Adams County: Prothonotary

Prothonotary

The word Prothonotary is a Latin word, meaning First Chief or Highest Administrator. This title dates back in Ecclesiastical Law as being the Highest Administrator of the Court of Rome and the first notary known as the Prelate of a body of twelve Notaries. When a case was ready for trial, the Prothonotary would notify the Judges when to appear in Court to try the case.

Later, when the English Court system was set up, the Prothonotary acted as the Chief Administrator in the English Courts of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas. When our American Court system was set up, we also adopted the same procedures as those used by the English Courts. Every state in our United States has their Clerk of the Common Pleas Court, but very few are titled as Prothonotaries. The older New England States and Pennsylvania still have their Prothonotaries.

When Adams County was created in 1800, the Prothonotary had already become an important figure in Pennsylvania county government. James Duncan, the first Prothonotary of Adams County, acted also as Clerk of Courts, Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds until 1821. In that year, there was a separation of the Office of the Prothonotary from the others. This separation has continued to date. The Governor appointed Prothonotaries from 1800 to 1839. In 1839, the first Prothonotary was elected and they have been elected every since that time.

One of the most important records kept by the Prothonotary is the Judgment Docket or the Index Docket, in which all judgments are entered. When a Bank Note or Money Note is brought into the office to be entered, we give it a number and file it. After the Judgment is filed and indexed, it is recorded in the Appearance Docket. We also index Tax Liens, (Federal and State), Mechanics Liens, Stipulations against Mechanics Liens, Stipulations against Liens, and Waiver of Liens.

Some of the duties and responsibilities of the Prothonotary are the Recording and Filing of legal papers, such as:

Secured Transactions

Action in Assumpsit

Petition to Change Name

Action in Trespass

Eminent Domain Proceedings

Action in Equity

Action to Quiet Title

Action in Custody

Action in Divorce

Action in Abuse

We are the only Passport Acceptance Agency in Adams County for the execution of passport applications. We also provide Naturalization forms and information for aliens to become U.S. citizens.

Sheriffs Sale of personal or real estate property is started in this office.

When the Prothonotary is in Court, it is his/her duty to swear in the Jury in any case in reference to the Common Pleas Court (Civil). The Prothonotary must receive and file lists of persons drawn by the Jury Commission to serve as Petit Jurors for Civil Court. Upon completion of the Civil Court Sessions, the Prothonotary will issue a certificate for each Juror to the County Treasurer and his or her check will be mailed.

Director:	Beverly Boyd

Hours:	Monday thru Friday 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.

Mailing Address:	County of Adams
	Prothonotary's Office
	117 Baltimore Street, Room 104
	Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone:	(717) 337-9834

Fax:	(717) 334-2091