Montgomery County Prothonotary Noah Marlier (Image courtesy of Montgomery County)
Learn what this important role may provide for you with this edition of Managing Montco.
We hope you are both enjoying and learning something from our exploration of Managing Montco. Each day, we aim to take a deeper dive into a role of a department within the county. We want to help you understand who that person is, what they do for the county, and what they can do to help you.
We are breaking down the roles of the nine departments known as “Row Officers.” Today we take a look at the county’s Prothonotary.
Who is the Montgomery County Prothonotary?
Noah Marlier, the Montgomery County Prothonotary, was a guest at an Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners meeting back in August to discuss just exactly what it is his office does and how he can be of help.
Marlier, who described his role as not dealing with criminal matters, said most people aren’t sure what he does for the county. Marlier is serving his second term in this elected position. He likely describes the role best.
“My office is where you file civil legal papers with the county,” said Marlier. “Nine out of 10 folks, they hear ‘prothonotary’ and they go ‘what the heck is that. And one out of 10 on the street says ‘I got divorced there.’”
What does a prothonotary do in the county?
In addition to divorce, lawsuits on civil matters also go through his office. Landlord/Tenant appeals, such as over evictions, name changes, custody agreements, and liens also operate via the prothonotary.
An important service the office provides is designed to protect some of the county’s citizens that need it the most. And he is proud of his program called the “Hope Card.”
“One of our specific departments is our Protection from Abuse Department (PFA),” said Marlier. “You might know PFAs as restraining orders, because in California they are called restraining orders. Most of our movies are made in Hollywood. So, in the movies, they’re called restraining orders, but in a number of states, including Pennsylvania, they’re called protection from abuse. It’s the same thing.”
“That situation can be very daunting,” explained the prothonotary. With multiple steps and processes around the PFA, he said it can be a difficult time for all involved. “Oftentimes it is women. Oftentimes it is women with children. Sometimes those women have bruises fresh on their face.”
He said that, while men, same-sex partners, and elderly also file for PFAs, the majority of cases are women who must travel to his offices in Norristown multiple times to allow for the accused to be presented with a “day in court.”
“That process shouldn’t be as daunting, and as scary, and as intimidating as it has been,” he said. “I’m trying to create ways to alleviate some of that concern, that fear, and how stressful, how long that situation can be.”
Read more about his Hope Card initiative here.
All in, his office handles the following:
Additionally, the role serves as a passport processing location, by appointment only. For more information on each of the Prothonotary’s services, you can call the unique phone number that handles that role, such as:
*Note: Passport appointments are currently not available at the Norristown office until further notice. Willow Grove offers an office for this service.
Different filings with the Prothonotary’s Office require different charges for the service. You can find a full list of costs here. You should make a note that the prothonotary office only accepts cash (as close to the amount as possible), certified check, money order, or attorney’s checks. Credit card payments can only be made with e-filing.
Where can I find the Montgomery County Prothonotary?
The prothonotary has an office in Norristown. Currently, the office is operating out of the first floor of One Montgomery Plaza. The office of the prothonotary in Norristown is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
The Willow Grove Office, which is where passport appointments can now be made, is located at 102 N. York Road, Suite 302, in Willow Grove. The passport office does close by 3:30 p.m. daily (and not the 4 p.m. closing time of the other offices). The remaining offices in Willow Grove remain open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
