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Luzerne County, Pennsylvania public records

In Luzerne County, deeds are recorded by the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds; property values come from the Luzerne County Assessor; court files are divided among the Luzerne County Prothonotary, the Luzerne County Clerk of Courts and the Luzerne County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Business names (DBA)
  11. Voter records
  12. Historical records
  13. Good to know about Luzerne County records
  14. Office addresses, phones and hours
  15. Records that are not online: public records requests
  16. Questions people ask
  17. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  18. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsLuzerne County Recorder of Deeds4Search deeds2$.50 per page in the office3
Property values and ownersLuzerne County Assessor's Office4Property search5—
Property tax billsLuzerne County Treasurer's Office4——
Court casesLuzerne County Prothonotary6
Luzerne County Clerk of Courts7
Luzerne County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court8		——
Marriage recordsLuzerne County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court8Search marriage records8Certified copy $25.00; $30.00 search fee per marriage if the date is unknown9
Divorce recordsLuzerne County Prothonotary4——
Birth certificatesLuzerne County Coroner11—$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee10
Death certificatesLuzerne County Coroner11—$20 per certified copy; online orders add a $10 service fee12
Probate and willsLuzerne County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court8——
Business names (DBA)Fictitious names (DBAs) are registered with the PA Department of State, not the county (since early 1980s)13——

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Luzerne County are recorded by the Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds.4

Years online
Images 1968 to present, index 1993 to present2
Copy fee
$.50 per page in the office3
Certified copy fee
$1.50 per certified page14
Certified in office
Certified copies in office only2
How to order
Public terminals in the office or the websites above; certified copies at the office2
Parcel certification
Property ID must be certified by the Assessor before recording15

How deeds work in Pennsylvania

Property values, owners and tax bills

The Luzerne County Assessor's Office (Assessment Office) sets property values4; the Luzerne County Treasurer's Office bills and collects the tax4.

Tax search: collectors
Treasurer collects real estate taxes for about 20% of properties; others pay a local tax collector16
Tax search: parcel data
Treasurer handles parcels beginning 42, 46, 71, 72 and 7317
Tax search: cert fee
Tax certifications $10 per parcel per year; duplicate bills $10 per property17
Tax search: online pay fee
Online payment fee: e-check $0.20; debit 1.79%; credit 2.19%18
Tax search: delinquent
Delinquent taxes: Elite Revenue Solutions, 570-825-151217
Appealing a value: how
Appeal Form plus a check to County of Luzerne, per the fee schedule, to the Assessment Office19

How property tax works in Pennsylvania

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Court of Common Pleas, 11th Judicial District (civil)Civil, divorce and family filingsLuzerne County Prothonotary—
Court of Common Pleas, 11th Judicial District (criminal)Criminal, juvenile, dependency, summary appeals, expungementsLuzerne County Clerk of Courts—
Orphans' Court DivisionWills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licensesLuzerne County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court—
Fees: custody petition
Petition for Modification of Custody and Petition to Intervene in Custody: $27.00 filing fee, effective March 3, 20256

Criminal records and background checks

Record check
Clerk of Courts takes payment for record checks in office7

How Pennsylvania courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Luzerne County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court.8

Marriage license fee
$509
Copy fee
Certified copy $25.00; $30.00 search fee per marriage if the date is unknown9
How to order
In person or by mail, to Register of Wills with a stamped return envelope9
Waiting period
3-day wait, license good 60 days, valid only in Pennsylvania9
Since
County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court (licenses since Sept. 30, 1885)22

Pennsylvania marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by: Prothonotary22

Hazleton limit
Hazleton Annex does not issue certified divorce decrees needing the Division Head's signature6

Birth certificates

PA Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, for births registered in Pennsylvania since 190623

Fee
$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee10
Online fee
$10 non-refundable service fee via VitalChek (only authorized vendor)10
Restricted
Person named; spouse; parent or step-parent; brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister; son or daughter; step-son or step-daughter; grandparent or great-grandparent; grandchild or great-grandchild; power of attorney; attorney or legal representative of the person named. Age 16+ for in-person/mail, 18+ online. If the registrant is deceased, other family members must also submit a copy of the death certificate.10
State office
State public office in Scranton: Scranton State Office Building, Room 112, 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 1850324

Ordering a Pennsylvania birth certificate

Death certificates

State Vital Records; call 844-228-351611

Fee
$20 per certified copy; online orders add a $10 service fee12
Online fee
$10 processing fee online12
Restricted
Age 18+: spouse; parent or step-parent (step-parent must provide marriage certificate); brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister; child or step-child (step-child must provide parent's marriage certificate); grandparent or great-grandparent; grandchild or great-grandchild; other family members incl. ex-spouses with documentation of direct interest; attorney/legal representative of the estate; executor or administrator; individual with direct financial interest (with documents)12
Coroner
Only cause and manner of death released by the Coroner11

Ordering a Pennsylvania death certificate

Probate records and wills

Register of Wills: wills, representatives, short certificates, inheritance tax8

Online
Records filed from 2004 to present via terminals and Landex; older records through the office8
Limits
Orphans' Court records filed after January 6, 2018, except marriage licenses, are not remote8
Adoptions
Adoption records not public8

Business names (DBA)

Fictitious names (DBAs) are registered with the PA Department of State, not the county (since early 1980s)13

Voter records

Kept by the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections.4

Historical records

Deeds 1786-1967 and indexes on IQS; marriages from October 1885; estate indexes 1875-20042

Since
1786 (county created 25 Sept 1786)25

Good to know about Luzerne County records

  • Older deeds free to search online back to 17862
  • Marriage licenses from October 1885 through August 2004 are free to search and view on IQS8
  • Hazleton Annex offers limited court-office services and takes no cash6
  • Two GIS portals, free and subscription5
  • Sheriff warns of scammers posing as deputies26
  • Treasurer was an elected office before the Home Rule Charter of 201216

Office addresses, phones and hours

Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds

Address
153 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 187112
Phone
570-825-1641; fax 570-970-45802
Hours
Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4:30; filing deadline 4:20 p.m.2

Luzerne County Assessor's Office (Assessment Office)

Address
153 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 1871127
Mail
Tax Assessment Office, 200 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 1871127
Phone
570-825-1540; fax 570-825-176327
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:30 PM27

Luzerne County Treasurer's Office

Address
Penn Place 3rd Floor, 20 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 1871116
Mail
200 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 1871116
Phone
570-830-5129; fax 570-825-189316
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:30 PM; closed for lunch 12:30-1:00 p.m.16

Luzerne County Prothonotary

Phone
570-825-1745; fax 570-825-17576
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:30 PM; new filings by 4 p.m.6

Luzerne County Clerk of Courts

Phone
570-825-1585; fax 570-825-18437
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:30 PM; no monies after 4 p.m.7

Luzerne County Register of Wills / Clerk of the Orphans' Court

Address
153 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 187118
Mail
Register of Wills, 200 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 187119
Phone
570-825-1668; fax 570-970-45808
Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:30 PM8

Luzerne County Prothonotary (divorce and family filings; same office as clerk-court-civil)

Luzerne County Sheriff's Department

Address
200 N River Street, Courthouse, Basement Level, Wilkes-Barre, PA 1871126
Phone
570-825-1651; fax 570-825-184926

Luzerne County Coroner (no certificates; refers to State Vital Records)

Address
85 Young Street, Hanover Township, PA 1870611
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.11

Luzerne County Bureau of Elections

Address
20 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 1870128
Phone
570-825-1715; fax 570-820-639928

Luzerne County GIS/Mapping Department

Address
200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 187115
Phone
570-825-1550; fax 570-830-51325
Hours
9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.5

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
Complete the Right To Know Request Form and send it to the appropriate Open Records Officer30
Specificity
Requests must name specific records; "any and all" requests are denied31

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Luzerne County?

The Luzerne County Recorder of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: Public terminals in the office or the websites above; certified copies at the office. Plain copies: $.50 per page in the office. Certified copies: $1.50 per certified page.42314

How much is a birth certificate in Luzerne County?

$20 per certified copy; online orders add a non-refundable $10 service fee.10

Where do I get a divorce decree in Luzerne County?

Divorce decrees are court records; ask the Prothonotary.22

How much does a marriage license cost in Luzerne County?

The marriage license fee is $50.9

How do I look up who owns a property in Luzerne County?

Use the property search of the Luzerne County Assessor's Office (Assessment Office): gis.luzernecounty.org/…5

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Luzerne County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Pennsylvania with a full guide: Adams County, Allegheny County, Beaver County, Berks County, Blair County, Bucks County, Butler County, Cambria County, Centre County, Chester County, Clearfield County, Crawford County, Cumberland County, Dauphin County, Delaware County, Erie County, Fayette County, Franklin County, Lackawanna County, Lancaster County, Lawrence County, Lebanon County, Lehigh County, Lycoming County, Mercer County, Monroe County, Montgomery County, Northampton County, Northumberland County, Philadelphia County, Washington County, Westmoreland County, York County. Every county in the state: Pennsylvania county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 32 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Recorder of DeedsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  3. Document SearchLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  4. DepartmentsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  5. GIS/MappingLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  6. ProthonotaryLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  7. Clerk of CourtsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  8. Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans CourtLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  9. Marriage LicensesLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  10. Ordering a Birth CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  11. Coroner Records & PermitsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  12. Ordering a Death CertificatePennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  13. Fictitious NamesPennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
  14. Official RTKL Fee SchedulePennsylvania Office of Open Recordsarchived copy
  15. Recording & Filing DocumentsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  16. Treasurer's OfficeLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  17. Tax Certification RequestsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  18. County Tax CollectionLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  19. How Do I Appeal My Tax Assessment?Luzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  20. CourtsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  21. Public Records | Unified Judicial System of PennsylvaniaUnified Judicial System of Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  22. Marriage Records (State Archives)Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives
  23. GenealogyPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  24. Vital Records Public OfficesPennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records
  25. County CourthousesPennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives
  26. Sheriff's DepartmentLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  27. Assessment OfficeLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  28. ElectionsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  29. Open Government PortalLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  30. Submit a Right To Know RequestLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  31. Right-to-Know Law & RequestsLuzerne County, Pennsylvaniaarchived copy
  32. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau