from the New Bloomfield courthouse. Civil, criminal, family, and orphans' court matters are all handled here. Court records are kept by the Prothonotary for civil cases and the Clerk of Courts for criminal matters. These records are public unless sealed by a specific court order.
Searching Perry County court records online is simple through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. This free statewide tool covers all court levels in Perry County. Enter a party name or docket number to find cases. The portal shows docket entries and case status. For full case files or certified copies of documents, contact the Prothonotary in New Bloomfield. Staff can search records by name or case number and provide copies for a fee. In-person visits to the courthouse allow you to review the full physical file.
Perry County Property and Land Records
The Perry County Recorder of Deeds is the official office for land records in the county. Deeds, mortgages, liens, and other instruments affecting real property are recorded and indexed here. The index can be searched by grantor and grantee name. Once a document is recorded in Perry County, it is part of the permanent public record. Copies can be obtained for a per-page fee.
Property assessment records are maintained by the Perry County Assessment Office. These records show the assessed value of all taxable property in the county. Tax records and delinquent accounts are managed by the Tax Claim Bureau. Property owners in Perry County who disagree with their assessment can appeal through the county appeals process. All of these records are available for public review at the courthouse in New Bloomfield.
Note: Perry County has a significant amount of state game lands and forest land that does not appear in the taxable property rolls. Verify ownership status before assuming a parcel is privately held in Perry County.
Public Records Requests in Perry County
Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, any person can request public records from Perry County government agencies. Send a written request to the Open Records Officer at the relevant department. The agency has five business days to respond and can extend by up to 30 days with notice. Records are presumed public, and the agency must give a specific legal reason for any denial.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records provides forms and instructions for making records requests. If Perry County denies your request or fails to respond, you can file a free appeal with the Office of Open Records. The Office will review the case and issue a binding decision. This appeal system ensures that residents can access Perry County government records even when agencies initially refuse to produce them. You do not need a lawyer to file an appeal.
Perry County Vital Records and Other Resources
Birth and death records for Perry County are held by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The state maintains vital records from 1906 to the present. Certified copies can be ordered online, by mail, or in person at an authorized vital records office. Marriage licenses in Perry County are issued by the Register of Wills in New Bloomfield. These records become permanent public files after the ceremony and return of the signed license.
Divorce records are maintained by the Prothonotary of the Perry County Court of Common Pleas. These files contain the complaint, any agreements, and the final decree. They are searchable through the UJS Portal or through the Prothonotary's office in New Bloomfield. The Pennsylvania state portal can guide you to other state agencies with records relevant to Perry County. For statewide criminal history searches, use the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system.
Nearby Counties
Perry County borders several central Pennsylvania counties. Its location near Harrisburg means it is accessible from multiple surrounding areas.