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First elected November 8, 1983
Current term:
Elected November 6, 2007
Term expires December 31, 2012

PROTHONOTARY - First Notary of the Court and keeper of the records.

This office is responsible for accurate and timely creation, maintenance and certification of records in matters pending before or determined by the court of common pleas. In each county of this Commonwealth, there shall be one Prothonotary for the Court who shall administer oaths and affirmations; affix and attest the seal of the court for certifications and exemplifications of all documents and records pertaining to the office and business of the court of which it is the Prothonotary. This office also enters all civil judgments, confession of judgments and satisfactions. The Prothonotary has no judicial powers nor does he/she have the power to act as an attorney for others by virtue of their office.

The following civil actions are filed in the Prothonotary office:

• Abuse Petitions
• Appeals from Lower Courts
• Building Agreements/Waivers
• Civil Complaints in Law
• Custody/Visitation Matters
• Divorce Complaints
• Equity Actions
• Judgments/UCC Financing Statements
• Lien Stipulations
• Mechanic/Municipal Liens
• Mortgage Foreclosures
• Quiet Title Actions

Records begin with the year 1814 with some earlier books containing miscellaneous information such as: Naturalization/Immigration records. There are also some Registries on Civil War Deserters from the 11th Regiment of PA State Volunteers; Dog and Stallion Registries; Veterinary, Optometry and Dental Registries.

Birth and Death records filed in Columbia County cover the years 1893 until 1905. Before 1893, there were no records of that nature filed at the county level. If requesting genealogy information, an exact date and name must be supplied to the Prothonotary's Office before a search can be performed. All inquires are directed to the Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society who will provide such a service for a fee. The address to contact them directly is:

Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society
c/o Bloomsburg Public Library
225 Market Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815

NO SEARCHES OF THE INDICES INCLUDING JUDGMENTS AND LIENS WILL BE DONE BY THIS OFFICE. The only searches performed by the Prothonotary's Office are those that are required by law such as name changes or UCC-11's.

Staff