Lawrence County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Lawrence County?

Public records in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, are defined under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.102, as any record, document, or information created or received by a Commonwealth agency or local agency in connection with a transaction, activity, or duty of the agency. Members of the public may inspect a broad range of record types maintained by Lawrence County offices, including:

Court records — civil, criminal, probate, and family court filings maintained by the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas, which serves as the 53rd judicial district of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Property records — deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments held by the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds
Vital records — birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates, with certified copies available through the Register of Wills office or the Pennsylvania Department of Health
Business records — fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits filed with the county or Commonwealth
Tax records — property tax assessments and payment histories maintained by the Lawrence County Assessment Office
Voting and election records — voter registration data and election results managed by the Lawrence County Bureau of Elections
Meeting minutes and agendas — records of county commissioner meetings, board sessions, and public hearings
Budget and financial documents — annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports produced by county government
Law enforcement records — arrest logs and incident reports, subject to applicable exemptions, maintained by the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments
Land use and zoning records — zoning maps, variance applications, and planning documents held by the Lawrence County Planning Commission

The Lawrence County Government Center's online services portal provides digital access to land records and other county documents, enabling members of the public to conduct searches without visiting offices in person.

Is Lawrence County an Open Records County?

Lawrence County fully complies with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, which governs public access to government records throughout the Commonwealth. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, a local agency shall provide public records in accordance with the provisions of the statute, and a record in the possession of a local agency shall be presumed to be a public record unless it is exempt under the law, protected by a privilege, or required to be kept confidential by law. This presumption of openness places the burden on the agency — not the requester — to justify any denial of access.

Lawrence County maintains a dedicated Right-to-Know open records policy administered through the Office of the County Commissioners. The county has designated an Open Records Officer responsible for receiving, processing, and responding to all Right-to-Know requests submitted to county agencies. Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, 65 Pa. C.S. § 701 et seq., further requires that deliberations and official actions of agencies be conducted at open public meetings, reinforcing the county's commitment to governmental transparency.

How to Find Public Records in Lawrence County

Members of the public may obtain Lawrence County records through several established channels, each suited to different record types and urgency levels.

Step 1 — Identify the Custodial Office Determine which county office maintains the record sought. Property and probate records are held by the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds; court filings are maintained by the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts; vital records may require contact with the Pennsylvania Department of Health for certified copies.

Step 2 — Submit a Right-to-Know Request For records held by county agencies, members of the public may submit a written Right-to-Know request directly to the Lawrence County Open Records Officer. The request must identify the records sought with sufficient specificity. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by email, or by fax to the Office of the County Commissioners.

Step 3 — Use Online Portals The county's online services platform allows users to search land records maintained by the Register of Deeds without submitting a formal request. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records also provides a standardized OOR records request form for appeals and requests directed to Commonwealth agencies.

Step 4 — Visit the Government Center in Person Members of the public may inspect records in person at the Lawrence County Government Center, 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Step 5 — Allow for Agency Response Time Under current law, a county agency must respond to a Right-to-Know request within five business days of receipt. If additional time is needed, the agency may invoke a 30-calendar-day extension by providing written notice to the requester.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Lawrence County?

Standard fees apply to the duplication and certification of public records in Lawrence County, consistent with the fee schedule established under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Current fees include:

Standard paper copies — $0.25 per page for black-and-white letter or legal size copies, as permitted under 65 P.S. § 67.1307
Certified copies — additional certification fees apply for documents such as deeds, wills, and vital records; fees vary by record type and are set by the custodial office
Electronic records — duplication fees for electronic copies are limited to the actual cost of the electronic medium used
Postage and mailing — actual postage costs may be charged when records are delivered by mail
Research and retrieval fees — where a request requires more than two hours of staff time for retrieval, redaction, or legal review, the county may assess a fee based on the hourly salary of the lowest-paid employee capable of fulfilling the request

Accepted payment methods at the Lawrence County Government Center generally include cash, check, and money order made payable to Lawrence County. Fee waivers or reductions may be available when the requester demonstrates that disclosure is primarily in the public interest and that the requester is not seeking the records for a commercial purpose.

Does Lawrence County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Pennsylvania law, which does not permit agencies to charge for the mere review of records on-site. Individuals who wish to inspect — rather than obtain copies of — public records may do so at no cost during regular office hours at the Lawrence County Government Center.

Several categories of records are also accessible at no charge through official online platforms:

Land and property records — members of the public may conduct a quick search of land records through the county's online land records search portal maintained by the Register of Deeds
Court docket information — basic case information for matters filed in the Court of Common Pleas is accessible through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's web portal at no charge
Election and voter data — publicly available election results and certain voter registration statistics are published by the Lawrence County Bureau of Elections without fee
Meeting minutes and agendas — county commissioner meeting minutes and board agendas are posted on the Lawrence County Government Center website at no cost to the public

Who Can Request Public Records in Lawrence County?

Any person may submit a Right-to-Know request for public records maintained by Lawrence County agencies. Under current Pennsylvania law, eligibility to request public records is not restricted by residency, citizenship, or organizational affiliation. Specifically:

Residency — requesters are not required to be residents of Lawrence County or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Identification — requesters are not required to provide identification when submitting a Right-to-Know request, though identification may be required for certain certified vital records
Purpose — requesters are not required to state the reason or purpose for their request, and agencies may not condition access on the disclosure of purpose for standard public records
Non-residents — non-residents of Pennsylvania retain the same rights of access as residents under the Right-to-Know Law
Requesting your own records — individuals seeking records pertaining to themselves, such as criminal history through the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system, may be subject to identity verification requirements to protect personal information
Restrictions for specific record types — certain records, such as adoption files, juvenile court records, and sealed court documents, are accessible only to parties with a demonstrated legal interest or by court order, regardless of the requester's identity

What Records Are Confidential in Lawrence County?

Not all government-held documents are subject to public disclosure. Pennsylvania law establishes specific categories of records that are exempt from public access. Under 65 P.S. § 67.708, the following record types are among those exempt from mandatory disclosure:

Sealed court records — documents sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Pennsylvania's Juvenile Act
Ongoing investigation records — records compiled in connection with a criminal investigation or prosecution that could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from otherwise public documents
Medical and health records — protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only through court petition
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law
Personnel records — employee home addresses, personal telephone numbers, and certain performance evaluations are exempt, though employment status and compensation of public employees may be disclosed
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — commercial or financial information submitted in confidence to a government agency
Security plans and infrastructure details — records relating to the security of public buildings, infrastructure, or emergency response plans

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, the custodial agency is required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder, rather than withholding the entire document.

Lawrence County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds serves as the primary custodian of property records, wills, and related instruments in Lawrence County. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of deeds, mortgages, liens, and probate filings through this office.

Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101 (724) 656-1976 Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds

Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding official county holidays. Members of the public seeking certified copies of recorded instruments or probate documents are advised to visit during regular business hours or submit requests in writing.

Lawrence County Commissioners Office (Open Records Officer) 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101 (724) 656-1990 Lawrence County Open Records — Right to Know

Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101 (724) 656-2100 Court of Common Pleas

Public counter hours for court offices are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.