Mifflin County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Mifflin County?

Public records in Mifflin County are defined under Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.102, as any information, regardless of physical form or characteristic, created or received by a Commonwealth agency, local agency, or other public body in connection with a transaction of public business. Members of the public may inspect or obtain copies of the following categories of records maintained by Mifflin County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court records are maintained by the Mifflin County Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts, which serves as the official keeper of all court filings and dockets.
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments are recorded and maintained by the Mifflin County Recorder of Deeds. Property assessment records are held by the Mifflin County Assessment Office.
Vital records — Birth and death certificates are issued through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Marriage licenses are issued through the Mifflin County Register of Wills, and divorce decrees are filed with the Prothonotary.
Business records — Fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits are maintained through the Pennsylvania Department of State and applicable county offices.
Tax records — Property tax records and assessment data are maintained by the Mifflin County Tax Claim Bureau and Assessment Office.
Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Mifflin County Election Bureau.
Meeting minutes and agendas — Records of county commissioner meetings, board sessions, and public hearings are available through the Mifflin County government offices.
Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, expenditure reports, and audit records are public documents subject to disclosure.
Law enforcement records — Incident reports and arrest logs, where permitted by law, may be obtained through the Pennsylvania State Police, which publishes Public Information Release Reports for each troop area covering Mifflin County.
Land use and zoning records — Zoning permits, subdivision plans, and land development records are maintained by the Mifflin County Planning Commission.

Is Mifflin County an Open Records County?

Mifflin County fully complies with Pennsylvania's statewide open records framework. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, a public record shall be accessible for inspection and duplication by a requester, and a local agency shall not deny a requester access to a public record due to the intended use of the public record by the requester. This provision establishes a strong presumption of openness for all county government records.

Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law (RTKL), enacted in its current form in 2008, places the burden of proof on the government agency to demonstrate that a record is exempt from disclosure, rather than requiring the requester to justify access. The Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General also plays a role in ensuring government transparency by conducting audits of county agencies and making findings publicly available.

Mifflin County additionally operates in compliance with Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act, which requires that deliberations and official actions of public agencies be conducted at open public meetings. Meeting agendas and minutes are made available to the public through county offices.

How to Find Public Records in Mifflin County in 2026

Members of the public may access Mifflin County records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process for submitting a public records request:

Identify the correct office. Determine which county office maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Prothonotary; property records by the Recorder of Deeds; tax records by the Tax Claim Bureau; and election records by the Election Bureau.
Submit a written Right to Know request. Under the RTKL, requests must be submitted in writing to the agency's designated Open Records Officer. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by fax, or by email, depending on the office's accepted methods.
Use the standard request form. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records provides a standardized request form, which may be submitted to any county agency. Individual offices may also maintain their own forms.
Await the agency response. Under current law, the agency must respond within five business days of receiving the request. The agency may grant access, deny access, or invoke a 30-day extension for complex requests.
Appeal if necessary. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the denial.
Access records in person. Many records may be inspected directly at the relevant county office during regular business hours without submitting a formal written request.

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

Current fees for public records in Mifflin County are governed by the fee schedule established under 65 P.S. § 67.1307, which authorizes agencies to charge reasonable fees for duplication. Standard fees applicable to most county offices include:

Paper copies: $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies (8.5" x 11")
Certification of records: An additional fee applies for certified copies, which varies by office
Recorder of Deeds copies: Recording fees and copy fees are set by statute and may differ from standard copy rates
Electronic records: Agencies may charge for the actual cost of producing electronic records, including media and conversion costs
Postage and mailing: Actual postage costs may be charged when records are mailed to the requester

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, or money order payable to the applicable county office. Fee waivers are available under current law when the requester demonstrates that the information is primarily in the public interest and that disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of government operations. Fees for inspection of records without duplication are generally not charged.

Does Mifflin County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public at the offices that maintain those records. Under Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law, agencies are not permitted to charge a fee solely for inspecting a public record in person. The following government resources provide no-cost access to certain Mifflin County records:

In-person inspection at the Mifflin County Prothonotary, Recorder of Deeds, Assessment Office, and other county offices during regular business hours
Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Release Reports, available at no cost through the PSP public records portal, which covers incident data for Mifflin County
Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General publishes audit reports and financial findings for county agencies at no charge through its official website
Mifflin County government website provides access to meeting agendas, minutes, budgets, and other public documents at no cost through the county's official online portal

Who Can Request Public Records in Mifflin County?

Any person may submit a public records request in Mifflin County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law does not restrict access to county residents or require requesters to demonstrate a specific need for the records sought. The following provisions apply under current law:

Residency: Requesters are not required to be residents of Mifflin County or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Identification: Agencies may not require a requester to provide identification as a condition of accessing public records, except in limited circumstances involving records that contain personal information about the requester.
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state the reason for their request, and agencies may not deny access based on the intended use of the records.
Non-residents: Non-residents retain the same rights of access as Pennsylvania residents under the RTKL.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records that contain their own personal information may be required to provide identification to verify identity before certain sensitive records are released.
Restrictions for specific record types: Certain records, such as juvenile court files, adoption records, and sealed court documents, are subject to additional access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Mifflin County?

Not all government records in Mifflin County are subject to public disclosure. Pennsylvania law establishes a comprehensive list of exemptions under 65 P.S. § 67.708, which exempts the following categories of records from mandatory disclosure:

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 investigation records — Records compiled in connection with a criminal investigation that could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and similar data are redacted from disclosed records
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 under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — Maintained as confidential to protect the safety and privacy of minors
Personnel records — Employee home addresses, personal telephone numbers, and similar information are exempt, though certain employment-related records remain public
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to government agencies under an expectation of confidentiality
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records that could compromise public safety or critical infrastructure are withheld
Military discharge records — As noted by the Mifflin County Recorder of Deeds, DD-214 service discharge records are recorded but are not open to the general public

Where a record contains both exempt and non-exempt information, agencies are required to redact the exempt portions and provide access to the remainder of the document.

Mifflin County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Mifflin County Recorder of Deeds maintains property records, deed transfers, mortgage instruments, and related land records. The Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts serves as the official custodian of civil and criminal court records for the county.

Mifflin County Recorder of Deeds 20 North Wayne Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: 717-248-6733 Recorder of Deeds – Mifflin County Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Mifflin County Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts 20 North Wayne Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: 717-248-8146 Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts – Mifflin County Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Mifflin County Administration 20 North Wayne Street, Lewistown, PA 17044 Phone: 717-248-6733 Mifflin County Government Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.