Prothonotary report

Prothonotary Kayla M. Semmel released the statistical report of activities for her office for the month of January.

There were 372 cases started in November with the following breakdown: civil actions, 25; custody, 11; DJ appeal, 9; divorce, 14; ejectment, 1; license appeal, 3; declaratory judgment, 1; mortgage foreclosures, 8; protection from abuse, 23; judgments, 215; Stip/waiv liens, 5; quiet title, 7; partition, 1; custody modifications, 10; and writs, 21; miscellaneous, 5; PFSI, 2; and tax sale, 2.

A total of 24 passport applications were processed in January. In addition, a total of 5 renewal applicants sought assistance from the office; and 26 photos were taken. Passports are by appointment and pictures can now be taken in the office.

Total income generated was $30,919.38; prothonotary fees, $23,532.69; custody/divorce fees, $1,306.80; data processing fees, $3,970; interest income, $9.89; PFA; PFA surcharge courts, $12; and stenographer fess, $2,088.

In addition to the above fees, the office remitted to the county for the remote access fund for remote access fees of $3,000, remitted to the state department of revenue (fees collected on new cases) $4,144.31; and automation fund $1,060 - money collected for future automation and improvements to the office. Sales tax money turned over to the state for tax on passport photos, $22.10.

Year end report

Prothonotary Kayla M. Semmel reports a breakdown of the office’s filings and revenue for the year of 2021.

The office processed 4,646 new cases in the year 2021 (see statistical breakdown below) and turned over to the county just over $415,500 in various fees (breakdown can be seen below). In addition, the office introduced a new service and now provides passport photo services, this has aided to ease the burden of the residents to obtain a passport and generate additional revenue for the county. In an escrow backlog and remitted the funds to the appropriate parties, that were in some cases due to them for a decade.

Semmel looks forward to continuing to analyze the way in which the office can continue to generate the maximum amount of income for the county, while seeking cost saving approaches for the taxpayers of Carbon County.

She states, “I am grateful for the support and dedication of my staff in the past two years since I took office. In a short amount of time, we were able to introduce credit card payments and a brand-new service that was never offered before through the Prothonotary’s Office. We are currently working on a new case management system for the courts that will be introduced later this year and I am eager for the accessibility and ease in which it will provide to the residents, attorneys and constituents alike to utilize our services. In addition, we are investigating ways in which we can utilize the new management system to provide additional revenue to the county. My goal as the prothonotary is and will always be to find approaches to generate the maximum amount of income for the county and while continuing to seek out options to save and not generate added costs to the taxpayers, while supporting the constituents and the courts with their day to day needs of the office. It has been an honor to serve the past year and I look forward to the upcoming years in office, where I will continue to seek out ways to make the office more accessible to the public, attorneys and the courts.”

Passport Services are provided by appointment. In 2021, despite the continued effects of the pandemic, 655 passports/renewals were processed. Since introducing passport photo services in May, 328 passport photos have been provided. Please call 570-325-2481 to schedule an appointment.

Assessment Appeal, 1; civil action, 281; license appeal, 43; zoning appeal, 5; court rules, 4; mortgage foreclosure, 51; court appointment, 7; custody, 164; protection from abuse, 376; judgments, 4,469; DJ appeal, 40; name change, 5; mental health, 7; declarty judgment, 5; quiet title, 20; miscellaneous, 29; divorce, 166; aud/fin/reports, 3; paternity, 2; ejectment, 8; replevin, 5; PFSVI, 9; em. dom. dec/taking, 1; tax sale, 7; stip/waiv liens; 64; writ of execution/writs, 36; modification of custody, 127.

Passport services are provided by appointment. In 2021, despite the continued effects of the pandemic, 655 passports/renewals were processed. Since introducing passport photo services in May, 328 passport photos have been provided. Please call 570-325-2481, to schedule an appointment.

Financial report for 2021:

Prothonotary fees, $293,703.93; custody/divorce fees, $27,482.85; data processing fees, $55,110.22; interest income, $175.84; PFA surcharge sheriff, $594.35; PFA surcharge courts, $538; stenographer fees, $6,551.25.

In addition to the above fees:

Remitted to the county for the remote access fund for remote access fees: $31,400; remitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (fees collected on new cases): $41,058.68; automation fund (money collected on new cases for future automation and improvements to the office): $15,337.73.