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Philadelphia Court Records | Free Public Search Online
Use this Philadelphia court records guide to search free public docket sheets, find civil and criminal case information, check Municipal Court records, request official copies, understand traffic payment routes, avoid fake record websites, and contact the correct First Judicial District office before you rely on a court record.
Direct answer: Philadelphia court records are handled by the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. Search free public docket sheets through the official UJS Case Search. Use Philadelphia Courts case tools for local civil, family, orphans, Municipal Court, traffic and calendar information. For legal use, request official or certified copies from the correct Office of Judicial Records division.
Where to Search Philadelphia Court Records Online
Philadelphia court record searches fail when users use the wrong system. The Philadelphia County court system includes the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court, while Pennsylvania UJS maintains free public docket search for many statewide records. Civil, criminal, family, orphans, traffic, background checks and federal cases each need the correct route.
Use UJS Case Search for free public docket sheets and case status.
Use Philadelphia civil Public Access Search by case number, plaintiff or defendant.
Use PAePay or Traffic Division. Parking tickets are separate.
Use the Office of Judicial Records or the public access request form.
| If you need this | Use this official source | Search by | Important warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Common Pleas docket sheet | Pennsylvania UJS Case Search | Participant name, docket number, OTN, police incident/complaint number, state ID or organization. | A docket sheet is not a Pennsylvania criminal history background check. |
| Philadelphia civil case docket | Philadelphia civil docket guidance | Case number, plaintiff name or defendant name. | Online reports may not replace certified court records. |
| Municipal Court civil or landlord-tenant matter | Municipal Court CLAIMS search | Case number, plaintiff, defendant or case details where available. | Housing records can be sensitive; use them lawfully and responsibly. |
| Traffic fines, costs or citation payment | PAePay | Citation, docket, payment plan, person or organization. | Parking violations are handled outside Traffic Division. |
| Official criminal history check | Pennsylvania PATCH | Required identity information. | Use PATCH when an employer, agency or licensing board asks for a background check. |
| Federal court record in Philadelphia | Eastern District of Pennsylvania records | PACER, case number, public terminal or records request. | Federal records are not found in Philadelphia County court search. |
How to Search Philadelphia Court Records Online for Free
The Pennsylvania UJS Case Search says the ability to search and review web docket sheets is a free public service. Pennsylvania Courts also explains that the UJS portal includes appellate court case information, criminal Common Pleas case information, and several Magisterial District Court case types including civil, criminal, traffic, non-traffic and landlord/tenant records.
Start with the exact record type
Before searching, decide whether you need criminal, civil, Municipal Court, traffic, family, orphans, background check, federal, or certified-copy information.
Use the official search first
For statewide docket sheets, open UJS Case Search. For Philadelphia local case tools, use Philadelphia Calendars & Case Information.
Search broad, then narrow
Try full name, last name only, business name, organization name, case number, docket number, OTN, citation number or police complaint number depending on the system.
Open the docket sheet
Do not rely only on a result preview. Open the full docket sheet or case report to check party names, filing dates, events, charges, claims, disposition, judgment, sentence, balances or future court dates.
Verify before using it officially
For court filing, employment, licensing, immigration, housing, legal disputes or agency submission, ask the correct court office for an official or certified copy.
Philadelphia Civil Court Records: Dockets, Lawsuits, Judgments and Copy Help
Attorneys and members of the public can view Philadelphia civil court case dockets online with Public Access Search. The City’s official service page says civil cases can be searched by case number, plaintiff name or defendant name.
Use civil docket search for
- Civil lawsuits and claims
- Judgments and liens
- Debt collection cases
- Contract disputes
- Personal injury cases
- Civil appeals and trial-division docket reports
Before ordering a civil copy
- Confirm the civil docket number.
- Know the document title and filing date.
- Ask whether a certified copy is required.
- Confirm the current fee and payment method.
- Ask whether the record is available online, by mail or in person.
Philadelphia Criminal Court Records: Dockets, Charges, Dispositions and Background Checks
For Philadelphia criminal docket sheets, start with UJS Case Search. Pennsylvania Courts warns that recent filing-office entries may not immediately appear on docket sheets, and docket sheet information should not be used instead of a criminal history background check.
Search the UJS portal
Use participant name, docket number, OTN, complaint number, police incident number, state ID or organization search when available.
Check Municipal and Common Pleas connection
Some Philadelphia criminal matters begin in Municipal Court and move to Common Pleas. Review related docket numbers and case transfers.
Read the disposition carefully
Look for active, closed, dismissed, withdrawn, guilty, not guilty, held for court, sentenced, appeal, warrant, or expungement-related notes. Do not assume a charge equals a conviction.
Use PATCH for official criminal history
If an employer, licensing board, school, volunteer group, adoption agency or government office asks for a criminal history check, use Pennsylvania State Police PATCH instead of a court docket printout.
Philadelphia Municipal Court Records: Civil, Landlord-Tenant, Criminal and Traffic
Philadelphia Municipal Court records can include small claims, landlord-tenant, misdemeanor, preliminary felony matters, traffic citations and related court activity. Use the correct division before searching or paying.
| Municipal Court area | Typical user need | Official action |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal Court Civil | Small claims, landlord-tenant, civil claim, civil judgment or case-status lookup. | Open CLAIMS Public Access |
| Municipal Court Criminal | Misdemeanor cases, preliminary hearings, adult criminal case routing and docket lookup. | Search UJS dockets |
| Traffic Division | Traffic citation, traffic hearing, fines, costs or payment plan information. | Open Traffic Division |
Philadelphia Traffic Court Records, Citations, Fines and PAePay
Use PAePay for many Pennsylvania court payments, including traffic tickets, court costs, fines and restitution. Philadelphia Traffic Division matters should be checked through official Philadelphia Courts or Pennsylvania UJS payment routes.
Use PAePay for
Traffic tickets, court costs, fines, restitution and some payment-plan searches when available.
Have ready
Citation number, docket number, name, payment plan number, date of birth if requested, and payment method.
Save after paying
Confirmation page, payment date, amount, docket/citation, receipt email and payment method.
How to Request Official or Certified Philadelphia Court Records
Online docket searches help you identify a case, but official copies come from the office that maintains the record. If a court, employer, agency, attorney, immigration office, licensing board or title company asks for a certified copy, contact the correct records office before paying.
Identify the exact case
Write down the docket number, court division, case caption, party names, filing year, document title and document date.
Choose the correct office
Use OJR Civil for civil records, OJR Criminal for criminal records, Orphans’ Court for probate/estate matters, and Municipal Court Civil for small claims or landlord-tenant matters.
Use the official request process
For public access requests, use the First Judicial District public access page or the request form linked by the court.
Ask for the correct copy type
Plain copy, certified copy, exemplified copy, docket sheet, transcript and criminal history check are different. Ask the receiving agency what it requires.
Confirm fee and delivery
Fees, room numbers, mailing instructions and delivery methods can change. Verify before mailing payment or visiting City Hall.
Philadelphia Court Records Fees, Processing and Delay Reasons
Free online search and paid official copies are different. Many UJS docket searches are free, but civil reports, copies, certified copies, transcripts, exemplifications, name searches, criminal history checks and federal court records may have fees.
| Record action | What may cost money | What to verify first |
|---|---|---|
| UJS docket search | Public docket search is free through the official UJS portal. | Case type, docket number, party names and whether recent entries have posted. |
| Civil docket report | Some Philadelphia civil report transactions may involve a checkout screen or fee. | Total cost, report type and whether the online report is enough. |
| Certified copy | Certification and per-page copy fees may apply. | Current fee, payment method, exact office and document title. |
| Transcript | Transcript preparation usually has separate procedures and fees. | Court reporter process, date of hearing and turnaround time. |
| PATCH background check | Pennsylvania State Police background checks may have separate fees. | Whether PATCH is required instead of a docket sheet. |
Philadelphia Court Records Phone Numbers, Addresses and Office Routing
Use the office that matches the case. The First Judicial District is composed of the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court. Pennsylvania Courts lists Philadelphia Courts at Broad and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107, with regular weekday hours. Department-specific offices may have different rooms and instructions.
| Office / source | Address / location | Phone / email | Use for |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Judicial District main contact | City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-686-7000 | General Philadelphia Courts routing and department direction. |
| Philadelphia Courts / Common Pleas listing | Broad and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-686-6670 | County court information and general courthouse reference. |
| Office of Judicial Records – Civil / Prothonotary | Philadelphia City Hall, 284 City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-686-6652; OJRCivil@courts.phila.gov | Civil records, civil copies, civil filing and certification questions. |
| Office of Judicial Records – Criminal | 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 | Use official OJR Criminal page/contact directory before visiting. | Criminal records, criminal filings, fines, costs, restitution and expungement-related questions. |
| Municipal Court – Traffic Division | 800 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123 | 215-686-1675 for general Traffic Division information | Traffic citations, hearings, fines, costs and in-person traffic matters. |
| Pennsylvania State Police PATCH | Online official background check system | Use PATCH support / official PA guidance | Official Pennsylvania criminal history background check. |
Philadelphia Court Records Office Map and Visit Tips
Many civil and court administration offices are connected to Philadelphia City Hall. Criminal court business is often associated with the Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice at 1301 Filbert Street, while Traffic Division is at 800 Spring Garden Street. Confirm the correct office before visiting.
What Philadelphia Court Records May Not Show Online
Public access does not mean every document is online. Some records are sealed, confidential, expunged, limited-access, juvenile, adoption-related, protection-related, mental-health-related, victim-sensitive or otherwise restricted by law or court rule.
Restricted records
Juvenile, adoption, sealed, expunged, victim, protection and sensitive family records may not be public.
Recent filings
Recent court entries may not immediately appear online. Check again or call the correct office if timing matters.
Full documents
A docket sheet may not include every motion, exhibit, transcript, order or certified document.
Philadelphia Court Record Not Found? Fix the Search This Way
Try another spelling
Search last name only, maiden name, business name, middle initial, hyphenated name or organization name.
Switch court type
Civil, criminal, family, orphans, Municipal Court, traffic, federal and background checks use different systems.
Use a docket number
If paperwork shows a CP, MC, LT, TR or other docket number, search by that exact number when available.
Check timing
New filings, payments, orders and docket events may not update instantly online.
Ask about sealed records
If the case is juvenile, expunged, sealed or sensitive, public online search may not show it.
Use PATCH when required
If someone asked for a background check, do not try to “create” one from court dockets.
Philadelphia Court Records: Short Answer for Bing, Copilot and AI Search
Philadelphia court records are searched through the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. Use UJS Case Search for free public docket sheets, Philadelphia Public Access Search for civil dockets, CLAIMS for Municipal Court civil matters, PAePay for traffic and court payments, PATCH for official Pennsylvania criminal history checks, and the Office of Judicial Records for official or certified copies.
| User question | Best short answer |
|---|---|
| Can I search Philadelphia court records for free? | Yes. Start with the official UJS Case Search and Philadelphia court case tools. Official copies or certified records may cost money. |
| Where are Philadelphia criminal dockets? | Use UJS Case Search for many Philadelphia criminal Common Pleas docket sheets. |
| Where are Philadelphia civil dockets? | Use Philadelphia Public Access Search by case number, plaintiff or defendant. |
| Is a docket a background check? | No. Use Pennsylvania State Police PATCH for official Pennsylvania criminal history checks. |
| Where do I get certified copies? | Request them from the correct Office of Judicial Records division or court department. |
Official Philadelphia Court Records Links
Philadelphia Courts
First Judicial District homepage with case search, contacts, publications, fees and public resources.
Open Philadelphia CourtsUJS Case Search
Free public Pennsylvania docket search for many court case records.
Open UJS Case SearchCourt Case Information
Pennsylvania Courts guidance explaining free UJS case information and background-check limits.
Open PA Court Case InfoCivil Dockets
City/FJD page for searching civil case dockets by case number, plaintiff or defendant.
Open Civil Docket GuidancePublic Access
First Judicial District public access policy, records request guidance and request form.
Open Public AccessPAePay
Official route for many court payments including traffic, fines, costs and restitution.
Open PAePayFederal Records
Eastern District of Pennsylvania guidance for federal court records in Philadelphia.
Open Federal RecordsPhiladelphia Court Records FAQs
How do I search Philadelphia court records online for free?
Start with the official Pennsylvania UJS Case Search for free public docket sheets. For Philadelphia civil, family, orphans, Municipal Court, traffic or calendar tools, use the Philadelphia Courts Calendars & Case Information page and choose the correct case type.
Are Philadelphia court records public?
Many docket records are public, but not every document is online or open to everyone. Sealed, expunged, juvenile, adoption, protection, victim, mental-health, family and other sensitive records may be restricted.
What is the official Philadelphia court records website?
The official local court website is courts.phila.gov for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The official statewide Pennsylvania docket portal is ujsportal.pacourts.us.
How do I find Philadelphia criminal court records?
Use Pennsylvania UJS Case Search for criminal docket sheets. Search by participant name, docket number, OTN, complaint number, police incident number, state ID or organization when available.
How do I find Philadelphia civil court records?
Use Philadelphia civil Public Access Search. The official City service page says civil dockets can be searched by case number, plaintiff name or defendant name.
Can I search Philadelphia court records by name?
Yes. Many official tools allow name searches. Try exact spelling, last name only, business name, alternate spelling, middle initial, married or maiden name, and court-type filters.
Is a Philadelphia docket sheet the same as a background check?
No. A docket sheet is court-case information. For an official Pennsylvania criminal history background check, use Pennsylvania State Police PATCH.
How do I get certified copies of Philadelphia court records?
Identify the docket number, court division, parties, document title and filing date. Then contact the correct Office of Judicial Records division or court department and ask for current certified-copy instructions and fees.
Where do I pay Philadelphia traffic tickets or court costs?
Use PAePay or the official Philadelphia Traffic Division route for court traffic matters. Parking violations are handled separately and are not Traffic Division court records.
Why can’t I find a Philadelphia court case online?
The case may be in another court, filed under a different spelling, recently filed, old, sealed, expunged, federal, Municipal Court instead of Common Pleas, or not available online. Try another official portal or call the correct office.
Where is the main Philadelphia court location?
Pennsylvania Courts lists Philadelphia Courts at Broad and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Many civil and court administration offices are around City Hall, while criminal and traffic offices may use other locations.
Can I use a private public-record website instead of official court search?
You should start with official court sources first. Private record sites may charge fees, show incomplete data, or mix court records with background reports. Use official records when accuracy matters.
Best Next Step for Philadelphia Court Records
Start with the official UJS Case Search for free public docket lookup. Use Philadelphia Public Access Search for civil dockets, CLAIMS for Municipal Court civil records, PAePay for traffic and court payments, PATCH for official criminal history checks, and the Office of Judicial Records for official or certified copies. Before paying, filing or relying on a record, verify the case status and copy requirements with the official court.
Official-source check completed June 18, 2026. Court portals, payment links, office rooms, fees, hours, access rules and record policies can change. Verify directly with the official court before relying on any record.