Union County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Union County in 2026

UnionCountyRecords.us provides publicly available information and data related to public records maintained by government agencies in Union County, Pennsylvania. Members of the public seeking records in Union County may access a range of documents through official county offices, state repositories, and authorized online portals. Available record categories include, but are not limited to:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and assessment records
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and fictitious name registrations
Tax and financial records
Voting and election records
Meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents
Law enforcement records, where permitted by law
Land use and zoning records

Online Access: Members of the public may search certain Union County records through the Union County, Pennsylvania official website. Property and assessment records are accessible through the county's online portal. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides online access to court docket information for civil and criminal cases filed in Union County courts. No registration is required to conduct basic docket searches.

In-Person Requests: Requests for recorded documents, deeds, and related instruments may be submitted in person at the Union County Recorder of Deeds office. The office is located at 103 South Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted by mail to the appropriate county office. Requesters should include the full name of the subject, the type of record sought, the relevant date range, and a return mailing address. Under the Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.901), agencies are required to respond to written requests within five business days.

Phone/Email: The Union County Recorder of Deeds may be reached by phone at (570) 524-8761. General county inquiries may be directed to the main county line at (570) 524-8600.

What Are Public Records in Union County?

Public records in Union County are defined under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.102) as any record, including a financial record, of a Commonwealth or local agency that is not exempt from disclosure. The following record types are currently maintained by Union County agencies:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil and criminal court records	Union County Court of Common Pleas
Property deeds and mortgages	Recorder of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage)	Register of Wills / PA Vital Records
Probate and estate records	Register of Wills
Business/fictitious name registrations	Prothonotary
Property tax and assessment records	Assessment Office / Tax Claim Bureau
Voting and election records	Election Bureau
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Commissioners' Office
Budget and financial documents	County Commissioners' Office
Law enforcement records	Union County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Planning and Zoning Office

The Union County Prothonotary maintains civil court filings, while the Register of Wills handles probate and estate matters. Property records are searchable through the Recorder of Deeds office.

Is Union County an Open Records County?

Union County operates in full compliance with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.301, all local agencies, including county government offices, are presumed to have public records that are accessible to any person upon request. The law establishes that records in the possession of a local agency are public records unless they fall within a specific statutory exemption.

As the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records states, "The Right-to-Know Law presumes that all records of Commonwealth agencies and local agencies are public records." This presumption places the burden on the agency to demonstrate that a record is exempt from disclosure, rather than on the requester to justify access.

Union County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance; the county operates under the uniform standards established by state law. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records serves as the oversight body for disputes and appeals arising from denied requests at the local level. Agencies are required to designate an Open Records Officer to receive and process Right-to-Know requests.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Union County?

Current fees for public records in Union County are governed by the fee schedule established under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and applicable county fee schedules. Standard fees include:

Paper copies: $0.25 per page (standard 8.5" x 11")
Larger format copies: Actual cost of duplication
Certification of records: Varies by office; the Recorder of Deeds charges a certification fee per document
Electronic records: Provided at no charge when the agency already maintains the record in electronic format, unless conversion costs apply
Search fees: Not permitted under state law for standard Right-to-Know requests
Postage: Actual cost of mailing, if applicable

Inspection of public records is available at no charge. Fees are assessed only when copies are requested. Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order; some offices accept credit or debit cards. Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under state law, though agencies retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in certain circumstances.

Does Union County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Union County government offices during regular business hours. Under Pennsylvania law, any person may inspect a public record without charge; fees apply only when physical or electronic copies are requested.

The following resources provide free access to Union County records:

Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal: Provides free online access to court docket information, including case summaries for civil and criminal matters filed in Union County.
Union County Assessment Office: Offers free online access to property assessment data through the county website.
Pennsylvania Department of Health – Vital Records: Provides an online verification tool for birth and death records, though certified copies carry a fee.
Union County Commissioners' Office: Meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents are posted publicly on the Union County official website at no cost.

The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may review original records in person without charge, but obtaining a physical or electronic copy triggers the applicable per-page fee.

Who Can Request Public Records in Union County?

Any person may submit a Right-to-Know request for public records maintained by Union County agencies. Pennsylvania law does not require requesters to be residents of the Commonwealth, nor does it require requesters to state the purpose for which records are sought. As the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records affirms, "Any requester, regardless of citizenship or residency, may submit a request."

Specific eligibility considerations include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Pennsylvania retain full rights to request public records.
Identification: Agencies may not require requesters to provide identification as a condition of access to public records, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain personal information about the requester.
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state a reason for their request under standard Right-to-Know procedures.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to access certain records that are otherwise restricted, such as sealed or confidential records, through separate legal processes.
Restrictions by record type: Certain records, such as juvenile court files, adoption records, and law enforcement investigative materials, carry additional access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity.

Requests must be submitted in writing, either in person, by mail, or electronically, to the designated Open Records Officer of the relevant Union County agency.

What Records Are Confidential in Union County?

Not all records maintained by Union County agencies are subject to public disclosure. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law enumerates specific categories of exempt records. The following record types are currently withheld from public access:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juvenile proceedings are confidential under Pennsylvania law.
Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records compiled in the course of a criminal investigation are exempt while the investigation is active.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted prior to disclosure.
Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only through specific legal channels.
Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Pennsylvania child protective services law.
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt, with limited exceptions for salary and position information of public employees.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when submitted to an agency in confidence.
Security and infrastructure plans: Records detailing security systems, emergency response plans, or critical infrastructure are withheld to protect public safety.

Under 65 P.S. § 67.708, agencies must apply a balancing test when a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information; the non-exempt portions must be disclosed after redaction of protected content.

Union County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Union County Recorder of Deeds / Register of Wills 103 South Second Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: (570) 524-8761 Union County Recorder of Deeds

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Closed on federal and state holidays.

Union County Prothonotary 103 South Second Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: (570) 524-8751 Union County Prothonotary

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Union County Assessment Office 103 South Second Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: (570) 524-8682 Union County Assessment Office

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Union County Commissioners' Office 103 South Second Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: (570) 524-8600 Union County Commissioners

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Union County Election Bureau 103 South Second Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 Phone: (570) 524-8771 Union County Election Bureau

Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM