Butler County Civil Court Records
Butler County civil court records are kept by the Prothonotary at the Court of Common Pleas in Butler, Pennsylvania. The county sits in the 36th Judicial District and handles civil cases through its main courthouse on West Diamond Street. The Prothonotary is the official custodian of all civil and family court records in the county. Records are kept permanently and indexed by name and case number. Butler County began computerizing its records in 1993 and has been scanning documents since 2001, giving the public broad digital access to civil court records.
Butler County Quick Facts
Butler County Prothonotary Office
Kelly L. Ferrari serves as Prothonotary of Butler County. Tammy Thibodeau is the Clerk of Courts. The Prothonotary is the first notary of the court. The word comes from Greek and refers to the chief clerk who manages all civil filings. In Butler County, this office is the sole custodian of civil and family court records.
The courthouse is at 124 West Diamond Street in Butler. Staff accept new filings, maintain the docket system, and help the public find records. Every record is kept permanently. The office indexes all cases by party name and case number. This means you can search from either direction. If you know a name, you can find the case. If you have a number, you can pull the file.
The Butler County Prothonotary website lists services, forms, and contact details for the office.
Visit this page for filing instructions and fee information for Butler County civil court records.
| Court |
Butler County Court of Common Pleas 124 West Diamond Street Butler, PA 16001 |
|---|---|
| Prothonotary | Kelly L. Ferrari |
| Clerk of Courts | Tammy Thibodeau |
| Website | butlercountypa.gov/243/Prothonotary |
Note: The Butler County Prothonotary office accepts money orders, attorney checks, cash, and debit or credit cards, but does not accept personal checks.
Butler County Online Case Search
Butler County offers a public access case management system for searching civil court records. The system went live after the office computerized records in 1993. Document scanning started in 2001. Together, these tools give you access to decades of Butler County civil court records from your computer.
The Butler County Case Search portal is the local tool for finding civil cases. Enter a party name or case number. The system returns matching results with docket entries, filing dates, and case status. Some scanned documents may also be available for viewing. This portal is free to search.
The Butler County case search tool lets you look up civil court records by name or docket number.
Use this tool to find dockets, view filings, and track the status of civil cases in Butler County.
You can also search through the Unified Judicial System Portal. This statewide tool covers Butler County along with all other Pennsylvania counties. Basic case data is free to view. The portal is run under 42 Pa.C.S. § 3732 and provides access to civil, family, and appellate records.
Civil Court Records in Butler County
The Butler County Prothonotary stores all types of civil court records. The Court of Common Pleas has broad jurisdiction under 42 Pa.C.S. § 931. Cases cover a wide range of disputes between parties.
Common civil filings in Butler County include breach of contract claims, personal injury suits, and debt collection cases. Family law matters like divorce, custody, and support are part of the civil record too. Property disputes, mortgage actions, and quiet title cases go through this court. Lien filings and judgment entries are indexed separately but still part of the civil court records. Appeals from magisterial district courts also come to the Court of Common Pleas and get added to the Butler County civil docket.
Every filing is indexed by name and case number. The system has been computerized since 1993. Scanned images of documents go back to 2001. Older paper records are stored at the courthouse. Staff can retrieve them on request. All of these records are kept permanently in Butler County.
- Contract and commercial disputes
- Personal injury and negligence claims
- Divorce, custody, and support actions
- Liens, judgments, and execution filings
- Property disputes and quiet title actions
Public Access to Butler County Records
Civil court records in Butler County are public under Pennsylvania law. The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 gives every person the right to view government records. You do not need to be a party to the case or explain your reason for asking.
Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, courts may limit access to documents with sensitive data. Social security numbers, bank account information, and minor children's names can be redacted. A judge may also seal records by court order in rare situations. But the default in Butler County is open access. Most civil court records are fully available to anyone who asks.
The Pennsylvania Courts public records policies page explains the rules that govern access to court records. These rules apply to Butler County and every other county in the state. If your request is denied, the page explains how to appeal.
The Butler County government website provides links to county services and court record access.
Find links to court offices, the Prothonotary, and other county departments on this site.
Note: If a Butler County civil court record has been sealed by a judge, you may petition the court to unseal it if you can show good cause.
Butler County Court Record Fees
Getting copies of Butler County civil court records involves fees. Plain copies cost less. Certified copies carry the court seal and cost more. The exact amount depends on the number of pages and the type of certification.
The Prothonotary office accepts several forms of payment. Money orders and attorney checks are accepted. Cash is accepted at the counter. Debit and credit cards are also available for payment. Personal checks are not accepted. If you plan to visit the courthouse, bring one of the accepted payment forms to avoid delays. Online searches through the Butler County case search portal are free for basic docket information.
Filing fees for new civil cases in Butler County follow the statewide fee schedule. The amount varies by case type. Contact the Prothonotary at the courthouse for current rates before you file. Fee waivers may be available for those who qualify under Pennsylvania's in forma pauperis rules.
Filing Civil Cases in Butler County
To start a civil case, bring your complaint to the Prothonotary at 124 West Diamond Street in Butler. The complaint names the other party and states your claim. Pay the filing fee at the counter. The staff will assign a case number and enter it into the docket system. Your case is now part of the Butler County civil court records.
Serve the other party under the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. You can use the Butler County Sheriff, a private process server, or certified mail in some situations. Proof of service goes into the court file. The other side then has a set time to respond. All filings after that become part of the case docket. You can track the case through the Butler County Case Search tool.
Nearby Counties
Butler County is in western Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh. It shares borders with several counties. Make sure you file in the right county for your civil case.