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Recipes
People Above Politics
Taking
Action, Getting Results.
2501 Cumberland St., Lebanon PA 17042
644-4698
If you demand open government, drop me a note to receive email
alerts informing you of meeting highlights that let you know how commissioners
vote on issues. Litz@mbcomp.com
Team Litz:
Honorary Chair: Lt.
Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll --a woman who broke the glass ceiling and
contributed greatly to PA politics; born
in 1930, died
November 12, 2008.
Chair: Jeff Werner
Treasurer: Richelle Whitman
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Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts
 | Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts is Lisa Arnold. Her office falls under the
court system. Lisa and her staff are ready to serve you in room 104, 400 S
8th St., Lebanon. Call 274-2801. |
| The first task of the office is recording the various documents in a
case. Civil or Criminal, the procedure is similar. Each file has a name or
caption, a number and contents. The contents must be identified by title,
date filed, and who signed the document. Certain legal actions or service
notations (or follow up) that occur as a result of specific documents must be
recorded. This accumulation of information is called a "docket." The entries
are called "docket entries." Some of the docket entries are repetitive from
case to case and can be repeated through a "set out" or a numbered entry.
Some entries in a case are individual and must be typed out. The total number
of entries for both the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts offices now exceed
100,000. |
| In 1994, the Supreme Court amended the Clerk of Courts rule 9025 and the
Prothonotary's rule 236. These rules deal with notification of orders. Both
rules require the preparation of a Certificate of Service on each order and
the newly created document must be added to the case docket. While the Clerk
of Courts already had a similar procedure for some types of orders, the rule
change required the procedure for all orders. |
| Year |
Civil |
Family |
MH/MR |
UCC's |
Passports |
Prob. Liens |
Receipts |
| 1991 |
2710 |
1125 |
378 |
1508 |
863 |
000 |
$168,135 |
| 1992 |
2006 |
1138 |
356 |
1376 |
785 |
997 |
$170,556 |
| 1993 |
1685 |
1015 |
330 |
857 |
1023 |
795 |
$208,920 |
| 1994 |
1565 |
915 |
369 |
986 |
1044 |
779 |
$206,554 |
| 1995 |
1544 |
961 |
363 |
875 |
1046 |
1005 |
$214,937 |
| 1996 |
1503 |
926 |
339 |
948 |
1116 |
929 |
$223,927 |
| The fee structure within the Prothonotary's Office is set by State
statute. The State legislature last addressed the fees in 1983. |
| Act 151 or the Children's Trust Fund Act implemented the collection of a
Divorce Surcharge of $10 on each Complaint in Divorce. There is no commission
to the County for collection. |
| JCP fee is mandated for the use of the State Judicial Computer Program and
requires the collection of a $5 fee on each new Civil Action as well as each
count in Family Court actions, a $5 fee for felonies and $1.50 for
misdemeanors. Again, there is no commission to the County for collection.
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| Increased fees on Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Financial Statements filed
at the County level provide for a split of 25/75 with the county receiving the
smaller portion, approximately $13.40, based on a sample total fee of $53.50.
The fee is increased annually pursuant to the Consumer Price Index. |
| Protection From Abuse (PFA) Surcharge of $25 on specific orders and the
transmission of 100% of all fines collected on violations of court orders do
not provide the county a commission. |
| The most recent change in Jenn and Dave's Law, Act 119-1996, has the
Prothonotary collecting a $5 fee on all new Custody actions. The split on
this fee gives the County $1. |
| Act 181-1990 and Act 3-1996 require the entry of a judgement against fines
and costs assessed to an individual as a result of sentencing in criminal or
specific juvenile cases. At the time a judgement is satisfied, a $14 County
fee and a state fee of $.50 is collected. |
| The State Legislature and Supreme Court are government entities providing
requirements for the Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts. |
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