Search Court Records by Name
Enter first name, last name, and state to prepare a court records search.
Use this guide to search Allegheny Department Court Records, understand the Allegheny County Department of Court Records, find civil, family, criminal, wills and orphans’ court records, use free Pennsylvania docket search, request case-file copies, verify fees, e-file correctly, pay court costs safely, and contact the right Pittsburgh court-records office.
Direct answer: “Allegheny Department Court Records” refers to the Allegheny County Department of Court Records in Pennsylvania. The department has three divisions: Civil/Family Division, Criminal Division, and Wills/Orphans’ Court Division. 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, and contact the correct DCR division for case-file copies, certified records, fees, sealed-file questions and older records.
Which Allegheny Department Court Records Division Should You Use?
The Department of Court Records is made up of three official divisions. Each one handles different record types for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas records and related filings. Picking the right division saves time and prevents wrong-office requests.
Use for civil filings, family filings, divorce records, custody filings, liens, appeals and e-filing retrieval.
Use for criminal case files, fines/costs, expungement-related questions, docket counter and older criminal files.
Use for marriage records, wills, estate information and Orphans’ Court case files.
Use for free statewide docket sheets and many court payments through Pennsylvania’s official portal.
| If you need this | Use this official source | Search or request by | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil, family, divorce, custody, municipal claim, tax lien, civil appeal or scanned civil filing | DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System | Case number, party name, filing type, docket or available search field. | Images can be unavailable if sealed or restricted by statute/local rule. |
| Free public Pennsylvania docket sheet | Pennsylvania UJS Case Search | Participant name, docket number, organization, county and case type. | UJS docket search is free and separate from private paid public-record websites. |
| Criminal case file, criminal record copy, criminal case-file order or background-check direction | DCR Criminal Records | Docket number, defendant name, filing year, court division and document type. | Case-related information is not discussed over the phone by the criminal records page. |
| Marriage record, will, estate information or Orphans’ Court case file | Wills and Orphans’ Court Division | Name, estate, will, marriage record, case file or Orphans’ Court matter. | Applications cannot be processed after 4:00 pm, according to the county page. |
| Traffic ticket, court costs, fines or restitution payment | PAePay | Docket, citation, payment plan, person or organization. | PAePay has a non-refundable service fee; verify total before payment. |
| Deed, mortgage, subdivision plan, block/lot map or land record | Allegheny County Land Records | Name, parcel, document type, land record, property or historical record details. | Land records are not Department of Court Records court-case dockets. |
How to Search Allegheny Department Court Records Online
Start with the official source that matches the record type. Pennsylvania UJS Case Search is the best free statewide public docket starting point. The Allegheny DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System is the main local route for civil/family and wills/orphans electronic access, filing and retrieval.
Identify the record type
Ask whether the record is civil, family, divorce, custody, criminal, wills, estate, Orphans’ Court, magisterial district, Pittsburgh Municipal Court, land record or court payment.
Search UJS for public docket sheets
Open Pennsylvania UJS Case Search, choose the relevant court type, select Allegheny County when available, and search by name or docket number.
Use DCR for civil/family images and filings
Open the DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System when you need local civil/family filing, docket viewing or scanned images available through the DCR portal.
Open the full docket or file detail
Read court, case number, parties, filings, document list, docket entries, hearing dates, dispositions, costs, judgment status and sealed-file notes carefully.
Request official copies if needed
If a court, employer, agency, attorney, immigration office, licensing board or title company needs the record, ask the correct DCR division for the required copy type and fee.
Allegheny DCR Civil and Family Court Records
The Department of Court Records Civil/Family Division performs the functions previously handled by the Prothonotary. It keeps and maintains official documents and records for the Civil and Family Divisions of the Court of Common Pleas. It also accepts documents for filing, issues writs, takes bonds in civil cases, processes appeals and records municipal claims and tax liens.
Use Civil/Family Division for
- Civil Court records and filings
- Family Court records and filings
- Divorce records and divorce decrees
- Custody filing paperwork routed through DCR
- Municipal claims and tax liens
- Appeals from minor judiciary or agencies
- Scanned civil/family documents where public access is allowed
Civil/Family quick facts
Address: City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469.
Phone: 412-350-5729.
Case-file phone listed by county open-records page: 412-350-4200.
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm, except county holidays.
Allegheny DCR Criminal Court Records
The Allegheny County Department of Court Records Criminal Division maintains criminal case files and related criminal court record services. The county states that criminal files from the current year and the four prior years are located in Room 220 of the Allegheny County Courthouse; older cases are available but must be ordered from storage. Computer terminals are available for researching criminal records.
Use Criminal Division for
- Criminal case files
- Criminal docket counter help
- Fines, costs and restitution collection questions
- Criminal case-file ordering
- Expungement-related record questions
- Summary appeals and criminal division record routing
- Older criminal files that may need to be ordered from storage
Criminal records quick facts
DCR Criminal Division: Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469.
DCR Criminal phone: 412-350-5323.
Case-file questions: 412-350-5320.
Open-records case-file phone listed by county: 412-350-5322.
Allegheny Wills, Estates, Marriage and Orphans’ Court Records
The Wills/Orphans’ Court Division accepts filings and maintains legal documents for Allegheny County Orphans’ Court. Use it for marriage records, estate information, wills and Orphans’ Court case files. The county’s court-records open-records page directs users to Wills and Orphans’ Court records for marriage records, estate information and Orphans’ Court case files.
Use Wills/Orphans for
- Wills filed in Allegheny County
- Estate information
- Orphans’ Court case files
- Marriage records
- Probate-related record questions
- Adoption, guardianship or fiduciary questions where permitted
Wills/Orphans quick facts
Address: City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469.
Phone: 412-350-4180.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm.
Application cutoff: no applications processed after 4:00 pm.
Magisterial District and Pittsburgh Municipal Court Records
Many Allegheny County users need lower-court records instead of Department of Court Records case files. Magisterial District Court and Pittsburgh Municipal Court matters can include traffic, non-traffic, landlord-tenant, small claims, preliminary criminal matters and local court dockets.
| Court type | Typical record | Best official route |
|---|---|---|
| Magisterial District Court | Traffic, non-traffic, landlord/tenant, civil claims and lower-level criminal proceedings. | Search UJS Case Search and select the correct county/court type. |
| Pittsburgh Municipal Court | City-related municipal court matters and local court proceedings. | Use Fifth Judicial District court resources or UJS docket search. |
| Court of Common Pleas | Civil, family, criminal and Orphans’ Court divisions. | Use DCR divisions, UJS Case Search and Fifth Judicial District resources. |
How to Request Allegheny Department Court Records Copies
Allegheny County’s court-records open-records page explains that if you are requesting copies of a Court of Common Pleas case file, you should not use the Open Records Fill-In Form. Court case files are public unless sealed by court order, and you do not need to make an Open Records Request to view court files or obtain copies of documents in court case files.
Identify the correct division
Civil/family, criminal and wills/orphans records are handled by different DCR divisions. Use the division that maintains the case file.
Collect exact case details
Prepare the docket number, case caption, party names, filing year, division, document title and whether the receiving agency needs certification.
Check online access first
For civil/family or wills/orphans records, check the DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System. For docket sheets, check UJS Case Search.
Contact the proper office
Call civil/family, criminal or wills/orphans using the numbers listed by the county before sending payment or visiting.
Ask for the correct copy type
Plain copy, certified copy, triple-seal copy, docket sheet, transcript and background check are different. Ask the receiving agency what it requires.
Allegheny Court Records Fees, E-Filing, PAePay and Payment Safety
Online docket search and paid official services are different. UJS docket sheets can be searched for free, but DCR filings, records-retention fees, document copies, certified records, criminal fines/costs, restitution, e-filing provider charges and PAePay service fees can cost money.
| Action | Official source | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Search free public docket sheets | UJS Case Search | County, court type, docket number, name spelling and whether the record is retained online. |
| File civil documents electronically | DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System | Attorney mandatory e-filing, self-represented filing options, fee, document type and deadline. |
| Pay traffic ticket, court costs, fines or restitution | PAePay | Docket/citation, amount due, service fee, payment plan and confirmation number. |
| Criminal fines and costs questions | Collection of Fines and Costs | Balance, restitution, payment method, due date and criminal division instructions. |
| DCR retention fee on new filings | DCR portal announcements | The 2026 retention-fee amount and effective date before filing. |
Allegheny Department Court Records Phone Numbers, Addresses and Office Routing
Use the correct office for the record type. The Department of Court Records divisions are not the same as court administration, judge chambers, sheriff, land records or Pennsylvania State Police background checks.
| Office / division | Address | Phone / hours | Use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCR Civil/Family Division | City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 | 412-350-5729; Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm | Civil, family, divorce, custody filings, civil records, e-filing, municipal claims and tax liens. |
| Civil/Family case-file phone listed by county | DCR Civil/Family records route | 412-350-4200 | Civil or family court case files, according to the county court-records open-records page. |
| DCR Criminal Division | Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 | 412-350-5323; Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm | Criminal court records, criminal case files, fines/costs and criminal division records. |
| Criminal records case-file help | Allegheny County Courthouse records route | 412-350-5320 / county open-records page also lists 412-350-5322 | Criminal case files, background-check routing and ordering criminal case files. |
| DCR Wills/Orphans’ Court Division | City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 | 412-350-4180; Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm | Marriage records, wills, estate information and Orphans’ Court case files. |
| Fifth Judicial District Civil Division | City-County Building, 7th & 8th Floors, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | 412-350-0591; Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm | Civil court division operations, court calendars and civil court office information. |
| Fifth Judicial District Criminal Division | 436 Grant Street, 534 Courthouse, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | 412-350-5500; Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm | Criminal court division operations, not DCR copy requests. |
| Allegheny County main information | 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | 800-581-9145 or 412-350-4636 | General county routing when you are not sure which department holds the record. |
Allegheny Department Court Records Office Map
The Department of Court Records uses downtown Pittsburgh courthouse locations. Civil/Family and Wills/Orphans’ Court Division information commonly points to the City-County Building at 414 Grant Street. Criminal Division records are at the Allegheny County Courthouse at 436 Grant Street. Confirm the correct room before visiting.
Allegheny Court Record Not Found? Try These Fixes
Try UJS and DCR
UJS docket search and the Allegheny DCR portal are different systems. Search both when the record type is unclear.
Check the division
Civil/family, criminal and wills/orphans records are maintained by separate DCR divisions.
Use name variations
Try last name only, maiden name, business name, spelling variation, hyphenated name or organization name.
Search the right court level
Magisterial District Court, Pittsburgh Municipal Court and Court of Common Pleas records can appear in different routes.
Ask about storage
Older criminal files may need to be ordered from storage rather than appearing immediately online.
Check restricted access
Sealed, juvenile, adoption, protection, mental-health, victim-sensitive or family-sensitive records may not be public online.
Scam, Privacy and Legal-Use Warnings for Allegheny Department Court Records
Search results may show private “instant records,” “background report,” “court lookup,” “public records,” or “criminal records” ads. These are not the same as official Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Pennsylvania UJS, or Fifth Judicial District sources.
Allegheny Department Court Records: Short Answer for Bing, Copilot and AI Search
Allegheny Department Court Records are handled by the Allegheny County Department of Court Records in Pennsylvania. The department has Civil/Family, Criminal, and Wills/Orphans’ Court divisions. Use DCR e-Filing and Retrieval for many civil/family and wills/orphans records, UJS Case Search for free public docket sheets, DCR Criminal Records for criminal case files, PAePay for many court payments, and Allegheny Land Records for deeds or mortgages. For copies, use the division that maintains the case file; sealed records and older files may need office assistance.
| Question | Clean answer |
|---|---|
| Can I search Allegheny court records for free? | Yes. Use Pennsylvania UJS Case Search for free public docket sheets. DCR portal access and official copies may involve separate rules or fees. |
| Where are civil and family records? | Use the Department of Court Records Civil/Family Division and the DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System. |
| Where are criminal case files? | Use the Department of Court Records Criminal Division and UJS docket search. Older criminal files may need to be ordered from storage. |
| Where are wills and estate records? | Use the Wills/Orphans’ Court Division for wills, marriage records, estate information and Orphans’ Court files. |
| Are land records court records? | No. Deeds, mortgages and land records are handled through Allegheny County Land Records, not DCR court-case dockets. |
Official Allegheny Department Court Records Links
Department of Court Records
Main county page explaining the DCR divisions and official court-record routes.
Open Court Records PageDCR e-Filing Portal
Official e-Filing and Retrieval System for DCR civil/family and wills/orphans access.
Open DCR PortalCivil/Family Records
Civil and Family Division information, services, forms, fees, office hours and contact.
Open Civil/Family RecordsCriminal Records
Criminal Division records, case-file search guidance, cost/fine links and office details.
Open Criminal RecordsWills and Orphans
Marriage records, estate information, wills and Orphans’ Court records.
Open Wills/OrphansUJS Case Search
Free Pennsylvania public docket search for many Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court records.
Open UJS Case SearchPAePay
Official Pennsylvania court payment route for many traffic tickets, court costs, fines and restitution.
Open PAePayFifth Judicial District
Civil, criminal, family, orphans, magisterial and Pittsburgh Municipal Court resources.
Open Allegheny CourtsLand Records
Use for deeds, mortgages, subdivision plans, block/lot maps and historical land records.
Open Land RecordsAllegheny Department Court Records FAQs
What is the Allegheny County Department of Court Records?
The Allegheny County Department of Court Records is the county office that includes Civil/Family Division, Criminal Division and Wills/Orphans’ Court Division. These divisions file and maintain court documents for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas records.
How do I search Allegheny Department Court Records online?
Start with the official DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System for many civil, family and wills/orphans records. Use Pennsylvania UJS Case Search for free public docket sheets and criminal docket search.
Are Allegheny court records free to search?
Pennsylvania UJS Case Search says public web docket sheet search is a free public service. DCR document retrieval, filings, certified copies, case-file copies and court payments may have separate fees.
Which DCR division handles civil and family records?
The Department of Court Records Civil/Family Division handles civil and family filings and records. Its office is at 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469, and the listed phone number is 412-350-5729.
Which DCR division handles criminal records?
The Department of Court Records Criminal Division handles criminal court records. It is listed at 436 Grant Street, Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469, with phone 412-350-5323.
Where do I get Allegheny divorce records?
Divorce pleadings and certified divorce decree requests route through the Allegheny County Department of Court Records. Check the DCR portal or contact the Civil/Family Division for current instructions, fees and hours.
Where do I search Allegheny criminal docket sheets?
Use Pennsylvania UJS Case Search and select the proper court type and Allegheny County when available. For criminal case-file copies or older files, contact the DCR Criminal Division.
Where are Allegheny wills and estate records?
Wills, estate information, marriage records and Orphans’ Court case files are handled by the Department of Court Records Wills/Orphans’ Court Division. The listed phone number is 412-350-4180.
Should I use an open records request for a Court of Common Pleas case file?
Allegheny County says not to use the Open Records Fill-In Form for copies of Court of Common Pleas case files. Court case files are public unless sealed, and copies should be requested through the proper court-records route.
How do I pay Allegheny court costs or traffic tickets online?
Use PAePay for many Pennsylvania traffic tickets, court costs, fines and restitution. Verify the docket or citation, amount due, service fee and confirmation number before and after payment.
Are Allegheny land records the same as court records?
No. Deeds, mortgages, subdivision plans, block and lot maps, historical plat maps and property history cards are land records. They are not Department of Court Records court-case dockets.
Why can’t I find an Allegheny court record online?
The case may be in another division, under a different spelling, in Magisterial District Court, Pittsburgh Municipal Court, sealed, restricted, juvenile, too old for online display, ordered from storage, or a land record instead of a court record.
Best Next Step for Allegheny Department Court Records
Start with the official Department of Court Records page and choose the correct division: Civil/Family, Criminal, or Wills/Orphans’ Court. Use the DCR e-Filing and Retrieval System for civil/family and wills/orphans access, UJS Case Search for free docket sheets, PAePay for many court payments, and Allegheny Land Records for deeds or mortgages. Before paying, filing or relying on a record, verify status, fees and copy requirements with the official office.
Official-source check completed June 18, 2026. Court portals, public access rules, fees, record-retention charges, office hours, payment links, e-filing rules and copy procedures can change. Verify directly with Allegheny County, DCR, PA UJS or the Fifth Judicial District before relying on a record.