Montgomery County is located in the southeast area of the Commonwealth of Pennslyvania. The county has 856,553 residents, making it the third most populous county in Pennslyvania. The Municipality of Norristown serves as its county seat.

Courts in Montgomery County

Montgomery County constitutes the 38th Judicial District of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas comprises the civil, criminal, family, juvenile, and orphan divisions. The court has unlimited original jurisdiction over all criminal and civil actions and proceedings, excluding cases under the exclusive jurisdiction of other courts within the county.

The Montgomery County Orphans' Court has jurisdiction over legal matters involving wills, estates, marriage licenses, guardianship for minors or incapacitated persons, and adoptions. Generally, the Orphans’ Court performs probate duties concerning the administration of decedent estates and ensuring the well-being of minors and incapacitated individuals.

Lastly, there are 30 Magisterial District Courts situated across Montgomery County. The District Courts exercise jurisdiction over criminal proceedings, including preliminary arraignments and hearings. These courts also hear cases involving traffic infractions, municipal code violations, landlord-tenant disputes, minor criminal offenses, and civil claims with damages up to $12,000.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Montgomery County

The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts department maintains records for the Court of Common Pleas and Orphans' Court. The Magisterial District Courts in the county also have designated Clerks who maintain records in these courts. Public case information and documents are available online or at the Clerk's Office. Interested persons may visit the office of the designated Clerk to request copies of public court records in Montgomery County or send a written request by mail.

Types of Public Court Records in Montgomery County

Different types of court records are available to the public in Montgomery County, including:

• Criminal Court Records - details of the proceedings in felony and misdemeanor criminal cases
• Civil Court Records - information on civil disputes, such as personal injury claims, civil class actions, and equitable claims
• Probate Records - documents and information related to the administration of decedent estates, guardianship of minors, incapacitated individuals, and adoptions
• Small Claims Court Records - Information on minor civil disputes that involve monetary claims up to $12,000
• Family Court Records - including open cases files on divorce, child custody, child support, and other family matters

Confidential Court Records in Montgomery County

Confidential court records in Montgomery County are restricted from public disclosure due to privacy concerns or the sensitive nature of the information they contain. While open court records are available to anyone, confidential court records are available only to persons authorized by the court or Pennslyvania laws.

The following court records and information are confidential in Montgomery County:

• Juvenile records
• Record containing identifying information of minors
• Addresses or contact information of domestic abuse victims
• Social Security numbers
• Sensitive financial information, including credit and debit card numbers
• Medical records
• Psychological reports of minors

Juvenile Delinquency in Montgomery, PA

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

In 2017, a total of 1333 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Montgomery County. Of that total, 78% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 1035 court cases. Another 21% were dependency cases that accounted for 275 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Montgomery County, PA

https://www.pa.gov/

County Seat:	Norristown
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1784
Total Square Miles:	487
2019 Population:	826,075
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	PO BOX 311 County Courthouse Norristown , PA 19404-0311 https://www.montcopa.org/

Montgomery County, PA Courts