Judicial Services Report 2016, 225th Anniversary Edition

Office of the Prothonotary

Mission : To fulfill the statutory responsibilities in an as efficient, cost effective manner as pos- sible, while focusing on providing exemplary customer service and utilizing automation to achieve both efficiencies as well as improved public access to the civil record of the court. The Prothonotary is an elected position. This position holds a four year term. The office is the record keeper for all civil filings, including Divorce, Custody, and PFA’s. The office is located in the Courthouse, and is responsible for the filing, recording, and processing of all civil actions, including Magisterial District Justice Appeals, Judgments, Criminal Judgments, Federal, State, and Local Tax Liens are recorded at the Prothonotary’s Office. In 2015 there were 3,301 civil complaints filed, 3,818 judgments filed, and 4,079 criminal judgments. Custody Complaints, Petitions for Modifications, and Custody Contempt Petitions are filed in the Prothonotary's Office. In 2015, there were 1,017 new custody cases filed. Once

Katherine Wood-Jacobs, Prothonotary

filed, the custody case is sent to the Court Administration Office where a Custody Conference is scheduled with a Custody Conference Officer (CCO). Lancaster County has three CCOs. The CCOs hear cases eight days per month. In 2015, the CCOs conducted a total of 1,059 custody conferences. Of those conferences, only 326 were unable to be resolved and were sent to a Common Pleas Judge for a hearing. Divorce actions are civil litigation and are a very multi-faceted process. In addition to getting divorced, the divorce pro- cess also addresses the dissolution of financial and property rights. In 2015, there were 1,415 new divorce cases filed in Lan- caster County. When parties to a divorce action agree, it is an uncontested divorce. When parties to a divorce action do not agree, it is a contested divorce. Contested divorce matters are heard by a Divorce Master. Lancaster County has four Di- vorce Masters, who are assigned cases on a rotating basis. In May 2015, the divorce code was revised to require parties to file specific documents within specific time frames in order to have their case assigned to a Divorce Master. With this amendment, in 2015 there were 79 cases assigned to Divorce Masters. This is a significant decrease from the ten year aver- age of approximately 130 cases assigned to a Divorce Masters. The Prothonotary is responsible to maintain a record of all Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions, Sexual Violence Pro- tections orders (PSVI) and Protection from Intimidation order (PFI) The PFA and PSVI petition process is started at Domestic Violence Legal Clinic (DVLC) or Bail Administration. The PSVI process is started either at the YWCA or Bail Administration.

The Office of Prothonotary is responsible for the recording and filing of legal papers for the civil side of the court sys- tem. These legal papers and documents can include topics and issues such as:

Accepting passport applications

· Mechanical, municipal, county, and state and federal income tax liens

·

Administering oaths

Mental commitments

·

·

Appeals

Mortgage foreclosures

·

·

Changes of names

Petitions for opening ballot boxes on recounts

·

·

Civil actions

Power of attorney registrations

·

·

Conduct ceremonies for naturalization

Protection from Abuse

·

·

Custody

Quiet titles

·

·

Divorce

School audit reports

·

·

Issue certificates

Treasurer sale deed records

·

·

Judgements

·