Search Pennsylvania Civil Court Records
Pennsylvania civil court records are public documents held by the Courts of Common Pleas in all 67 counties. These records include case filings, docket sheets, court orders, and judgments from civil disputes heard across the state. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania offers free online search tools for civil court records through its web portal. You can also visit a county Prothonotary office in person to look up civil court records. This guide walks you through the steps to find and obtain civil court records in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Civil Court Records Quick Facts
Where to Find Pennsylvania Civil Court Records
Pennsylvania stores civil court records at the county level. Each of the 67 counties has a Court of Common Pleas with original jurisdiction over civil cases under 42 Pa.C.S. § 3732. The Prothonotary in each county serves as the clerk of court for civil matters. This office keeps all case files, docket sheets, and court orders. Docket sheets are the main records of court actions in a civil case. They list every filing, hearing, and ruling. You can view docket sheets online for free. However, you must get copies of actual documents from the county Prothonotary in Pennsylvania.
The Unified Judicial System ties all courts together under 42 Pa.C.S. § 931. This means civil court records from every county flow into one central system. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts manages this system and provides public access to civil court records through its online tools.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts at pacourts.us is the starting point for civil court records research across the state.
From this site, you can reach search tools, court forms, and public records policies for civil cases in Pennsylvania.
How to Search Civil Court Records in Pennsylvania
The UJS Web Portal is the best free tool for finding civil court records in Pennsylvania. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us to start a search. The portal lets you look up civil court records by name, docket number, OTN, complaint number, or citation number. You can search across all 67 counties at once or narrow your search to one county. Results show case type, filing date, status, and party names. The portal is free and open to everyone.
The UJS Web Portal main page at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives quick access to civil court records statewide.
The portal is available around the clock and does not require an account to search civil court records.
The Case Search page at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch is where you enter your search terms for Pennsylvania civil court records.
Enter a name or docket number. Then pick a county or search the whole state. Results load fast.
A free app called PAeDocket is also available. It lets you search Pennsylvania civil court records from a phone or tablet. The app connects to the same UJS Portal data. It works well for quick lookups when you are away from a computer.
Note: The UJS Portal shows docket sheet data but does not provide copies of filed documents for civil court records in Pennsylvania.
Types of Civil Court Records in Pennsylvania
Civil court records in Pennsylvania cover a wide range of disputes between parties. The Courts of Common Pleas handle contract claims, property disputes, personal injury lawsuits, and other civil matters. Each case creates a set of records that becomes part of the public record. These civil court records include the initial complaint, the answer, motions, court orders, and the final judgment or settlement.
Common types of Pennsylvania civil court records include:
- Contract disputes and breach of contract claims
- Property and real estate cases
- Personal injury and tort lawsuits
- Property and contract disputes
- Small claims (minor court civil cases)
- Equity actions and injunctions
The rules of civil procedure under 42 Pa.C.S. § 1123 set out how these cases move through the court system. They control filing deadlines, service of process, discovery, and trial procedures. Every step is recorded in the docket sheet. This makes the docket sheet a road map of the civil court case from start to finish in Pennsylvania.
Public Access to Civil Court Records in Pennsylvania
Civil court records are public in Pennsylvania. The right to access court records is rooted in the Pennsylvania Constitution. Article 1, Section 11 states that all courts shall be open. This means anyone can request to view civil court records. You do not have to be a party to the case.
The public records page on the Pennsylvania Courts website is the central hub for accessing civil court records and related data.
This page links to free search tools, data dashboards, and record request forms for Pennsylvania civil court records.
The Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.) also supports public access to government records. While court records fall under their own access rules, this law shows the broad public policy in Pennsylvania that favors open records. The Case Records Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 sets the specific rules for court records. Each of the 67 counties may have its own local rules as well.
The public records policies page at pacourts.us spells out what information is public and what is kept private in Pennsylvania civil court records.
Certain details are removed from public civil court records. These include Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, driver license numbers, and information about minors.
Note: Copy fees for civil court records in Pennsylvania are capped at $0.25 per page under the public access policy.
Pennsylvania Civil Court Records and E-Filing
Pennsylvania uses PACFile as its statewide e-filing system for civil court documents. The system is available at ujsportal.pacourts.us/PACFile and runs around the clock. Lawyers and self-represented parties can file civil court documents at any time. This has made it faster and easier to submit filings and create new civil court records in Pennsylvania.
The PACFile system overview at ujsportal.pacourts.us explains how to file civil court documents online in Pennsylvania.
E-filed documents become part of the civil court record and appear on the docket sheet once the court accepts them.
Standardized civil court forms are available at pacourts.us/forms-forms/civil-forms. These forms help you file the right paperwork for your civil case in Pennsylvania. Using the correct forms speeds up the process and avoids delays.
Civil Court Records in Philadelphia
Philadelphia has its own court system. The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania handles all civil cases in the city and county. It runs a separate e-filing system and public access search tool for civil court records. You can find it at courts.phila.gov.
The First Judicial District website at courts.phila.gov provides tools for searching Philadelphia civil court records.
Philadelphia civil court records are also available through the statewide UJS Portal.
Philadelphia sees a high volume of civil cases each year. The court handles contract claims, property disputes, and tort cases. Its online tools let you look up civil court records by party name or case number. Results show docket entries, filing dates, and case status for civil matters in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Appellate Civil Court Records
Civil cases that are appealed move to higher courts in Pennsylvania. The state has three levels of appellate courts. Each creates its own set of civil court records. These records include briefs, opinions, and orders from the appellate judges.
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania hears most civil appeals. It has 15 judges who sit in panels of three. When a party disagrees with a civil court ruling at the trial level, they can appeal to the Superior Court. The court reviews the lower court record and issues a written opinion.
Superior Court opinions are published online and form part of the civil court records in Pennsylvania.
The Commonwealth Court handles civil cases that involve the state or local government as a party. If you sue a state agency or challenge a local government action, your case goes here. It is a unique court that few other states have.
Commonwealth Court civil court records deal with zoning, tax appeals, and other government disputes in Pennsylvania.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the state. It is also the oldest appellate court in the nation. The Supreme Court takes civil cases on appeal from the lower courts and has supervisory authority over all courts in the Unified Judicial System.
Supreme Court decisions shape the law that governs civil court records and procedures across Pennsylvania.
Note: Appellate civil court records in Pennsylvania can be searched through the UJS Portal alongside trial court records.
Restricted Civil Court Records in Pennsylvania
Most civil court records are open to the public. But some records have limits on access. Pennsylvania law protects certain types of information from public view. Courts can seal records or redact sensitive details when there is a good reason to do so.
Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6307, juvenile records have limited public access. Civil cases that involve minors may have parts of the record sealed to protect the child. The Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.) also restricts access to certain records that overlap with civil proceedings, such as expungement cases.
Information that is always removed from public civil court records in Pennsylvania includes:
- Social Security numbers
- Financial account numbers
- Driver license numbers
- Names and details of minors
- Other data deemed confidential by the court
A party can ask the court to seal specific documents in a civil case. The judge will grant the request only if there is a strong reason. Sealed civil court records are not common in Pennsylvania. The default rule favors open access.
How to Get Copies of Civil Court Records in Pennsylvania
To get copies of civil court records, contact the Prothonotary in the county where the case was filed. You can visit in person or call ahead. Some counties accept mail or email requests. You will need the case number or the names of the parties. The Prothonotary can search the records and provide copies for a small fee in Pennsylvania.
Online access through the UJS Portal lets you view docket sheets at no cost. But if you need copies of the actual filed documents, you must go through the Prothonotary. Most offices charge per page for copies. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. Fees are capped at $0.25 per page for standard copies of civil court records in Pennsylvania.
For appellate civil court records, contact the clerk of the court that heard the appeal. The Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, and Supreme Court each have their own clerk's office in Pennsylvania. Many appellate opinions are also posted online for free.
Browse Pennsylvania Civil Court Records by County
Each county in Pennsylvania has its own Court of Common Pleas that keeps civil court records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for civil court records in that area.
Civil Court Records in Major Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of major cities file civil cases at their county courthouse. Pick a city below to learn about civil court records in that area.