Northumberland County

Most records date from the founding of Northumberland County in 1772. The Courthouse staff will assist with locating records and with the various indexing schemes employed for the court records. Recent indexes have been computerized and some indexes have been microfilmed.
 
Older records are stored in the Courthouse basement. These vaults were originally used as jail cells; they are cramped and somewhat dirty (especially the Prothonotary vault). Because of this, it is recommended that you wear old clothes.
 
Deed Registers and Prothonotary Dockets are quite large books and are very heavy. A cart is available and an elevator is available for transporting books from the basement to the first floor for copying. All records in the Register and Recorders Office and most in the Prothonotary Office are open to the public and are hands-on.
 
The only public entrance to the Courthouse is at the front main doors. The Courthouse is generally handicap accessible, although some of the basement vaults may not be. The Register and Recorder's Office is located on the first floor at the far end of the hall on the right. The Prothonotary Office is directly opposite on the left. A security guard and scanner are stationed just inside the entrance. Computers and cameras are permitted. Two-hour metered parking is provided in a public lot at the back of the Court House and also on the streets around the town square.

 
Northumberland County Courthouse
201 Market Street
Sunbury, PA 17801-3406
General Phone Number: 570-988-4100
 
Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphan's Court
Phone: 570-988-4143
Courthouse Hours: Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm; Tuesday - Friday 9:00 am - 4:30 pm. Call ahead to confirm Courthouse hours.
Copies: Fees apply. Inquire in advance.
 
Recorder of Deeds
Deed Indexes 1772-1913, 1914-1946, 1947-1973, 1974-1989, 1990-Present
Deed Books A-Z, AA-XX, 50-600; Record Books 601 [Grantor and Grantee indexes.]
Mortgage Indexes 1772-1973, 1974-1989, 1990-present
Mortgage Books 1-449; Record Books 601
 
Register of Wills
Will Indexes 1772-1930, 1930-1987, 1987-present
Will Books 1-59
Other original estate documents including wills, property inventories, etc.
 
Clerk of Orphans' Court
Index 1772-1930, 1930-1987, 1987-present
Dockets 1-67
 
Marriage Records
Marriage Docket 1852-1854 (12/4/1852 - 2/9/1854)
Male and Female Index 1885 - present
Marriage Dockets 1-113, 1885-1987; 114 - , 1987 - present
 
Birth and Death Records
Delayed Birth Certificate Books 1869-1906
Birth Docket 1852-1853 (10/7/1852 - 3/12/1853)
Death Docket 1852-1855 (7/5/1853 - 3/9/1855)
Birth Records 2 Volumes 1893-1905
Death Records 2 Volumes 1893-1905
 
Other Records
Charter Books, some Military Records and a huge wall map of the county by Cummings, 1858
 
Prothonotary Office (Clerk of Courts)
Civil Court Records Appearance Dockets
Execution Dockets Original Papers Filed
Quarter Sessions Records
Sheriffs' Deed Books
Fictitious Business Names