How Pennsylvania Court Records Work
Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System uses a name found in almost no other state for its trial court of general jurisdiction: the Court of Common Pleas. Each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties is part of one of 60 numbered judicial districts, and within each district a Court of Common Pleas hears felonies, larger civil matters, family law, orphans' (probate) and juvenile cases [pacourts.us]. Statewide public case lookup runs through the UJS Web Portal Case Search, which exposes records from the Magisterial District Courts, Common Pleas, and the appellate courts.
Trial court of general jurisdiction
Court of Common Pleas (NOT "Superior Court")
Lowest trial court
Magisterial District Court (MDJ); Philadelphia Municipal Court in Phila.
Statewide case search
UJS Portal Case Search
Appellate court (intermediate)
Pennsylvania Superior Court & Commonwealth Court
Highest court
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Number of counties / districts
67 counties / 60 judicial districts
Federal courts
E.D. Pa., M.D. Pa., W.D. Pa. (via PACER)
How Pennsylvania Court Records Work — Deep Dive
Trial-court structure — Common Pleas, MDJs and Philadelphia Municipal Court
At the bottom of Pennsylvania's trial-court hierarchy sit the Magisterial District Courts (MDJs) — sometimes called "Magistrate" or "Magisterial District Judge" courts — handling preliminary arraignments, small civil claims (up to $12,000), summary offenses and landlord-tenant cases statewide except in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Municipal Court performs the equivalent role inside the city. Above the MDJs, the Court of Common Pleas is the trial court of general jurisdiction in every county [pacourts.us]. The Philadelphia Courts (First Judicial District) publish their own consolidated portal [courts.phila.gov].
How to search a Pennsylvania case
The UJS Portal Case Search is the official, free, statewide search tool — query by participant name, docket number, OTN, complaint/incident number, SID, or attorney. It includes Magisterial District Court, Common Pleas Criminal Division, Common Pleas Civil Division dockets and appellate matters. Some counties also publish their own portals (e.g., Centre County's Civil case search [civil.centrecountypa.gov]) for deeper local data.
Federal courts in Pennsylvania
Federal cases are filed in one of three U.S. district courts: the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania. The Middle District publishes its own case-info hub [pamd.uscourts.gov]; full dockets across all three districts are available through PACER. Statewide court statistics and aggregated data tables are published by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency [pa.gov].
Frequently Asked Questions: Pennsylvania Court Records
What's the trial court in Pennsylvania?▼
The Court of Common Pleas is Pennsylvania's trial court of general jurisdiction in every county. Below it sit the Magisterial District Courts (MDJs) for minor matters; Philadelphia uses the Philadelphia Municipal Court in that role [pacourts.us].
Is there a "Superior Court" in PA?▼
Yes — but it is an intermediate appellate court, not a trial court. The Pennsylvania Superior Court hears appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas. The Commonwealth Court handles state/government-related appeals. Do not confuse it with California-style trial-level Superior Courts.
How do I search a Pennsylvania court case for free?▼
Use the official UJS Portal Case Search — name, docket number or OTN. It covers MDJ, Common Pleas, and appellate court dockets statewide.
Where are Philadelphia court records?▼
Philadelphia's courts (First Judicial District) consolidate Common Pleas, Municipal and Traffic divisions and publish their own portal [courts.phila.gov]. Cases are also visible in the statewide UJS Portal.
Where do I find federal cases filed in Pennsylvania?▼
Use PACER for the Eastern, Middle (Harrisburg/Scranton) and Western (Pittsburgh) Districts of Pennsylvania. The M.D. Pa. case-info hub is a useful starting point [pamd.uscourts.gov].
Last reviewed:
Court Records Databases
35 official Pennsylvania court records sources.
Court Records
11:21 A.M. Superior Court of Pennsylvania Appeal Docket Sheet
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Neither the Appellate Courts nor the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts assumes any liability · for inaccurate or delayed data, errors or omissions on the docket sheets.
Allegheny County Department of Court Records
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Allegheny County Courts · General Information · Local Rules - Civil · Local Rules - Family · Local Rules - Orphans' Court · Local Rules - Criminal · Pennsylvania Courts · Child Support Lien Search · Protection From Abuse Database · Disciplinary Board of PA Supreme Court ·
Departments of the Civil Division - Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania
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The Housing Court Help Desk is tasked with assisting litigants involved in landlord/tenant appeals from magisterial district judge decisions in cases involving residential property. ... The residential Mortgage Foreclosure Program is a collaborative effort between public and private sector entities to address property foreclosures in Allegheny County.
Courts of Common Pleas | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania
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The Courts of Common Pleas are organized into 60 judicial districts and are the trial courts of Pennsylvania. Major civil and criminal cases are heard in these courts. Learn more. President Judges · Judges · Prothonotaries · Clerks of Courts · Registers of Wills · Orphans' Court Clerks ·
Bucks County Web Viewer
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The Office of the Prothonotary · Case Search · Case Party Search · E-Filing · Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court · Case Search · Case Party Search · E-Filing · Marriage License Search · Marriage License Application · Login · View Cart · Bucks County Web Viewer and ...
ChescoPin Agreement
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CHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION NETWORK ACCESS · THIS AGREEMENT, made by and between the COUNTY OF CHESTER (hereinafter "THE COUNTY") and the undersigned, (hereinafter "PURCHASER"): In and for the consideration, mutual promises and undertakings of THE COUNTY and the PURCHASER as set forth ...
PA Pennsylvania Keystone Key Login Page
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The Child Support Website has a new login system. All users must update their login credentials before they can log in to their account. Please click here to complete this one-time update. Please enter your Keystone Key login credential below: ... WARNING! US GOVERNMENT SYSTEM and PENNSYLVANIA ...
3/31/2026 - Dauphin County Public Access
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Historical Dauphin County, Pennsylvania civil court records covering filings from 1992 through October 31, 2001 only. For current Dauphin County court records (2001-present), use the Dauphin County CountySuite Public Access portal or the statewide UJS Web Portal.
CASE CAPTION CIVIL CASENOCV 20 52, a3;(/95
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We're sorry but this application doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. Please enable it to continue
Jury Duty - www.GreenePACourts.us
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3th Judicial District - Greene County Court of Common Pleas Magisterial District Courts Criminal Court Civil Court Family Orphans Court
Right to Know | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website
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Search for probate or marriage records. The Sheriff's Office conducts judicial sales of real and personal property in addition to other assigned duties. View information relating to sheriff's sales or mortgage foreclosure surplus. The Treasurer's Office performs a range of duties including receipt of county taxes, investing county receipts, collecting hotel room rental tax, and issuing hunting, fishing, dog, bingo, and small games of chance licenses and permits.
Staff Directory • Lancaster County, PA • CivicEngage
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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more · Lancaster County Government Center 150 N Queen Street (Enter on Chestnut St.) Lancaster, PA 17603 Phone: 717-299-8000 Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p. m
Civil Miscellaneous Calendar - October 2025 :: Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas
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October 24, 2025, 9:30AM Civil Miscellaneous Hon. J. Brian Johnson Courtroom 2A, 2nd Floor Lehigh County Courthouse ... October 27, 2025, 9:30AM Civil Miscellaneous Hon. Thomas A. Capehart Courtroom 5C, 5th Floor Lehigh County Courthouse
Judgments | Montgomery County, PA - Official Website
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File a praecipe for judgment, using our form, a dated copy of the 10-day notice, and a Pennsylvania Rule 236 form . If the debtor is an individual, you must file a notarized affidavit of nonmilitary service. File an original and a copy for each debtor, with a Rule 236 form on top.
Probate Case Caveat Search
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IF YOU NEED TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT CLICK ON THE LOGIN TO THE RIGHT AND THEN "REGISTER AS NEW USER" * REMINDER: CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE No Paper filed document shall be accepted or acted upon by the court unless it is accompanied by a Certificate of Compliance as required by the Public Acess Policy · Login · View Cart · Montgomery County Viewer · Register of Wills • Probate Case Caveat Search ·
Case Search
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Prothonotary · Case Search · Case Party Search · Court Admin · Court Calendar · Attorney Calendar · Register of Wills · Case Search · Case Party Search · Probate Case Caveat Search · Marriage License Search · Marriage License Application · Login · View Cart · Montgomery County Viewer ...
Calendars & Schedules :: Northampton County Court of Common Pleas
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ARD List Argument Lists Arraignment List Arraignment Index Central Court Calendars Civil Jury Lists Civil Non-Jury Lists
County Court Rules
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It is important that procedural rules be consolidated in one volume for use by those who appear before the Court. This compilation is intended to benefit Northampton County attorneys, attorneys from other counties, and the public.
Easton, Pennsylvania May 3, 2012 A regular meeting of the ...
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Council that it is the opinion of the Northampton County Council · that the Allentown NIZ creates an unfair economic advantage in · the Allentown NIZ, the benefits of which accrue to the City of · Allentown, to the detriment of other municipalities throughout · the Lehigh Valley. Further, the Northampton County Council does · hereby call upon the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of · Pennsylvania to adopt, and the Governor to sign, legislation ·
Civil Judgements - Perry County, PA
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Perry County Extension Office · Planning Commission · Probation & Parole · Prothonotary · Register and Recorder · Sheriff’s Office · Tax Assessment · Tax Claim · Treasurer · Veteran Affairs · View All Events · Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission · PA Game Commission · Little Buffalo State Park · PADogLicense.com · PA State Civil Service Website ·
Welcome to Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
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The oldest records predate the existence of Schuylkill County, which was founded in 1811. These oldest records have been microfilmed and the originals have been stored away as the oldest records in the archives facility. Currently, the archives is home to records from the Clerk of Courts, Domestic Relations, Prothonotary, Records of Deeds, Register of Wills, Sheriff, Tax Assessment, Tax Claim, Treasurer, Commissioners, Rest Haven and Veteran Affairs.
Electronic Filing | York County, PA
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Beginning January 3, 2023 the electronic filing of these case types is mandatory: Judgments (NO) Mechanics Liens (ML) Municipal Tax Liens (MT) Additional non-family Civil Suit (SU) filings to include: Appeals to Commonwealth and Superior Court, Arbitration Appeals, Subpoenas, Writ of Scire Facias, Writ of Revival. Civil e-filing exceptions are listed below. ... Family Court e-filing is not available. Prothonotary Clerks do not accept or reject any electronically filed documents while the office is closed (after 4:30 pm, weekends, holidays, weather emergency, etc).
2009-5736
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County-of-Cumberland-8 · Court of Common Pleas · Kevin A. Hess, Judge · 2011 · 2009-5736 · 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · / 9 · Fit window · Fit width · Fit height · 400% 200% 100% 75% 50% 25% View plain text · Full screen · This document contains no pages.
CARBON COUNTY COURT CALENDAR 03/30/2026- 04/03/2026 Updated: 3/23/2026 DATE:
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CARBON COUNTY COURT CALENDAR · 03/30/2026- 04/03/2026 · Updated: 3/23/2026 · DATE: 03/30/2026 1:15 PM · CASE ID: 23-0489 · CASE TYPE: CUSTODY · STYLE: KIMBERLEE MONKS VS GEORGE HILLER · ATTORNEYS: PRO SE · MICHAEL D. CASARI, ESQUIRE · JUDGE: MATIKA, JOSEPH J.
Northampton County LANDEX
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The Recorder of Deeds office is required to record any document that is presented into their office when all required data is properly executed and payment is received with said document · The LANDEX Record Alert System monitors all VERIFIED documents recorded in the Recorder of Deeds office ...
Disclaimer
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Any person requiring an official docket must obtain it from the Prothonotary of Philadelphia County on the second floor of City Hall, Room 282 . The information contained within the Civil Docket Report database is recorded based upon: (a) documents actually filed with the Philadelphia Prothonotary's ...
Disclaimer - Civil Court Listings
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The following page contains several real-time updated listings of court events. Listings are grouped by court event and/or court program type. Once a list type is selected, there may be additional options to return more specific results in the subsequent category selections · Once a list is ...
The Philadelphia Courts @ http://www.courts.phila.gov
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Table of Contents (Click on a desired topic) · The First Judicial District (FJD) Civil Docket Access Help Desk will assist you in finding the information you require through the Internet. This site will provide the basic steps for conducting a search. Essentially, you'll type key words in ...
The Philadelphia Courts | First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
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Pay your Philadelphia Traffic Citation online. For Parking tickets please visit www.ujsportal.pacourts.us ... The eFiling system allows case documents, such as pleadings, motions, and petitions, to be filed with the court using a computer and Internet connection. ... With our online system see if you qualify for jury service, ask for postponements, excuse/disqualification, and proof of service. ... Pay fines, costs, and restitution to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Common Pleas and Magisterial District courts.
PA - Philadelphia Municipal Court
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The Philadelphia Courts | First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
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Providing quick access to information on cases and court calendars in the Philadelphia Court system. ... If you need legal assistance, the following information may be helpful. ... The Elder Justice & Civil Resource Center ("The Center") is a court-based resource center for seniors located at City Hall. The First Judicial District (FJD) of Pennsylvania is composed of two courts which make up the Philadelphia County Court System: the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal ...
The Philadelphia Courts | First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
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Unified Judicial System Criminal Dockets ... PA. Unified Judicial System ... We appreciate your patience as we continue to work on relaunching our electronic filing application. ... We appreciate your patience as we continue to work on relaunching the system. For Questions regarding completing your Juror Questionaire contact the Jury Commission at Jury@courts.phila.gov
Orphans' Court Division Docket Report
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Consistent with the provisions of the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, case records and dockets concerning incapacity proceedings, incapacitated persons and minors are NOT available remotely
Traffic Hearing Listings Disclaimer
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The Philadelphia Traffic Division Listing Report contains basic listing information concerning Traffic Court citations ("moving violations" or "traffic tickets"). The information provided by the First Judicial District through this Internet service has been reproduced from the Traffic Division's ...