A total of 287 cases were started May 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, 33; custody complaints, 20; district justice appeals, 8; declaratory judgments, 2; divorce complaints,15; ejectment complaints, 3; license appeals, 3; mandamus action, 1; mortgage foreclosure complaints, 41; miscellaneous cases, 3; protection from abuse petitions, 29; quiet title actions, 2; judgments,126; and stipulation/waivers of liens, 1. The office staff also received and processed 98 applications for U.S. Passports.Behrens' financial report shows $34,152.41 was generated last month as follows: prothonotary's fees, $28,478.09; interest income, $1.61; PFA Surcharge, courts, $50; PFA Surcharge, Sheriff, $75; custody fees, $300; and data processing fees, $5,247.71.The prothonotary also remitted $3,733.64 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Revenue, representing state fees collected locally, and $90 to the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts, this being surcharges on new custody cases in accordance with Act 119 of 1996. Another $1,244.29 was deposited in the Prothonotary's Automation Fund for future use in automating the office.