There are sixty seven counties in the state of Pennsylvania and in all of them, there are a number of public records that have existed since it was formed and are generated every single day. These records include all of the major events that happen in the county: birth, death, marriage, divorce, criminal records and public meetings as well as other types of information. In the old days, much of this information was either carried by word of mouth or in the local newspaper, but things have changed dramatically.

The newspapers are for the most part, gone and most people live their whole lives without meeting or interacting with their neighbors like they once did. In addition, there is more accountability expected from our public officials. They are no longer allowed to have secret meetings where appointments to office are made or important policy is written without the public being aware of it. The law, known as the Right to Know Law, was passed in Pennsylvania in 2008 for the main purpose of keeping these meetings and other information above board and in the public light. Because of this law, you have the right to search virtually any of the Clearfield County public records that you choose to.

The Right Procedure for the Right to Know Law and Public Record Searches

To get access to any type of public records, you have to first request the information that you are interested in. that starts with finding the right department that pertains to the record in question. In many counties, the names of the departments are pretty clear and self explanatory. In others, you may have to do a little bit of investigative work.

After you locate the right department, you will file a request for information form which will ask you a number of questions as well as ask for a photo id. After you file the request, the office will let you know how long it may take to process it. For some documents, the search might be a little lengthier than with others.

The Restrictions to the Right to Know Law when Searching Clearfield County Public Records

There are a number of restrictions that you need to keep in mind. These restrictions are meant to stop identity theft as well as to protect the public health and safety and include not being able to access the address of certain public officials whether they were elected or appointed.