Lehigh County was created in 1812 in the southeastern region of Pennsylvania. As of 2020, the county had a population of over 350,000 residents. The Commonwealth’s third-largest city, Allentown, serves as the county seat.

Courts in Lehigh County

Lehigh County’s Court of Common Pleas is a general jurisdiction trial court located in the City of Allentown. The court has several divisions that specialize in handling the various cases that are filed in the county. For instance, civil cases are brought before the Civil Court Division, while the Criminal Court Division has jurisdiction over all criminal cases in the county. Other Court of Common Pleas divisions include the Lehigh County Family Court and the Juvenile Court.

The Family Court deals with legal matters related to child custody, divorce, and protection from abuse orders, while the Juvenile Court handles juvenile delinquency cases. Additionally, the Domestic Relations Section of the court establishes and enforces child support orders.

The Orphans' Court in Lehigh County is also a division of the Court of Common Pleas that handles proceedings concerning adoptions, marriages, wills, decedents’ estates, and guardianships.

Magisterial District Courts in Lehigh County are minor courts presided over by magisterial district judges. The judges decide small claims cases in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $12,000 and landlord-tenant disputes. They also conduct preliminary hearings in criminal cases to determine whether they should be transferred to the Court of Common Pleas or dismissed.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Lehigh County

The Clerk of Judicial Records in Lehigh County manages the court records of civil and criminal cases. Likewise, the Register of Wills Office maintains probate records in the county, while the Recorder of Deeds Division keeps property records. Public access to court records in Lehigh County is available online and can also be obtained from their custodians. Interested individuals may visit the office of the record custodian to request copies of public court records in person or send such requests via mail/email.

Types of Public Court Records in Lehigh County

Several types of public court records in Lehigh County are available to anyone, including:

• Criminal Court Records - Including information on cases involving felonies and misdemeanors
• Civil Court Records - Including non-criminal proceedings like personal injury, breach of contract, and other civil actions
• Probate Records - Including the court documents and information concerning matters that are heard at the county’s Orphan’s Court
• Small Claims Court Records - Information on civil lawsuits that involve monetary claims up to $12,000
• Family Court Records - Including open court records on divorces, child custody and support, and other family law matters.

Confidential Court Records in Lehigh County

Confidential court records in Lehigh County are limited to public access to comply with Pennsylvania laws or court statutes. Such records usually contain sensitive information, or their disclosure may violate the privacy of any party involved in the case. While public court records are available to anyone, only persons authorized by the court or Pennsylvania laws can access confidential court records.

In Lehigh County, the following court records and information are regarded as confidential:

• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Expunged criminal records
• Records containing identifying information about minors
• Addresses or contact information of victims in domestic abuse cases
• Records containing social security numbers
• Records containing sensitive financial information, such as credit/ debit card details
• Medical records
• Psychological reports of minors

Juvenile Delinquency in Lehigh, PA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Lehigh County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Pennsylvania often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1115 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Lehigh County. Of that total, 77% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 863 court cases. Another 23% were dependency cases that accounted for 252 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Lehigh County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Lehigh County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Lehigh County, PA

https://www.pa.gov/

County Seat:	Allentown
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1812
Total Square Miles:	348
2019 Population:	366,494
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	17 S 7Th St County Courthouse Allentown , PA 18101-2401 http://www.lehighcounty.org

Lehigh County, PA Courts