Search Pennsylvania court records online in 2026 using the official Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. This guide explains free public docket sheets, case number lookup, participant name search, criminal and civil Common Pleas cases, Magisterial District Court records, Philadelphia Municipal Court records, appellate dockets, PAePay, certified copies, sealed records, PATCH background checks, and federal PACER records.
Need Pennsylvania Court Records Right Now?
For most public Pennsylvania court records, start with the official UJS Portal Case Search. The portal is the statewide public access point for docket sheets from Pennsylvania appellate courts, criminal Courts of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Courts, and Philadelphia Municipal Court. For official criminal history background checks, use PATCH, not a docket search.
Pennsylvania Court Records Overview
Pennsylvania court records are official records created by courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A public court record may include a docket number, case caption, party names, filing date, court location, charges or claims, hearing dates, attorney information, docket entries, judgments, sentence information, and case status.
The most important mistake to avoid is treating every “public record” website as official. Pennsylvania’s official statewide starting point is the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal. It provides access to public docket sheets and court case information, while certified copies and full document files are usually handled by the filing office, Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, Orphans’ Court office, or the specific county court.
What Pennsylvania court records can you search online?
| Record Type | Official Starting Point | What You Can Usually See |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Common Pleas cases | UJS Portal Case Search | Docket number, charges, events, disposition, sentence and case status when public. |
| Magisterial District Court cases | UJS Portal Case Search | Traffic, non-traffic, landlord-tenant, civil and preliminary criminal docket information. |
| Philadelphia Municipal Court cases | UJS Portal and Philadelphia Courts website | Municipal criminal, traffic, landlord-tenant and civil case details when public. |
| Appellate cases | UJS appellate docket sheets | Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court docket activity. |
| Traffic tickets and court costs | PAePay | Online payments for eligible traffic tickets, court costs, fines and restitution. |
| Criminal history background check | PATCH | Pennsylvania State Police criminal history check, separate from court docket search. |
UJS Portal Free Public Case Search
The UJS Portal is the main online gateway for Pennsylvania public court case information. It is useful for searches like “PA court records search by name,” “Pennsylvania docket sheet lookup,” “criminal docket search PA,” “magisterial district court docket search,” and “Pennsylvania court case search free.”
What the UJS Portal case search covers
| Court Level | Common Search Use | Important Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Appellate Courts | Appeals, petitions, higher court docket activity | Includes Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court docket sheets. |
| Courts of Common Pleas | Criminal felony/misdemeanor, major civil, family and county trial court matters | Public docket sheets are available, but actual records and certified copies are county-specific. |
| Magisterial District Courts | Traffic, summary offenses, landlord-tenant, smaller civil claims and preliminary hearings | Docket numbers usually begin with MJ. |
| Philadelphia Municipal Court | Philadelphia traffic, criminal, landlord-tenant and civil municipal matters | Philadelphia also has its own court website for calendars and local resources. |
How to use the Pennsylvania UJS Portal step by step
- Open the official case search page Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us/casesearch. Do not start with paid background-check sites if you only need a public docket sheet.
- Select the correct search type Choose the court category or case search option that matches your record. Criminal Common Pleas, Magisterial District Court, appellate and Philadelphia Municipal records are not always searched the same way.
- Enter the best available information A docket number is usually the most accurate search. If you do not have it, search by participant name, organization name, county, filing date, or case type when the portal allows.
- Open the docket sheet Review the caption, docket number, court, county, participant names, events, charges or claims, calendar entries, judgments and disposition details.
- Use the county office for official copies A docket sheet is helpful, but certified documents normally come from the county filing office, Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, Orphans’ Court office, or appellate Prothonotary.
Search by Docket Number or Case Number
The fastest Pennsylvania court records search is a docket number search. Pennsylvania dockets use structured prefixes that help identify the court and case category. If you have paperwork from court, a citation, a criminal complaint, a hearing notice or payment plan, look for the docket number near the top.
Common Pennsylvania docket number patterns
| Docket Prefix | Likely Court | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| CP | Court of Common Pleas | Criminal, civil and county-level trial court records. |
| MJ | Magisterial District Court | Traffic, non-traffic, landlord-tenant, small civil claims and preliminary hearings. |
| MC | Philadelphia Municipal Court | Philadelphia municipal matters, including some criminal and civil cases. |
| J or appellate numbers | Appellate courts | Superior Court, Supreme Court or Commonwealth Court appeals and petitions. |
- Copy the full docket number Do not remove zeros, county codes or year numbers. Pennsylvania docket formats are sensitive to missing digits.
- Choose docket number search Open the UJS Portal Case Search and use the docket number option if available.
- Match the correct court level If the number begins with CP, search Common Pleas. If it begins with MJ, search Magisterial District Court. If it is an appeal, use appellate docket search.
- Save the docket sheet Print or save the public docket sheet for reference, but request certified records separately if an agency, employer, attorney or court requires proof.
Search by Participant Name or Business Name
If you do not have a docket number, search by participant name. This is common for queries like “Pennsylvania court records by name,” “PA criminal docket search by name,” “civil court records by name PA,” and “Pennsylvania public records court search.”
How to search Pennsylvania court records by name
- Use the legal name first Search the person’s full legal last name and first name. Add middle name or middle initial when available.
- Try spelling variations Search maiden name, former name, hyphenated name, nickname, alternate business name, abbreviation and punctuation variation.
- Filter by county and court type If you know the county, use it. Searching all Pennsylvania counties can return many unrelated results.
- Check identity clues carefully Confirm county, case date, case type, participant role, date of birth if shown, attorney name and docket events before assuming a record belongs to the right person.
Pennsylvania Criminal Court Records
Pennsylvania criminal court records may appear in Magisterial District Court, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia Municipal Court, or appellate court records depending on the stage of the case. Summary offenses, traffic matters and preliminary hearings often begin at the Magisterial District Court level. Felony and misdemeanor cases often move through the Court of Common Pleas.
How to search PA criminal court records online
- Start with UJS Case Search Use UJS Portal Case Search and search by docket number, participant name, county or case type.
- Check both MDJ and Common Pleas if needed A criminal matter may have a Magisterial District Court docket for early proceedings and a Common Pleas docket for the main criminal case.
- Read the docket sheet carefully Look for charges, disposition, plea, sentence, payment plan, warrants or bench warrant references, and scheduled court events.
- Use PATCH for criminal history checks For an official Pennsylvania criminal history background check, use PATCH, the Pennsylvania State Police criminal history system.
Civil, Family, Probate and Orphans’ Court Records
Pennsylvania civil court records may include lawsuits, contracts, personal injury cases, debt collection, landlord-tenant appeals, judgments, liens, equity matters and other non-criminal disputes. Family and Orphans’ Court records may include divorce, custody, support, adoption, guardianship, estate and probate matters, but access can be limited for privacy reasons.
Where to search civil and family court records in Pennsylvania
| Record Type | Where to Start | Access Note |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Common Pleas cases | UJS Portal or county Prothonotary | Online docket availability may vary by county and case type. |
| Divorce records | County Prothonotary / family division | Some details may be restricted; certified decrees come from the county office. |
| Custody and support records | Family division / domestic relations office | Public access may be limited because of personal and child-related information. |
| Probate and estate records | Register of Wills / Orphans’ Court | Often county-specific; contact the county where the estate was filed. |
| Judgment records | County court records / docket sheets | Search the docket and verify with the county office if official proof is needed. |
Magisterial District Court Records
Pennsylvania Magisterial District Courts are local courts that handle many first-level matters. These records are important for people searching traffic citations, summary criminal offenses, non-traffic citations, landlord-tenant disputes, small civil claims and preliminary criminal proceedings.
Common Magisterial District Court searches
- PA traffic ticket docket search for citations and court dates.
- Landlord tenant docket search PA for eviction-related filings and judgments.
- Summary offense search Pennsylvania for lower-level criminal matters.
- Non-traffic citation search PA for local ordinance and summary matters.
- Preliminary hearing lookup for criminal cases before Common Pleas transfer.
How to search MDJ records
- Open UJS Portal Case Search Choose Magisterial District Court search when available.
- Use the MJ docket number Magisterial District Court docket numbers usually begin with MJ. Enter the full number if you have it.
- Search by participant name if needed Use first and last name, business name, county and date filters to reduce unrelated matches.
- Review the final page of the docket For traffic and court costs, docket sheets may show payment information, balances and next court events.
Philadelphia Municipal Court Records
Philadelphia has special court structure because the First Judicial District includes both the Court of Common Pleas and Philadelphia Municipal Court. Users searching “Philadelphia court records,” “Philadelphia Municipal Court docket search,” or “Philadelphia criminal docket search” should use the UJS Portal and the official Philadelphia Courts website.
Philadelphia court record search path
- Start with statewide UJS search Use the UJS Portal for Philadelphia Municipal Court and Common Pleas docket sheets when available.
- Use the Philadelphia Courts website Go to courts.phila.gov for Philadelphia-specific calendars, court services, forms and local information.
- Check the case type Philadelphia criminal, traffic, landlord-tenant, civil, family and municipal matters may be routed differently.
- Request certified copies from the correct office For official copies, follow the First Judicial District instructions or contact the Office of Judicial Records.
Pennsylvania Appellate Court Docket Search
Pennsylvania appellate court records include cases in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Superior Court of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. These records are useful for appeal status, petitions, orders, briefing activity, lower-court references and higher-court decisions.
Which appellate court should you search?
| Appellate Court | Typical Cases | Official Search |
|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | Highest state court appeals, discretionary review, constitutional issues | Supreme Court |
| Superior Court of Pennsylvania | Most criminal and civil appeals from Common Pleas courts | Superior Court docket sheets |
| Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania | Government agency, public law and state/local government matters | Commonwealth Court |
- Find the lower-court docket number Appeals often reference the Common Pleas or agency docket. Keep both numbers.
- Search appellate docket sheets Use the UJS Portal or the appellate court docket sheet pages.
- Review filing events Check notices of appeal, briefs, orders, argument dates and final decisions.
- Use official opinions pages for decisions Docket sheets show activity; published opinions and orders may appear separately on official court pages.
Traffic Tickets, Court Costs and PAePay
For Pennsylvania traffic tickets, fines, court costs and restitution payments, the official payment tool is PAePay. PAePay allows eligible online payments for traffic tickets, court costs, fines and restitution in participating Common Pleas, Magisterial District and Municipal courts.
How to pay a PA traffic ticket or court costs online
- Open PAePay Go to PAePay Traffic Ticket or Court Costs.
- Enter your search details Use docket number, participant information or citation details when prompted.
- Review the court and payment amount Confirm you are paying the correct case, court, county and docket.
- Save your confirmation Keep the receipt and check the docket later to confirm payment was applied.
Certified Copies and County Court Records
If you need an official Pennsylvania court record for legal, school, immigration, licensing, employment, real estate, probate, name change or government use, a public docket printout may not be enough. You may need a certified copy from the court office that maintains the record.
Which office usually handles copies?
| Record Needed | Likely Office | What to Provide |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal court documents | County Clerk of Courts | Docket number, defendant name, document name, filing date and your contact details. |
| Civil lawsuit documents | County Prothonotary | Case number, parties, document title and certified copy request. |
| Divorce decree | County Prothonotary / family division | Case number, party names, year and certified decree request. |
| Probate or estate records | Register of Wills / Orphans’ Court | Decedent name, estate number, county and document requested. |
| Appellate records | Appellate Prothonotary | Appellate docket number and document title. |
- Find the docket first Use the UJS Portal to confirm the docket number, court, county and document names.
- Contact the correct county office Use the county court website, Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, Orphans’ Court or Register of Wills depending on the record.
- Ask whether certification is required Some agencies require certified copies, while others accept plain copies or docket sheets.
- Confirm fees and delivery method Copy fees, certification fees, mail rules and online options can vary by county and record type.
Sealed, Confidential and Restricted Records
Not every Pennsylvania court record is public online. Some records are restricted by law, court rule, court order, privacy policy or case type. Even if a docket exists, some documents or personal identifiers may not be viewable remotely.
Records that may be limited or restricted
- Juvenile records and certain dependency matters.
- Adoption records and sensitive family records.
- Protection from abuse information where access is limited.
- Sealed criminal records after Clean Slate, expungement or court order.
- Medical, financial and personal identifier information.
- Victim information and confidential addresses.
- Grand jury or investigative material where protected.
Clean Slate, Expungement and Record Sealing
Pennsylvania has record-clearing options such as expungement, limited access and Clean Slate sealing. These rules can affect what appears in public court searches and criminal history records. Eligibility depends on the case type, offense, outcome, waiting period, restitution, costs, subsequent history and the specific law used.
Official record-clearing path
- Get your docket sheet Search the UJS Portal and save the docket numbers, charges, disposition and sentencing details.
- Check public court forms Use Pennsylvania court forms for the public for available expungement-related forms.
- Review PATCH if criminal history matters Use PATCH if you need to see what appears in the Pennsylvania State Police criminal history system.
- File in the correct court Many expungement petitions are filed in the court where the case was handled. County rules and filing steps may vary.
PATCH Criminal History vs Court Records
PATCH stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. It is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and is used for online criminal history background checks. This is separate from the UJS Portal court docket search.
Which official system should you use?
| Need | Use | Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| Look up a public court docket | UJS Portal Case Search | UJS Case Search |
| Pay traffic ticket or court costs | PAePay | PAePay |
| Request criminal history background check | PATCH | epatch.pa.gov |
| Get certified court documents | County court office | Clerks of Courts |
| Search federal cases | PACER | pacer.uscourts.gov |
Federal Court Records in Pennsylvania
Federal court records are not searched through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. Federal cases in Pennsylvania are handled by federal district courts, bankruptcy courts and federal appellate courts. These records are accessed mainly through PACER.
Pennsylvania federal court search path
| Federal Court | Area / Use | Official Link |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern District of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading, Easton and eastern Pennsylvania federal cases | paed.uscourts.gov |
| Middle District of Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, Scranton, Williamsport and central Pennsylvania federal cases | pamd.uscourts.gov |
| Western District of Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh, Erie, Johnstown and western Pennsylvania federal cases | pawd.uscourts.gov |
| PACER | Federal docket and document access | pacer.uscourts.gov |
- Confirm the case is federal Federal crimes, bankruptcy, civil rights, federal agencies, patent, copyright and federal-law matters usually belong outside the PA UJS Portal.
- Create a PACER account Register at PACER.
- Search by party or case number Use the proper Pennsylvania federal district or nationwide PACER search tools.
- Download documents carefully PACER may charge access fees. Save only the documents you need.
Pennsylvania Court Locations and Map
Pennsylvania court records are statewide in search, but many official documents still live with the county or court office that created the file. For statewide judiciary contact, the Pennsylvania Judicial Center is the central address for the Unified Judicial System.
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
601 Commonwealth Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Main public resource: Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania
Statewide public case search: UJS Portal Case Search
Helpful Pennsylvania court directories
| Need | Official Page |
|---|---|
| Find Common Pleas court information | Courts of Common Pleas |
| Find Clerk of Courts resources | Clerks of Courts |
| Find minor court docket sheets | Minor Courts docket sheets |
| Find public forms | Forms for the public |
| Search case information | Court case information |
Practical Search Tips for Pennsylvania Court Records
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Pennsylvania court records online for free?
Use the official UJS Portal Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/casesearch. You can search many public Pennsylvania docket sheets by docket number, participant name, court type, county and case information.
What is the official Pennsylvania court records website?
The official statewide court website is pacourts.us. The official public case search system is the Pennsylvania UJS Portal.
Are Pennsylvania court records public?
Many Pennsylvania court docket records are public, but some records or documents may be sealed, confidential, restricted, protected by privacy rules, or available only through the courthouse or county filing office.
Can I search PA court records by name?
Yes. UJS Portal searches may allow participant name or business name search depending on the court type. For common names, also use county, docket number, case type and filing date filters where available.
What is a Pennsylvania docket sheet?
A docket sheet is a public summary of court activity. It may show the docket number, parties, charges or claims, filings, court events, disposition, sentence, judgment and payment information. It is not always the full court file.
How do I search Pennsylvania criminal court records?
Start with UJS Portal Case Search. Search Magisterial District Court dockets and Common Pleas criminal dockets because a criminal matter may appear at both levels depending on the stage of the case.
Is UJS the same as PATCH?
No. UJS is for court docket records. PATCH is the Pennsylvania State Police criminal history background check system. Use PATCH when an official criminal history check is required.
How do I get certified copies of Pennsylvania court records?
Use the docket sheet to identify the court and county, then contact the office that maintains the file. Criminal records are often handled by the Clerk of Courts, civil records by the Prothonotary, and estate records by the Register of Wills or Orphans’ Court office.
Can I pay Pennsylvania traffic tickets online?
Yes, many eligible traffic tickets, court costs, fines and restitution payments can be made through PAePay. Always confirm the docket and court before paying.
What does an MJ docket number mean in Pennsylvania?
An MJ docket number usually means a Magisterial District Court case. These dockets can include traffic citations, non-traffic citations, landlord-tenant cases, small civil claims, summary offenses and preliminary criminal proceedings.
What does a CP docket number mean in Pennsylvania?
A CP docket number usually means a Court of Common Pleas case. Common Pleas courts handle county-level criminal, civil, family, probate, Orphans’ Court and other major trial court matters.
How do I search Philadelphia court records?
Search the UJS Portal first, then use the official Philadelphia Courts website at courts.phila.gov for local calendars, court services, forms and Philadelphia-specific instructions.
Are Pennsylvania juvenile records public?
Many juvenile records are restricted or confidential. Public access depends on the case type, law, court order and requester’s role. Contact the appropriate court if you are a party or legal representative.
How do I search Pennsylvania appellate court records?
Use the official appellate docket sheets through the UJS Portal or PACourts pages for the Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court. Keep both the appellate docket number and the lower-court docket number if available.
Why can’t I find a Pennsylvania court record online?
The record may be sealed, restricted, too old, filed under a different name, filed in another county, handled in federal court, or available only from the courthouse or county office.
How do I clear or expunge a Pennsylvania court record?
Start by getting your docket sheet from UJS and reviewing the public court forms at pacourts.us. Eligibility for expungement, limited access or Clean Slate sealing depends on the case type, outcome, waiting period and legal requirements.
How do I search Pennsylvania federal court records?
Use PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov. Federal cases are not in the Pennsylvania UJS Portal.
Can I use a Pennsylvania docket sheet for legal proof?
Sometimes, but many agencies require a certified copy instead of a printed docket sheet. Ask the requesting agency exactly what type of document they need before ordering records.
Final Summary
For pennsylvania court records, the best official starting point is the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. Use it for public docket sheets, Common Pleas criminal records, Magisterial District Court records, Philadelphia Municipal Court records, appellate docket sheets and basic case search. Use PAePay for eligible payments, PATCH for Pennsylvania State Police criminal history checks, county court offices for certified copies, and PACER for federal court records.
Always confirm the docket number, county, court level, party identity, case type and official source before relying on a result. A public docket sheet is useful, but it is not always the complete court file and may not replace a certified copy or official background check.