Open Records

Policies & Procedures

Pennsylvania’s Open Records Law, Act 3 of 2008, creates a system of inspection and/or obtaining copies of the County’s public records. To implement this law, the County has adopted its own Open Records Policy and Procedures.

Open Record Requests

Open Records (Right-to-Know) requests may be made to the County’s Open Records Officer (Chief Clerk Pam Matve) in person, by mail, by fax, or by email. Please view the Open Records Request Form to submit a request.

Find Information Outside of Open Record Requests

Marriage, Birth & Death Certificates

If you are trying to retrieve copies of marriage or birth certificates, filed deeds, wills, and POAs, you may visit the Register and Recorder’s Office. The Register and Recorder is authorized to promulgate his or her own fee structure under Pennsylvania Law (subject to statutory limits).

Property Information
If you are looking for information regarding property you may check out the Assessment Department's online database.

Criminal & Civil Litigation Information

If you are looking for information regarding criminal and civil litigation you may visit the Prothonotary’s Office.

Filing an Appeal

When a request is denied or deemed denial, a requester may file an appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The appeal must be filed within 15 business days of the denial or deemed denial date. The appeal must also include the request, agency denial if one exists, and address agency grounds that the request was denied. An appeals officer will determine if the record(s) is subject to public access.

An appeal may be filed to the Office of Open Records via its Online Appeal Form, email, fax, or in person at:

Office of Open Records
333 Market Street, 16th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234
Phone: 717-346-9903
Fax: 717-425-5343
Email: openrecords@pa.gov