Carbon County Court news

Prothonotary's report

A total of 249 cases were started February in the office of Carbon County Prothonotary Joann M. Behrens, according to a monthly statistical report released by the officeholder. A breakdown of the cases is as follows:

Civil actions, 45; custody complaints, 23; district justice appeals, 5; divorce complaints, 12; ejectment complaints, 2; eminent domain/declaration of taking, 2; license appeals, 2; mortgage foreclosure complaints, 34; miscellaneous cases, 5; name change petition, 1; protection from abuse petitions, 27; zoning appeal, 1; court appointment, 2; judgments, 83; paternity suit, 1; and stipulations/waivers of liens, 4. The office staff also received and processed 105 applications for U.S. Passports.

Behrens' financial report shows that $32,048.28 was generated as follows: prothonotary's fees, $25,872.85; interest income, $5.76; PFA Surcharge, courts, $75; PFA Surcharge, Sheriff, $83.50; custody fees, $1,100; data processing fees, $4,911.17.

The prothonotary also remitted $3,748.88 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue, representing state fees collected locally, and $78 to the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts, this being surcharges on new custody cases in accordance with Act 119 of 1996. Another $1,180.51 was deposited in the Prothonotary's Automation Fund, for future use in automating the office.