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Department Of Court Records Allegheny County Court Records
Find the right Allegheny County court record without guessing between DCR, UJS, Civil/Family, Criminal, Wills/Orphans, probate, marriage records, sealed records, or in-person file access. This page gives you the official route first, then the practical steps to search, request copies, avoid failed visits, and contact the correct office.
Quick answer: The Allegheny County Department of Court Records has three divisions: Civil/Family, Criminal, and Wills/Orphans’ Court. Use the official DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System for many civil/family and wills/orphans records, use PA UJS Case Search for free statewide docket sheets, and contact the correct DCR division when you need official copies, older criminal files, probate help, marriage records, certified documents, or restricted-record guidance.
I Want To…
Choose the action that matches your real task. The right answer depends on the record type, not just the person’s name.
Search a docket
Use DCR for supported Civil/Family or Wills/Orphans searches. Use PA UJS for many criminal docket sheets.
Open DCRGet copies
Use the correct DCR division. For Court of Common Pleas case-file copies, do not start with the county RTK fill-in form.
Open copy guidanceFind a criminal case
Search UJS online first. For case files, the county lists in-person file access and criminal records contact routes.
Open criminal recordsProbate or marriage
Use Wills/Orphans for wills, estates, probate, guardianships, marriage records, forms, and related fees.
Open Wills/OrphansPick the Correct Allegheny County Court Records Division
The Department of Court Records files and maintains documents for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The county’s official DCR page separates the work into three divisions, so start there before using any name search.
Civil/Family Division
Use for civil lawsuits, family records, filings, writs, appeals, municipal claims, tax liens, Civil Division dockets, Family Division dockets, and e-filing questions.
Open Civil/Family RecordsCriminal Division
Use for criminal case files, online criminal docket routing, fines and costs, bonds, expungement resources, summary appeals, and in-person criminal records research.
Open Criminal RecordsWills/Orphans’ Court Division
Use for wills, estates, probate, letters, guardianships, marriage records, inheritance tax payments, audit calendars, will searches, and Orphans’ Court filings.
Open Wills/Orphans| User task | Correct official action | Bring / prepare | Do not confuse with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil lawsuit, family case, lien, claim, appeal, civil/family docket image | Use Civil/Family Court Records and DCR Civil/Family search/login. | Case ID, party name, document title, filing year, login if required. | Criminal UJS docket sheets or Wills/Orphans probate records. |
| Criminal docket, criminal case file, fine/cost, bond, expungement route | Use PA UJS for online docket sheets and DCR Criminal Division for case-file help. | Name, docket number, OTN if known, case year, photo ID for in-person research. | Police reports, jail records, or background checks. |
| Will, estate, probate, marriage record, guardianship, Orphans’ Court filing | Use Wills/Orphans’ Court Division resources and search/login tools. | Decedent name, estate number, marriage details, document type, appointment details if needed. | Civil lawsuit records or property/deed records. |
| Court of Common Pleas case-file copies | Use the correct court records division, not the county RTK fill-in form. | Division, case number, exact document title, copy type, contact information. | General county open records requests. |
How to Search Allegheny County Court Records Online
Use a task-first search flow. Do not begin with private background-check sites or generic ads.
Name the record type
Write down whether you need civil/family, criminal, probate, estate, marriage, guardianship, appeal, lien, or certified-copy information.
Open the correct official portal
Use DCR for supported Civil/Family and Wills/Orphans records. Use PA UJS Case Search when you need a free Pennsylvania docket sheet, especially for criminal docket lookup.
Use the strongest search detail
Search by standard case ID, non-standard case ID, docket number, party name, OTN, date, or division filter where the official system allows it.
Open the full docket or document list
Result rows are only a preview. Review the docket, official list of documents, filing dates, scanned images where available, and access restrictions.
Use the division for final action
For certified copies, older files, estate documents, marriage records, sealed records, and filing questions, contact the division that maintains the record.
Allegheny County Civil and Family Court Records
The Civil/Family Division receives and maintains Allegheny County civil and family court filings. The official county page explains that this division performs the work formerly handled by the Prothonotary and maintains official Civil and Family Division records and seal.
Use Civil/Family for
- Civil and family docket searches
- Scanned document images where public access is allowed
- General docket, arbitration docket, and statutory appeal records
- Adult and juvenile Family Division sections
- Administrative agency appeals and minor judiciary appeals
- Municipal claims and tax liens
Verified office details
Address: City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469.
Phone: 412-350-5729.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, except county holidays.
Allegheny County Criminal Court Records
For criminal records, Allegheny County links users to Pennsylvania UJS for online records search and provides an in-person criminal records process. The county says criminal files from the current year and four prior years are in Room 220 of the Allegheny County Courthouse, while older cases must be ordered from storage.
Use Criminal Division for
- Criminal case file research
- In-person criminal records search terminals
- Ordering older criminal case files
- Questions about case files, criminal records, or background-check-related records
- Fines, costs, restitution, bonds, expungements, and summary appeals
Verified office details
Address: Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469.
Phone: 412-350-5323.
Case files / ordering questions: 412-350-5320.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, except county holidays.
Allegheny County Wills and Orphans’ Court Records
Use Wills/Orphans’ Court Division for wills, estates, probate, marriage records, guardianships, Orphans’ Court forms, fee schedules, audit calendars, will search requests, inheritance tax information, and related filings.
Use Wills/Orphans for
- Probating wills and estate administration
- Estate letters and will search requests
- Marriage records and marriage license records
- Guardianships, trusts, and Orphans’ Court filings
- Probate fees, forms, audit calendar, and inheritance tax resources
- Genealogical research connected to estate or marriage records
Verified office details
Address: City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469.
Phone: 412-350-4180.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Cutoff: Applications cannot be processed after 4:00 pm.
How to Request Allegheny County Court Record Copies
Online records are useful, but official business may require a plain copy, certified copy, full case file, estate document, marriage record, older criminal file, or court-certified record. Use the division that holds the record.
Do not start with the wrong open-records form
Allegheny County’s court-records guidance says users should not use the Open Records Fill-In Form for Court of Common Pleas case-file copies.
Identify the division
Use Civil/Family for civil and family files, Criminal for criminal files, and Wills/Orphans for estates, wills, probate, marriage records, and Orphans’ Court documents.
Prepare exact record details
Write down the case number, docket number, party names, document title, filing date, division, and the reason the record is needed.
Ask for the right copy type
Plain copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, docket sheet, scanned image, transcript, and background-check document are not the same thing.
Confirm fee and pickup/mail process
Fees can vary by division and document type. Confirm current fees, payment method, processing route, and whether pickup, mail, or online access is available.
Fees, Filing Rules and Timing Notes Users Should Verify
Fees and rules change. Use these notes to avoid underpaying, using an old form, or missing a new DCR requirement.
| Item | Official detail to know | What to do before payment |
|---|---|---|
| Records retention fee | Effective June 1, 2026, DCR states the records retention fee increases from $3.50 to $7.00 for all new filings. | Verify the current fee in the DCR system or fee page before filing. |
| Civil/Family payment rules | The Civil/Family fee page states there is a $35 NSF check charge, no personal checks, and no refund for overpayments of $10 or less. | Confirm accepted payment method and total fee before mailing or visiting. |
| Electronic Rule 236 notices | DCR states that effective July 1, 2026, case participants with verified email receive Rule 236 notifications electronically. | Keep email current and check spam if you are a case participant. |
| Civil attorney e-filing | DCR states e-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing civil documents; self-represented litigants are encouraged but not mandated. | Check current civil e-filing rules and login requirements. |
| Wills/Orphans applications | The Wills/Orphans page says no applications can be processed after 4:00 pm. | Arrive earlier or call before making a late-day trip. |
Checklist Before Leaving Home
A quick call or checklist can prevent a wasted courthouse visit, especially for older files, certified copies, probate matters, or restricted records.
Record details
- Case number or docket number
- Party names
- Division
- Document title
- Filing year
Bring with you
- Photo ID
- Payment method
- Written instructions from requesting agency
- Any court notice or receipt
- Phone/email for follow-up
Confirm first
- Correct office and room
- Current hours
- Fee and payment method
- Whether record is public
- Whether appointment is needed
Allegheny County Department of Court Records Contact Information
Use the correct phone number and room. Criminal case details are not discussed over the phone, so use phone calls for routing, file-ordering questions, and process questions—not confidential case details.
| Office | Address | Phone / support | Use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil/Family Division | City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 | 412-350-5729. Civil/Family website issues: civil@alleghenycounty.us. | Civil/family filings, dockets, document images, e-filing, civil/family copies, fees, and forms. |
| Criminal Division | Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 | 412-350-5323. Case files / ordering questions: 412-350-5320. | Criminal records, case files, fines, costs, bonds, expungements, terminals, and older file ordering. |
| Wills & Orphans Division | City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 | 412-350-4180. Website issues: wo@alleghenycounty.us. | Wills, estates, probate, guardianships, marriage records, Orphans’ Court forms and fees. |
| Allegheny County general contact | 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | 800-581-9145 or 412-350-4636 (INFO) | General county routing when you do not know the right department. |
Where to Go: 414 Grant Street vs 436 Grant Street
Civil/Family and Wills/Orphans are listed at the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor. Criminal Division is listed at the Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 114. These addresses are close, but they are not the same room or office.
Common Mistakes That Waste Time
Using the wrong division
Civil, criminal, probate, marriage, and Orphans’ Court records do not use one single search path.
Calling for criminal case details
The criminal page says case-related information is not discussed by phone. Use UJS or in-person research.
Using RTK for case-file copies
Court of Common Pleas case-file copies should use the court records path, not the Open Records Fill-In Form.
Ignoring login requirements
DCR states Civil/Family and Wills/Orphans case searches require registration/login in some routes.
Arriving too late
Wills/Orphans applications cannot be processed after 4:00 pm.
Paying private record sites first
Search official county and Pennsylvania court portals before paying any private “instant records” site.
Record Not Found? Use This Fix List
| Problem | Likely reason | Best fix |
|---|---|---|
| Civil or family search fails | Wrong case ID format, missing login, restricted record, or wrong division. | Try standard and non-standard case ID fields, register/login, or contact Civil/Family support. |
| Criminal docket not found | Wrong county, name spelling, sealed case, old file, or wrong record type. | Search PA UJS by name, docket, OTN, and Allegheny County filters; use in-person file access if needed. |
| Older criminal file needed | Older cases may need to be ordered from storage. | Use the Criminal Division file-ordering contact route with case details ready. |
| Wills/Orphans search requires login | DCR states a login/registration is required for some Civil/Family and Wills/Orphans searches. | Register through DCR or contact Wills/Orphans support if you cannot access the record. |
| Need an official background check | A court docket is not always the same as a criminal history/background-check product. | Ask the requesting agency whether it needs a docket, certified case file, or Pennsylvania criminal history report. |
| Record may be sealed or restricted | Court order, statute, local rule, juvenile/family restriction, or confidentiality rule. | Contact the correct division and ask what public access is allowed. |
Department Of Court Records Allegheny County Court Records: Short Answer
Allegheny County Department of Court Records maintains Court of Common Pleas filings through Civil/Family, Criminal, and Wills/Orphans divisions. For many civil/family and wills/orphans searches, use the DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System. For criminal docket sheets, use Pennsylvania UJS Case Search. For copies, certified records, older files, sealed records, probate records, marriage records, fees, and filing questions, contact the specific DCR division that holds the record.
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Where do I start? | Start with the division: Civil/Family, Criminal, or Wills/Orphans. Then open the matching official portal. |
| What is best for criminal docket search? | Use PA UJS Case Search for online criminal docket sheets. Use Criminal Division for case-file questions. |
| What is best for probate or marriage records? | Use Wills/Orphans’ Court Division resources and search/login tools. |
| What if I need copies? | Use the correct court records division. Do not use the RTK fill-in form for Court of Common Pleas case-file copies. |
Official Allegheny County Court Records Links
Department of Court Records
Main county page explaining DCR divisions and official court-record routes.
Open official DCR pageDCR e-Filing & Retrieval
Official DCR system for supported e-filing, retrieval, login, and record access.
Open DCR systemCivil/Family Records
Civil/family filings, search, fees, forms, resources, and office details.
Open Civil/FamilyCriminal Records
Criminal online search route, in-person file search, costs, bonds, and expungement resources.
Open Criminal RecordsWills and Orphans
Wills, probate, estates, marriage records, guardianships, forms, and fees.
Open Wills/OrphansPA UJS Case Search
Free Pennsylvania public docket-sheet search for supported court case records.
Open PA UJSCourt Records Copy Guidance
Official guidance for Court of Common Pleas case-file copies and open-records routing.
Open copy guidanceWills/Orphans Resources
Forms, fee schedules, estate resources, audit calendars, and will-search resources.
Open resourcesDepartment Of Court Records Allegheny County Court Records FAQs
What is the Allegheny County Department of Court Records?
The Allegheny County Department of Court Records files and maintains court documents for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. It has three divisions: Civil/Family, Criminal, and Wills/Orphans’ Court.
How do I search Allegheny County court records online?
Use the DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System for many Civil/Family and Wills/Orphans records. Use Pennsylvania UJS Case Search for free public docket sheets, especially criminal docket lookup.
Where do I search Allegheny County civil and family court records?
Use the official Civil and Family Court Records page and the DCR Civil/Family search/login route. The Civil/Family Division also handles filings, writs, civil bonds, appeals, municipal claims, and tax liens.
Where do I search Allegheny County criminal court records?
Use PA UJS Case Search for online criminal docket sheets. For criminal case files, file ordering, fines, costs, bonds, or expungement resources, use the Allegheny County Criminal Records page or Criminal Division.
Can I get criminal case details over the phone?
No. The Allegheny County Criminal Records page says no case-related information will be discussed over the telephone. Use online docket search or the proper in-person/file-access process for case details.
Where are recent Allegheny County criminal case files located?
The county says criminal files from the current year and four prior years are located in Room 220 of the Allegheny County Courthouse. Older cases are available but must be ordered from storage.
Where do I get Allegheny County wills, probate, or marriage records?
Use the Wills/Orphans’ Court Division. It handles wills, estate records, probate, guardianships, Orphans’ Court filings, marriage licenses and records, forms, and fee resources.
Should I use a Right-to-Know form for Court of Common Pleas case-file copies?
No. Allegheny County’s court-records guidance says not to use the Open Records Fill-In Form for Court of Common Pleas case-file copies. Use the correct court records division instead.
What are the Civil/Family Division address and phone number?
The Civil/Family Division is listed at City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469. The listed phone number is 412-350-5729.
What are the Criminal Division address and phone number?
The Criminal Division is listed at Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469. The listed phone number is 412-350-5323.
What are the Wills/Orphans Division address and phone number?
The Wills & Orphans Division is listed at City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469. The listed phone number is 412-350-4180.
Why can’t I find an Allegheny County court record?
The record may be in another division, sealed, restricted, too old for immediate online access, recently filed, under a different name or case ID, or not a court record. Try the correct DCR division, UJS Case Search, or official records office.
Best Next Step
Start by choosing the division. Use Civil/Family for civil and family filings, Criminal for criminal docket/file routing, and Wills/Orphans for estates, wills, probate, marriage records, and guardianships. Then use the official DCR system or PA UJS Case Search. If the record will be used for court, employment, licensing, immigration, probate, title work, or legal review, contact the correct DCR division and ask for the proper official or certified copy before relying on the result.
Official-source check completed July 13, 2026. Court portals, fees, office hours, filing rules, copy rules, electronic notice rules, appointment options, and public-access policies can change. Verify directly with Allegheny County or Pennsylvania courts before filing, paying, visiting, or relying on a record.