Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts
The Office of Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts is divided into three primary areas of responsibility, those of Prothonotary, Quarter Sessions, and Clerk of Court. Functions related to each area of responsibility are outlined below.
Prothonotary
The Prothonotary is responsible for the following:
- Docket, index and maintain appeals, Civil Action Law Suits, Equity Actions, Custody, Divorce, Protection from Abuse, Judgments, Federal Tax Liens, Financing Statements (UCCs) and Support Actions
- Issue and index Writ of Executions (for Sheriff Sales), Writs of Summons, Writ of Renewal
- Record Oaths of Office for all row officers as well as deputies appointed
- Issue subpoenas in all civil cases when requested by an attorney
- Administrative Oaths of Office
- Notarize papers
- Appoint Arbitrators and Boards of Viewers in certain civil actions
- Prepare certified copies of Divorce Decrees
- Record notary signature registrations
- Assist public with filing of Abuse Petitions
- Forward data on abuse cases to Pennsylvania State Police for state-wide registry
- Send copies of Court Orders in all civil cases to all parties of record or their attorney
- Issue receipts and docket for all monies coming over counter in payment of fines.
Quarter Sessions
The Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts is responsible to record, index and maintain the following documents and information:
- Municipal ordinances and resolutions regarding streets, roads and bridges
- Petitions to open, close, vacate and take over roads, streets and bridges
- Private detective license applications, issue certificates and ID cards
- Annual audit reports from all Huntingdon County municipalities
- List of all Huntingdon County elected constables and tax collectors
- Bond information
- Oaths of office
- Appointment of majority inspectors, minority inspectors and judges of election
- School police officers appointed.
Clerk of Court
The Clerk of Court is responsible for the following:
- Receive and execute applications for the United States Passport Agency
go to travel.state.gov for online passport forms - Docket, index and maintain all criminal cases from 4 District Magistrate offices
- Accept bail when appropriate in criminal cases
- Issue bench warrants at request of District Attorney or Probation Department
- Docket, index and maintain all juvenile dependency and delinquency court cases and proceedings
- Attend criminal trials as an officer of the Court.
- Swear in witnesses, jury panels and tip staff
- Announce verdicts
- Assess costs for all defendants processed in court payable to the Department of Revenue, Huntingdon County and area municipalities
- Supply PennDOT with information on the guilt or acquittal of each defendant charged with a motor vehicle violation
- Compile information and issue forms to Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts on all persons disposed of and sentenced in court as to charges, gradings of crime, date of sentences, length of probation or imprisonment, court costs and fines, and bail and attorney information
- Issue subpoenas for appearance in court at request of attorney
- Docket, index and maintain summary appeals by defendants from magistrates and defendants
- Criminal record searches for various organizations including Penn State Police and United States Armed services, and employment departments.
How to Reach Us
The Prothonotary’s Office is located in the Courthouse.
The mailing address and phone number are:
Sarah Snare
Huntingdon County Office of Prothonotary
223 Penn Street, Courthouse
Huntingdon, PA 16652
Phone: 814-643-1610 | 814-643-5511
Fax: 814-643-4271
Email: ssnare@huntingdoncounty.net