FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Pennsylvania/Tasks-Court 5

WikiProject Pennsylvania Progress Chart  Wiki Project Pennsylvania Tasks - Court Records: 5

Description
The purpose of this task is to add FamilySearch Catalog court collections for your selected county.

Instructions
1. Search the FamilySearch catalog for court records in your county. Determine if a general search of the FamilySearch catalog is adequate for your county. This task is to post any collections you feel are significant enough that they need to listed both as a stand-alone collection and included in the general search. Some counties have no court records in the FHLC.

2. All counties will be linked to the FHLC with a general search. A general search links to the FHLC, shows all court records available for your county, and will show any additional records which are added to the FHLC in the future. If you choose a general search only, these records will be included in PA task 6. You do not need to add anything. Your task is complete.

3. If you find a collection you feel is significant and should be listed independent of a general search of FamilySearch catalog, you may add it to the appropriate court heading. Following the introduction to the appropriate section, link to the catalog using the following format:

*’’’1752-1882’’’ Orphans Court Records and Index

4. If you add more than one record, list your items in chronological order.

5. If you copy a link and add it to the county page, make sure the link works. Do not add any broken links.

6. If you need to use a dash, be sure to use the N–dash. This is done by holding the Alt key and typing 0150.

7. Your task is complete.

Orphans' Court
See Vital Records The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.

For Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.


 * 1787–1866 Orphans Court Dockets (Index 1787–1874)

Court of Common Pleas
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania court records are housed at the Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be ordered at a local Family History Center.

Clerk of the Court
The Clerk of Court prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Court. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution. For the Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Clerk of Court address see the Courthouse section on this page.

The Clerk of Court's Office encompasses the criminal, juvenile and orphans’ divisions of the Court of Common Pleas.

Prothonotary
The office of the Prothontary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, federal and local tax leins, city liens, family court, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, appeals to higher court, commercial code filings, applications for passports and divorce proceedings. See the Courthouse section on this page for the Luzerne County, Pennsylvania County Prothonotary office information.

The Prothonotary is the keeper/clerk of the records of the Court of Common Pleas civil division.

Orphans' Court
See Vital Records The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.

For Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page.


 * 1787–1866 Orphans Court Dockets (Index 1787–1874)

Finding Court Records at Other Repositories

Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Luzerne Court Records in online catalogs like:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
 * (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

Completed Heading
Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Green County, Pennsylvania Court Records in online catalogs like:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
 * Do a Green County, Pennsylvania Place-name search for these and other records in the Family History Library Catalog. (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).

Court of Common Pleas
Green County, Pennsylvania court records are housed at the Green County, Pennsylvania Courthouse. For many counties copies of court records may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives and in the FamilySearch collection. Note that within these collections some films may contain the same records, but have different titles. Other titles are not duplicates. See Finding Court Records at other repositories within this section for links to the online catalogs for these two collections. Films at the Pennsylvania State Archives are not available for inter-library loan. If court records are available FamilySearch films may be ordered at a local Family History Center.

Clerk of the Court
The Clerk of Court prepares and maintains the records for the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Clerk signs and affixes the Seal of the Courts to all writs and processes, administers oaths and affirmations, and assumes custody of the seal and records of the Court. The Clerk certifies and distributes orders of the Court. The Clerk also certifies and prepares bills of costs for the defendants and utilizes the computerized financial management system to disburse fines, costs and restitution. For the Green County, Pennsylvania Clerk of Court address see the Courthouse section on this page.

The Clerk of Court's Office encompasses the criminal, juvenile and orphans’ divisions of the Court of Common Pleas.

Prothonotary
The office of the Prothontary is the custodian of all civil matters in the county. This includes naturalization, immigration, equity actions, judgements, federal and local tax leins, city liens, family court, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, appeals to higher court, commercial code filings, applications for passports and divorce proceedings. See the Courthouse section on this page for the Green County, Pennsylvania County Prothonotary office information.

The Prothonotary is the keeper/clerk of the records of the Court of Common Pleas civil division.

Orphans' Court
See Vital Records The Orphans' Court is responsible for a wide range of matters. The name of the Court is derived from the more general definition of "orphan," that being a person or thing that is without protective affiliation or sponsorship. This would include those not capable of handling their own affairs, minors, incapacitated persons, decedents estates, nonprofit corporations and trusts. It is the role of the Court to ensure that the best interests of the person or entity are not compromised.

It is believed the name of this court was borrowed from the Court of Orphans of the city of London, England which had the care and guardianship of children of deceased citizens, in their minority.

For Green County, Pennsylvania Orphans' Court contact information see the Courthouse section on this page. Finding Court Records at Other Repositories

Additional court records can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Green County, Pennsylvania Court Records in online catalogs like:


 * Historical Society of Pennsylvania
 * WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
 * Do a Green County, Pennsylvania Place-name search for these and other records in the Family History Library Catalog. (For instructions see FHL Catalog Place-name Search).