Court records for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, are maintained by the Clerk of Courts office and are accessible through several channels. LancasterPACourt.us allows quick navigation of public court case information. Additionally, searches can be conducted through the UJS Unified Judicial System portal, directly at the Clerk of Courts office at 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA, or through other state government resources.
Lancaster Court System Overview
Lancaster County is part of the 2nd Judicial District of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania and is the only county in this district. The court of general jurisdiction — Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas — handles criminal, civil, family, and other cases. Its mission is to ensure fair and equal access to justice for all residents.
Magisterial District Judges operate in several offices throughout the county and handle less serious cases, preliminary hearings, and small claims. The official website of Lancaster County courts contains information about the court's structure, schedule, and rules.
Courts Serving Lancaster
State Court of General Jurisdiction
Magisterial District Courts
There are over ten offices of magisterial district judges located in various localities within the county. The specific address of the required office can be found through the UJS Case Search portal by selecting the appropriate MDJS Court Office.
Federal District Court
Lancaster County falls under the jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The federal court handles cases related to federal law, interstate disputes, and bankruptcy.
Federal Bankruptcy Court
Municipal Police
The Lancaster City Bureau of Police has been serving the city of Lancaster since 1865. It is not a judicial body, but the bureau is often the first link in the criminal process.
What Types of Cases Lancaster Courts Hear
Lancaster County courts handle a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Traffic violations and minor infractions
- Civil claims of any amount
- Small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, support
- Probate, guardianship, trust administration
- Juvenile and child protection cases
- Adoption
The division between the Court of Common Pleas and magisterial courts depends on the severity of the crime or the amount of the claim.
District Court Cases in Lancaster
The Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas is the court of first instance with general jurisdiction. It handles serious criminal cases after a preliminary hearing by a magisterial judge, civil cases with claims over $12,000, appeals from magisterial courts, and post-conviction proceedings. Cases are assigned to judges according to local court administration rules. Criminal cases typically begin with an arrest or complaint filing, proceed to a preliminary hearing, and then are transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for substantive consideration.
Magistrate Court Cases in Lancaster
Magisterial District Judges handle cases where most citizens' contacts with the court system begin. They conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases, handle misdemeanors, traffic violations, DUI cases, and issue warrants.
Civil cases with claims up to $12,000 also fall under their jurisdiction. Small claims in Pennsylvania are limited to amounts up to $12,000. Magisterial judges also conduct hearings on tenant evictions and certain administrative proceedings. In a large county like Lancaster, some judges may specialize in certain categories of cases due to the significant workload.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Lancaster
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, support, protective orders, and paternity cases are handled by the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Divorce decrees can be obtained from the Prothonotary's office at 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA.
Probate and Guardianship
Estate, will, guardianship, and trust administration cases are handled by the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court. Online searches for such cases are available through the Register of Wills portal.
Juvenile Matters
The Juvenile Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles cases under the Juvenile Act and Child Protective Act. Juvenile case records are confidential under Pennsylvania law. The Clerk of Courts is responsible for maintaining and processing these records, but access is strictly limited.
How Cases Move Through the Lancaster Court System
- Case Initiation. A criminal case begins with a criminal complaint, a civil case with a civil complaint, and a family or probate case with a petition.
- Judge Assignment. The case is assigned to a specific judge according to internal court rules.
- Initial Hearings. In criminal cases — arraignment (reading of charges and setting of bail). In civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pretrial Phase. Parties file motions, exchange evidence (discovery), and in criminal cases, may engage in plea negotiations.
- Substantive Consideration. The case concludes with a jury or judge's verdict, a guilty plea, a settlement, or a default judgment.
- Post-Judgment. Sentencing, filing an appeal, or enforcing the court's decision.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Lancaster
The courts of the county are administered by the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas along with the Trial Court Administrator. Local court administration rules of Lancaster County regulate case processing, order handling, and other procedural matters.
Public access to court records is governed by the Public Records Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Most records of the Court of Common Pleas are public, except for juvenile cases, sealed cases, and certain confidential documents. Requests for public records of the county can be submitted through the online Open Records Request form or by contacting the Open Records office.
Hearings in the Court of Common Pleas are open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted remotely — check with the court office to see if this option is available for a specific case.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Lancaster
- Online Case Search. The UJS Case Search portal allows searching for cases by participant's last name, case number, or OTN. It is the primary tool for checking the status of criminal and civil cases.
- Criminal Records. The Clerk of Courts maintains criminal and juvenile records of the Court of Common Pleas. The office is located at 50 North Duke Street.
- Criminal History Check. Through the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system, a criminal background check can be ordered online.
- County Archives. The Lancaster County Archives Division, established in 1975, preserves permanent records of the county courts.
- Wanted Persons and Warrants. The list of wanted persons is published by the Fugitive Apprehension Unit of the county sheriff.
- Inmate Search. The Inmate Locator of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections allows finding individuals under state supervision. You can also use the inmate and parolee search page.
- Vital Records. Birth and death certificates (since 1906) are issued by the Division of Vital Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
- Property Information. Tax assessment and property information can be found through the online tax payment portal or on the property assessment FAQ page.
- State Police Press Releases. The Pennsylvania State Police publishes incident reports, including for Lancaster County (Troop J).
- Related Court Offices. A complete list of court divisions — from the Register of Wills to the Coroner's Office — is available on the Court Related Offices page.