Susquehanna County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Susquehanna County in 2026

SusquehannaRecords.us provides access to publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Members of the public may use this resource to locate information that may include property records, court filings, vital records, and other documents created or held by county and state government offices. The availability and completeness of any particular record depends on the maintaining agency, the nature of the record, and applicable state law.

Records that may be accessible through official channels include:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family court)
Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
Tax and assessment records
Voting and election records
County commission meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use, zoning, and permit records

Records in Susquehanna County may be searched through official court resources, the County Clerk's office, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online government portals.

Online Access:

The Susquehanna County Court of Common Pleas provides access to docket information through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal.
Property and recorder records may be searched through the county's online land records system where available.
Criminal history background checks at the state level are available through Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH), the official system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Historical and archival records are maintained by the Pennsylvania State Archives, which collects and preserves permanently valuable public records of the Commonwealth.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Susquehanna County Courthouse at 105 Maple Street, Montrose, PA 18801, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Requestors should identify the specific record sought, the approximate date range, and any relevant names or parcel numbers to facilitate the search.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the appropriate office at 105 Maple Street, Montrose, PA 18801. Requests must include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the record sought, and the preferred format for response. Under Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law, agencies are required to respond within five business days of receiving a written request.

Phone/Email: The Susquehanna County main line is (570) 278-4600. Individual office contact information is available through the county's official government directory.

What Are Public Records in Susquehanna County?

Public records in Susquehanna County are defined under Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.102, as any record, including a financial record, of a Commonwealth or local agency that is not exempt under the statute or protected by a privilege, judicial order, or decree. The following record types are maintained by county offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Court of Common Pleas
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Recorder of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Register of Wills / PA Vital Records
Probate and estate records	Register of Wills
Business/fictitious name registrations	Prothonotary
Property tax and assessment records	Tax Assessment Office
Voting and election records	County Election Bureau
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Commissioners' Office
Budget and financial documents	County Fiscal Office
Zoning and land use records	Planning Commission

The PA Office of Open Records serves as the central authority for guidance on how to request local and state government records throughout Pennsylvania, including those held by Susquehanna County agencies.

Is Susquehanna County an Open Records County?

Susquehanna County fully operates under Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework. Under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.301, a record in the possession of a local agency is presumed to be a public record unless it is exempt under the statute, protected by a privilege, or subject to a court order. This presumption of openness places the burden on the agency to justify any denial of access.

As the PA Office of Open Records states: "Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law (RTKL) gives people access to the public records of government agencies." County agencies in Susquehanna County are required to designate an Open Records Officer to receive and process written requests, and to respond within the statutory timeframe.

The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, 65 Pa. C.S. § 701 et seq., further requires that meetings of county agencies, boards, and commissions be open to the public, with advance notice provided. Meeting minutes and agendas are public records subject to disclosure under the RTKL. The Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General also notes that the RTKL applies to financial records of government agencies, reinforcing fiscal transparency at the county level.

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

The fee structure for public records in Susquehanna County is governed by the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law and applicable fee schedules established by the Office of Open Records.

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Black-and-white copies (letter/legal)	$0.25 per page
Certification of a record	$1.00 per record
Electronic duplication	Actual cost of media
Inspection of records	No charge
Postage/shipping	Actual cost
Oversized documents	Actual cost

Inspection of public records at the maintaining office is provided at no charge.
Fees for copies are set pursuant to the RTKL fee schedule and may not exceed the amounts established by the Office of Open Records.
Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county office.
Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under state law, but agencies retain discretion to waive fees in certain circumstances.
Fees for court records, certified copies of vital records, and recorder documents may differ from standard RTKL copy fees and are set by separate statutory schedules.

Does Susquehanna County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Susquehanna County government offices during regular business hours. Under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, no fee may be charged solely for inspecting a public record in person. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may review records at no cost, but obtaining physical or electronic copies is subject to the fee schedule described above.

The following free access options are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Susquehanna County Courthouse, 105 Maple Street, Montrose, PA 18801, during business hours, at no charge.
Online court docket searches through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal, which provides free access to case docket information.
Criminal history self-checks are available through the PATCH online system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police, subject to applicable processing fees for third-party requests.
Historical records research may be conducted at no charge through the Pennsylvania State Archives, which makes permanently valuable Commonwealth records available for public study.
Property assessment data is accessible through the county's assessment office at no charge for in-person review.

Who Can Request Public Records in Susquehanna County?

Any person may submit a public records request to a Susquehanna County agency under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law. Requestors are not required to be Pennsylvania residents, and agencies are prohibited from requiring a requestor to state the purpose of the request as a condition of access. Under current law, the following provisions apply:

Residency: No residency requirement exists. Non-residents of Pennsylvania retain the same right of access as residents.
Identification: Agencies may not require a requestor to provide identification as a condition of submitting a written request, though identification may be required for certain sensitive record types.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state a reason for their request for standard public records.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking their own records, such as personal criminal history, may access them through dedicated channels. The Pennsylvania State Police provides a process to request a criminal history background check for personal review or third-party purposes.
Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed court files, are subject to access restrictions regardless of the requestor's identity.
Entities: Corporations, nonprofit organizations, and other legal entities may also submit public records requests.

What Records Are Confidential in Susquehanna County?

Not all records held by Susquehanna County agencies are subject to public disclosure. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law enumerates specific categories of exempt records. The following records are currently withheld from public access under applicable law:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Pennsylvania law.
Ongoing criminal investigation records — records that would compromise an active investigation are exempt.
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted or withheld.
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 under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under Pennsylvania child protective services law.
Personnel records — employee home addresses, personal financial information, and performance evaluations are exempt, with limited exceptions.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to agencies in confidence are protected from disclosure.
Security and infrastructure plans — records relating to the security of public buildings, facilities, or systems are exempt.

As stated by the PA Office of Open Records: "An agency may deny a requester access to a public record if the record is exempt under [the Right to Know Law] or protected by a privilege." Requestors who believe a denial is improper may appeal to the PA Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the agency's denial.

Susquehanna County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Office Name: Susquehanna County Recorder of Deeds

Physical Address:
105 Maple Street
Montrose, PA 18801

Phone: (570) 278-4600
Website: Susquehanna County official government website

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on federal and state holidays.

Additional Offices:

Susquehanna County Prothonotary (Civil Court Records)
105 Maple Street
Montrose, PA 18801
(570) 278-4600
Susquehanna County Prothonotary

Susquehanna County Register of Wills (Probate and Vital Records)
105 Maple Street
Montrose, PA 18801
(570) 278-4600
Susquehanna County Register of Wills

Susquehanna County Tax Assessment Office
105 Maple Street
Montrose, PA 18801
(570) 278-4600
Susquehanna County Tax Assessment

Pennsylvania Office of Open Records
333 Market Street, 16th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 346-9903
PA Office of Open Records