Pittsburgh Civil Court Records
Pittsburgh civil court records are filed at the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in the Fifth Judicial District. The Prothonotary at the City-County Building on Grant Street is the custodian of all civil case files. Pittsburgh sits in Allegheny County, which has 43 judges and 46 magisterial district courts. Civil dockets are free to search online and go back to 2002. You can look up a case by party name, case number, or filing date. Documents are also free to view. The Prothonotary's office at 436 Grant Street handles all in-person requests for civil court records.
Pittsburgh Quick Facts
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
The Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas is the trial court for Pittsburgh and the rest of the county. It has four divisions: Criminal, Civil, Family, and Orphans'. Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 3732, the court has jurisdiction over all civil cases filed in the county. This includes contract claims, tort suits, property disputes, and other civil matters.
There are 43 judges on the bench. Senior judges also hear cases when the load is high. The court sits in the Allegheny County Courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh. It is one of the largest trial courts in the state. The Civil Division alone handles thousands of new filings each year.
The Allegheny County Courts website is the main source for court news, rules, and contact data. You can find judge lists, court schedules, and local rules of civil procedure on this site. Rules for civil cases in the Fifth Judicial District are set under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81.
Appeals from the 46 magisterial district courts in the county also come through the Court of Common Pleas. If a case starts at a lower court and one side wants to appeal, it moves up to this court for a new trial.
Pittsburgh Civil Docket Search
You can search Pittsburgh civil court records online at no cost. The court keeps civil dockets from 2002 to the present in its digital system. A search can be done by party name, case number, or filing date. Results show basic case data such as the parties, the judge, the case type, and the current status.
Documents tied to civil cases are also free to view online. This sets Allegheny County apart from some other counties in the state that charge per page. You can read filings, motions, and court orders from your own device.
The UJS Portal is the statewide tool for case searches. It covers all courts in Pennsylvania, including the Allegheny County courts in Pittsburgh. Use it when you want to search across counties or when you need records from a magisterial district court.
The image below shows a public records resource for Pittsburgh.
This resource provides access to various public records for cases filed in the Pittsburgh area.
Pittsburgh Prothonotary Office
The Prothonotary is the clerk of the civil court in Allegheny County. This office files new civil cases, keeps the docket, and stores all documents. It is in the City-County Building at 436 Grant Street in Pittsburgh.
| Office | Allegheny County Prothonotary |
|---|---|
| Address | 436 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 |
| Phone | 412-350-5729 |
| Website | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
You can visit in person to review a case file, get copies, or ask staff for help with a search. Certified copies are available for a fee. Plain copies cost less. Call ahead to confirm hours and costs before you make the trip.
Civil court records in Allegheny County are preserved on a permanent basis. Under state law, these are public records that must be kept and made available. The Prothonotary stores both active and closed case files. Older records may be in off-site storage, so it helps to call first if you need a file from many years ago.
Pittsburgh Magisterial District Courts
Allegheny County has 46 magisterial district courts. These are the lower courts that handle small civil claims, minor civil disputes, and other routine matters. They process more than 20,000 filings each year. The Pittsburgh Municipal Court is a separate court that hears criminal, traffic, and housing cases within city limits.
If a civil case at a magisterial court results in an appeal, it goes to the Court of Common Pleas for a new hearing.
Records from magisterial district courts are kept in the MDJS system. You can search these through the UJS Portal. The data includes case type, parties, and disposition. This covers small claims and other civil matters heard at the magisterial level in the Pittsburgh area.
Pittsburgh Civil Records Access
Civil court records in Pittsburgh are public. The Right to Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, gives the public a broad right to access government records in the state. Court records have their own rules set by the Pennsylvania courts public records policies. Both sets of rules aim to keep records open.
The Office of Open Records handles Right to Know requests for state and local agencies. If you need a record that is not on the court docket, you may file a request with the county or the city. Most requests are answered in five business days.
Some files are sealed by court order. Cases that involve minors or certain sensitive topics may be restricted from public view. If you cannot find a record online, call the Prothonotary at 412-350-5729 to check its status.
The City of Pittsburgh also keeps its own public records. The City of Pittsburgh website is a good starting point for non-court records such as permits, licenses, and city contracts.
Below is the City of Pittsburgh website.
The city site provides access to municipal records and services for Pittsburgh residents.
Allegheny County Civil Records
Pittsburgh is the county seat of Allegheny County. All civil cases in the city go through the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. For more on the county court system and related resources, visit the Allegheny County civil court records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other cities in the state have their own civil court systems. Pick a city below to find civil court records in that area.