Welcome to The Prothonotary of Lancaster 

**EFFECTIVE 2/11/2026 LANCASTER COUNTY A NEW LOCAL COVER SHEET

AVAILABLE ON OUR FORMS PAGE**


*DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGES THERE MAY BE DELAYS IN DOCKETING. FILING DATES WILL REMAIN THE DATE RECEIVED BY OUR OFFICE.  PLEASE ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS VIA THE DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC EMAILS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE WEBSITE.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.*



EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, AOPC has increased the fees the Prothonotary is required to collect on various filings.  The Lancaster County Prothonotary will permit a grace period until December 1, 2025, at which time filings without the increased fee will be rejected.  Please see our updated Fee Bill.

 

EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 1, 2025, credit card processing fees will increase to 2.5% per transaction, with a $2.00 minimum.  This fee is set by our vendor and is not within our control.  Thank you for your understanding.

*SCAM ALERT!!*

We have received information that individuals have been receiving phone calls with caller ID purporting to be the Lancaster County Prothonotary's Office. These calls are claiming to be from a law firm collecting on debts from old judgments. These calls are scams. The Prothonotary is a neutral filing office and does NOT attempt to collect on ANY judgments. If you receive one of these calls do not provide any personal information and immediately report it to your local authorities.

Prothonotary Notices



  • DUE TO AN INCREASE IN REQUESTS FOR DIVORCE DECREES, WE ARE ASKING INDIVIDUALS TO FILL OUT THE DIVORCE DECREE REQUEST FORM.


  • PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE PROTHONOTARY OFFICE, PLEASE REFER TO THE PA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND LANCASTER LOCAL RULES OF COURT FOR APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS AND RULES.


About the Prothonotary

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


  • Treasurer sale deed records
  • Administers oaths
  • Appeals
  • Change of names
  • Civil actions
  • Conducts ceremonies for naturalization
  • Custody
  • Divorce
  • Issues certificates
  • Judgments
  • Mechanical, municipal, county, and state and federal income tax liens
  • Mental commitments
  • Mortgage foreclosures
  • Petitions for opening ballot boxes on recounts
  • Power of attorney registrations
  • Protection from abuse
  • Quiet titles
  • School audit reports


Mission: To fulfill the statutory responsibilities in as efficient, cost effective manner as possible, 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.
  1. Where is the Prothonotary's Office located?
  2. Do you have forms for all the filings?
  3. Can you help me fill out my forms?
  4. How do I appeal a magisterial district judge judgment for money?
  5. How do I appeal a magisterial district judge judgment for a landlord / tenant judgment for possession?
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