Population
563K
County Seat
Lancaster
Libraries
18
Schools
113
Searching Lancaster County: what to expect
Lancaster County keeps a modest online footprint — 3 of the 17 sources below are the county's own; the rest is statewide coverage. You don't need a county-level docket here — Pennsylvania courts are searchable statewide, mapped on our Pennsylvania court records page. The standout local source is lancasterdeeds.com, covering deeds and recorded documents. The county posts nothing for vital records, so that search runs through the statewide sources on our Pennsylvania vital records page. Anything not online lives with the county offices in Lancaster.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Lancaster County record-source URLs verified against the official local and Pennsylvania state publishers on the review date. 3 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Lancaster County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
563,293
Population
Census estimate
208,988
Households
Census estimate
$81,458
Median income
Annual household
$263,600
Median home value
Census ACS
Lancaster
County seat
In Pennsylvania
Criminal records
1 source
Court records
4 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
2 sources
Vital records
1 source
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
see state portal
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Lancaster County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Lancaster County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Clerk of Courts | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website Case Search - UJS Portal |
| Criminal records | 1 LANCASTER COUNTY PRISON INMATE HANDBOOK GENERAL RULES AND … |
| Wants & warrants | Law Enforcement Services - PSP.PA.gov |
| Property records | GIS Division | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website Electronic Recording | County of Lancaster, Office of Record… |
| Vital records | MARRIAGE LICENSES | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website |
| Voter records | Voter Registration Application - PA Voter Services |
| Professional licenses | other services |
| Recorded documents | Pennsylvania Counties | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website Lancaster County Government |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Lancaster County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Lancaster County Records
2026
Lancaster County official government portal active
The official Lancaster County government website at lancastercountypa.gov continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Lancaster County court records portal verified
State court system links for Lancaster County verified against the Pennsylvania judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Lancaster County criminal records access
State criminal records repository for Lancaster County (statewide system, not county-specific) confirmed active in 2026.
2026
Lancaster County property records online
Lancaster County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
The 4-Step Lancaster County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Lancaster County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Lancaster County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the Pennsylvania statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the Pennsylvania state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Lancaster County Records
MYTH"Lancaster County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Lancaster County are held by the Pennsylvania state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Lancaster County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Lancaster County data."
FACTOnly the official Pennsylvania state repository has verified, current Lancaster County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Lancaster County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Lancaster County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- lancastercountypa.gov — Official Lancaster County government website
- ujsportal.pacourts.us — Court records — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Lancaster County & Pennsylvania Records
For records not specific to Lancaster County, use Pennsylvania's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 Pennsylvania statewide record systems:
- Pennsylvania Court Records →
- Pennsylvania Criminal Records →
- Pennsylvania Property Records →
- Pennsylvania Vital Records →
- Pennsylvania Voter Records →
- Pennsylvania Wants & Warrants →
- Pennsylvania Licenses →
- Pennsylvania Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
Pennsylvania statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Looking for a person, not a database? Start with the Pennsylvania guides:
About Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County is located in southeastern Pennsylvania. The county seat is Lancaster (official site: https://lancastercountypa.gov/).
- Households: 208,988
- Median household income: $81,458
- Median home value: $263,600
- Below poverty line: 8.2%
- Land area: 943.9 sq mi
- Population density: 596.8 people / sq mi
Clerk of Courts | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website
Official Free
In addition to being the record keeper of the Criminal Division of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, documents accepted for filing include: If you are inquiring about civil proceedings such as passport applications, custody issues, divorce and/or other civil actions, please visit
Case Search - UJS Portal
Official Free
Pennsylvania's UJS portal case search. Free docket sheets for criminal, appellate, and magisterial district court cases statewide — one of the most-used court sites in the country.
Right to Know | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website
Official Free
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.
Calendar • Lancaster County Courts, PA • CivicEngage
Official Free
Court case information for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The docket is the official chronology; news accounts and third-party sites derive from it. Attorneys of record appear on the docket, useful when you need to contact a party.
Supreme Court Prothonotary's Addresses | Supreme Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania
Official Free
Case records from the Pennsylvania courts serving Lancaster County surface through this system. It is an official government source.
GIS Division | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website
Official Free
Lancaster County Viewer 2.0 is the Lancaster County public and free online application to search Parcel information including Acreage, Dimensions, Deed Reference, and Aerial Imagery among other features. The Application Link is here: LanCo View 2.0.
Electronic Recording | County of Lancaster, Office of Recorder of Deeds
Official Free
The Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Office is pleased to offer the electronic recording of documents, also known as e-recording. Our office was one of the first in the country to e-record back in 2002, and continues to do so, with over 90% of our documents recorded electronically.
REAL ESTATE UNIT | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website
Official Free
The Sheriff's Office maintains a list of all properties to be sold at any given Sheriff Sale in Lancaster County and verifies with the law firms who represent the banks that they have all the necessary documentation to legally sell the property at the Sheriff Sale.
1 LANCASTER COUNTY PRISON INMATE HANDBOOK GENERAL RULES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Official Free
During the following security count times (approximate and subject to change): 5:00 am, 3:10 pm and 11:00 pm. All inmates are required to be standing inside their cell, with their cell light on. Disciplinary action will be initiated for any violation of these rules. All inmates will be issued an identification (ID) wristband containing their name, photo, permanent booking number and · a Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID). This is the property of Lancaster County Prison.
SP 4-164A (10-2025) PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE
Official Free
The Pennsylvania State Police response will be based on the comparison of the data provided by the requester
MARRIAGE LICENSES | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website
Official Free
A license issued by any Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania. Application and License $75.00. Cash (exact change), certified check, money order, credit cards, and debit cards ($.95 convenience fee for credit cards and debit cards). NO PERSONAL CHECKS ACCEPTED. Fee is waived for certified copy only of marriage record with proof of service in U.S. Armed Forces.
Birth, Death, Vital Statistics - Pennsylvania Department of Health
Official Free
Welcome to the birth, death, and data in Pennsylvania. Use the following links to download or print various vital statistics and reports. At the bottom of this page you will find links to other websites and resources with an emphasis on vital statistics. Large volume of the latest available and historical state, county and municipality
Law Enforcement Services - PSP.PA.gov
Official Free
Pennsylvania Police Pursuit System: Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, “The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code,” requires police departments in Pennsylvania to make a record of all vehicle pursuits and report them to the Pennsylvania State Police.
Voter Registration Application - PA Voter Services
Official Free
Election administration for Lancaster County runs through this office, from voter rolls to results. If a link breaks, the office homepage at pavoterservices.pa.gov carries the new path.
Pennsylvania Counties | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website
Official Free
Official public records resource for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Start here before paying any commercial site for the same information. The jurisdiction's own terminology matters — use their record-type names when you ask.
Lancaster County Government
Business, Voter & Other
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania government portal.
co.lancaster.pa.us
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Lancaster County?
Lancaster County court cases are searchable through the Clerk of Courts | Lancaster County, PA - Official Website portal: https://lancastercountypa.gov/2925/Clerk-of-Courts. Pennsylvania also operates a state-level case lookup through the UJS Portal system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most Pennsylvania counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
Are Pennsylvania marriage records public?
Marriage records in Pennsylvania are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
What's the difference between a court record and a criminal record in Pennsylvania?
A court record shows everything filed in a specific case — pleadings, motions, judgments. A criminal record (rap sheet) is a person-centric history from the Pennsylvania State Police that aggregates arrests and dispositions across all courts in Pennsylvania. Court records are searched by case; criminal records by person.