The function of the Court of Common Pleas is the administration of the judicial system in Dauphin County, insuring that the legal rights of all are protected and preserved. The Court of Common Pleas handles the full gamut of legal cases including jury trials for criminal and civil matters, juvenile hearings, spousal and child support hearings, custody hearings, divorces, adoption hearings, estate matters, guardianship hearings, land use disputes, name changes, license suspension appeals and emergency matters such as injunctions.

GUIDE TO DAUPHIN COUNTY COURT DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER RELATED OFFICES

Unless otherwise noted, the Dauphin County Courthouse is open from
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

ABUSE - If you have questions about filing a Protection from Abuse Petition, please call the Victim/Witness Assistance Program at (717) 780-7077 or (717) 780-7075.

ADULT PROBATION - (717) 780-6900 - 917/919 Gibson Boulevard, Harrisburg. This department handles all Adult Probation and Work Release Center issues.

ATTORNEY - If you have questions about hiring an attorney, please call Dauphin County Lawyer Referral Service at (717) 232-7536. If you feel you cannot afford to hire an attorney, please contact Mid Penn Legal Services at (717) 232-0581 or the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic of Widener University School of Law at (717) 541-0320.

BANKRUPTCY - Bankruptcy Court is located in the Federal Courthouse. Please call (717) 901-2800.

BINGO - (717) 780-6550 - Bingo licenses can be purchased in the Treasurer's Office which is located on the 1st Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse.

BIRTH CERTIFICATE - If you want to obtain a birth certificate, contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics at (717) 772-3480 or (724) 656-3100.

CLERK OF COURTS - (717) 780-6530 - located on the 2nd floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. All criminal and juvenile records are recorded, maintained and processed by the Clerk of Courts. If you have questions about the disposition of a criminal case, bail, background checks, expungement of records, or appeals from Magisterial District Justice criminal cases, please contact the Clerk of Courts office.

CHILD ABUSE - call Children and Youth at (717) 780-7200.

CHILD CUSTODY - Custody Complaints and Petitions for Modification of a Custody Order are filed with the Prothonotary. The Prothonotary's Office does not have forms. If you want to file the action without an attorney, forms and instructions are available for purchase in the Self-Help Center located in the Dauphin County Law Library.

CHILD SUPPORT - call Domestic Relations office at (717) 255-2796.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH - (717) 780-7200 - hours Monday - Friday 8:15 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. - located on the 7th floor at 25 South Front Street, Harrisburg. This agency is dedicated to the health, safety and general welfare of children and families and insures that children are protected from harm and danger. If you want to report child abuse/neglect or receive information please call the Dauphin County Child Abuse Reporting Line at (717) 780-7200. The state child abuse reporting line's telephone number is 1 (800) 932-0313.

COMMONWEALTH COURT (PENNSYLVANIA) - (717) 255-1650 and (717) 255-1668.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK - contact the Clerk of Courts Office at (717) 780-6530.

DAUPHIN COUNTY PRISON - (717) 780-6800 - located at 501 Mall Road, Harrisburg. This is an adult detention facility.

DD-214 - If you would like to get a copy of military discharge papers, please contact the Recorder of Deeds Office at (717) 780-6560.

DEED TO REAL ESTATE - If you would like to get a copy of a deed, call the Recorder of Deeds Office at (717) 780-6560.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - (717) 780-6767 - located on the 2nd floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. This office prosecutes all crimes committed in Dauphin County. This office schedules arraignments, criminal court and juvenile court and oversees the ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition) program. If you have questions about your court date please call the District Attorney's Office.

DIVORCE - Divorce Complaints are filed with the Prothonotary. The Prothonotary's Office does not have forms. If you want to file the action without an attorney, forms and instructions are available for purchase in the Self-Help Center located in the Dauphin County Law Library. If you want to get a copy of your divorce decree, please contact the Prothonotary's Office at (717) 780-6520.

DOG LICENSES - (717) 780-6550 - Dog licenses can be purchased in the Treasurer's Office which is located on the 1st Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE - (717) 255-2796 - located on the 8th floor at 25 South Front Street, Harrisburg. All spousal support and child support filings are done through the Domestic Relations Office. The Domestic Relations Office schedules all office conferences, support appeals and enforcement proceedings. If you have a question about when you are to appear for a court proceeding, call the Domestic Relations Office.

DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION APPEAL - to appeal your notice of suspension received from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, you file the appeal with the Prothonotary. If you want to file the action without an attorney, forms and instructions are available for purchase in the Self-Help Center located in the Dauphin County Law Library.

FINES & COSTS - (717) 780-6600 - located on the ground floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. This office collects money due because of court-ordered costs, fines and restitution as the result of a criminal case. This office also collects electronic monitoring fees. Acceptable forms of payment are cash, certified check, money order or payroll deductions. This office does not collect money owed for parking tickets, speeding tickets or citations resulting from the use of a vehicle.

GUARDIANSHIP FOR INCAPACITATED INDIVIDUAL - Guardianship petitions are filed with the Register of Wills Office.

GUN PERMITS - If you have questions about applying for a gun permit, please call the Sheriff's Department at (717) 780-6592.

INHERITANCE TAXES - If you want to file and pay the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax for a deceased Dauphin County resident, please contact the Register of Wills Office at (717) 780-6500.

INTERWORKS - located at 4335 North Front Street, Harrisburg (717) 236-6630. Offers parenting classes.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES (DAUPHIN COUNTY) - call the Dauphin County Personnel Office at (717) 780-6230.

JURY DUTY - if you have questions regarding jury duty, please call (717) 780-6622.

JUVENILE PROBATION - (717) 780-7100 - located at 100 Chestnut Street, Harrisburg. This department handles all juvenile probation issues and schedules all sessions of juvenile court. If you have a question about when you are to appear for juvenile court, call the Juvenile Probation Office.

LAW LIBRARY - (717) 780-6605 - located on the 4th floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. The library is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Self-Help Center is located in the library.

MARRIAGE LICENSE - If you want to apply for a marriage license, please call the Register of Wills at (717) 780-6500.

MILITARY DISCHARGE PAPERS - If you would like to get a copy of military discharge papers, please contact the Recorder of Deeds Office at (717) 780-6560.

NOTARY - The Notary Registration is filed with the Prothonotary. The Notary Oath is taken by the Recorder of Deeds.

PARENTING CLASSES - Contact Interworks if you have questions about parenting classes (717) 236-6630.

PASSPORT APPLICATIONS - if you have questions about applying for a passport, please call the Prothonotary's Office at (717) 780-6520.

PERSONNEL OFFICE - (717) 780-6230 - located on the 5th floor of the County Administration Building, Second and Market Streets in Harrisburg. If you want information on job availability, job applications or personnel, please call the Personnel Office.

PRE-TRIAL SERVICES - (717) 780-6440 - located on the 3rd Floor of the County Administration Building, Second and Market Streets in Harrisburg. Pre-Trial Services supervises individuals while out on bail. The individual on bail must be court-ordered by either the Magisterial District Justice or the Common Pleas Court to participate in the supervision program.

PROTECTION FROM ABUSE - If you have questions about filing a Protection from Abuse Petition, please call the Victim/Witness Assistance Program at (717) 780-7077 or (717) 780-7075.

PROTHONOTARY - (717) 780-6520 - located on the 1st Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. All civil cases are filed, processed and maintained by the Prothonotary. The Prothonotary also accepts passport applications.

PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE - (717) 780-6370 - located on the 2nd Floor of the County Administration Building, Second and Market Streets, Harrisburg. To apply for a Public Defender, bring your criminal complaint and/or probable cause affidavit received from the Magisterial District Justice's Office. Applications and interviews are Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - noon.

RECORDER OF DEEDS - (717) 780-6560 - located on the 1st Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. Certified copies of real property land records are stored in the Recorder of Deeds. This includes deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, agreements and easements. Army discharge papers (DD-214) are housed in the Recorder of Deeds Office.

REGISTER OF WILLS - (717) 780-6500 - located on the 1st Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. Wills of deceased Dauphin County residents are probated by the Register of Wills. Personal Representatives for deceased residents are appointed by the Register of Wills. Inheritance taxes are collected by the Register of Wills. This office also handles applications for marriage licenses, adoption filings and guardianship filings.

SCHAFFNER YOUTH CENTER - (717) 780-6700 - located at 911 Gibson Boulevard, Steelton.

SELF-HELP CENTER - (717) 780-6605 - located in the Dauphin County Law Library, 4th Floor, Dauphin County Courthouse. The center provides forms and instructions for litigants who choose to represent themselves. Forms for Divorce, Custody, License Suspension Appeals, Name Changes, Declaration of Ownership, and In Forma Pauperis are available for purchase.

SEMINAR FOR SEPARATING PARENTS - Contact Interworks at 4335 North Front Street, Harrisburg (717) 236-6630.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT - (717) 780-6590 - located on the 1st Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. This office schedules sheriff sales of real estate or personal property, applications for gun permits, and service of court papers.

SHORT CERTIFICATE - If you have questions about a short certificate, please call the Register of Wills at (717) 780-6500.

SMALL GAMES OF CHANCE - (717) 780-6550 - Small Games of Chance licenses can be purchased in the Treasurer's Office which is located on the 1st Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse.

SPOUSAL SUPPORT - call Domestic Relations Office at (717) 255-2796.

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION - (717) 782-3400 or 1-800-772-1213.

SUPERIOR COURT (PENNSYLVANIA) - (717) 772-1294.

SUPREME COURT (PENNSYLVANIA) - (717) 787-6181.

TAX ASSESSMENT OFFICE - (717) 780-6101 - located on the 2nd Floor of the County Administration Office, 2nd and Market Streets, Harrisburg. This office is responsible for the valuation of real property and the administration of the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Program.

TAX CLAIM OFFICE - (717) 780-6125 - located on the 1st Floor of the County Administration Office, 2nd and Market Streets, Harrisburg. This office handles Dauphin County delinquent property taxes and tax sales of real estate.

VETERAN AFFAIRS - (717) 780-6356 or (717) 780-6357 - located on the 4th Floor of the County Administration Office, 2nd and Market Streets, Harrisburg. This office connects veterans and their families to social services, education, medical services or housing.

VOTER REGISTRATION - (717) 780-6360 or toll free 1-800-328-0058. Located on the 1st floor of the County Administration Building, 2nd and Market Streets, Harrisburg. If you have questions about registering to vote or your registration, please call the Voter Registration Office.

VICTIM/WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - (717) 780-7077 or (717) 780-7075. Located on the 2nd Floor of the Dauphin County Courthouse. This office provides victim support services. This office also will assist applicants with the filing of Protection From Abuse Petitions.

WEDDING - If you would like a judge to perform your wedding ceremony in the Dauphin County Courthouse, please contact (717) 780-6660, (717) 780-6650 or (717) 780-6685.

WORK RELEASE CENTER - call Adult Probation Office at (717) 780-6900.

DAUPHIN COUNTY COURT MISSION STATEMENT

TO ASSURE EQUAL ACCESS, FAIR TREATMENT AND THE PEACEFUL AND EFFICIENT RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES FOR ALL CITIZENS ASSERTING THEIR RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW.