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Philadelphia County Court Records

What Is Philadelphia County Court Records

Philadelphia County court records are official documents created and maintained by the courts in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. These records document legal proceedings, including criminal cases, civil lawsuits, family matters, and other legal actions that take place within the county's court system. Court records typically include case filings, judgments, orders, and other documents related to court proceedings.

The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, which serves Philadelphia County, maintains these records. First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107

Are Court Records Public In Philadelphia County

Yes, most court records in Philadelphia County are public records. According to Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law and the common law principle of public access to court records, the general public has the right to access and review most court documents.

However, certain records may be sealed or redacted to protect sensitive information, such as:

  • Cases involving juveniles
  • Adoption proceedings
  • Mental health records
  • Certain family court matters
  • Records sealed by court order
  • Information protected by privacy laws

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides guidelines for public access to court records. Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 1500, Harrisburg, PA 17120

How To Find Court Records in Philadelphia County in 2025

To find court records in Philadelphia County in 2025, you have several options:

  1. Online Access: Use the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal to search for case information.

  2. Visit in Person: Go to the appropriate courthouse where the case was filed.

    • For criminal cases: Criminal Justice Center Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
    • For civil cases: Philadelphia City Hall Philadelphia City Hall, Broad and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107
    • For family court matters: Family Court Building Family Court Building, 1501 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

  3. Mail Requests: Submit a written request to the appropriate court office.

  4. Hire a Professional: Legal research services or attorneys can help locate records.

  5. Third-Party Services: Commercial services that aggregate court records may provide access for a fee.

How To Look Up Court Records in Philadelphia County Online?

To look up Philadelphia County court records online:

  1. Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System Web Portal: Visit the UJS Portal (https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch) to search for criminal, civil, and family court cases. Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 1500, Harrisburg, PA 17120

  2. Philadelphia Courts Website: The First Judicial District website (https://www.courts.phila.gov/) provides access to various court records and case information. First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107

  3. Civil Case Records: Use the City of Philadelphia's civil case docket search service (https://www.phila.gov/services/crime-law-justice/search-civil-case-dockets/). City of Philadelphia, City Hall, Room 167, Philadelphia, PA 19107

  4. Criminal Case Records: Search the Philadelphia Municipal Court docket system for criminal cases.

  5. Electronic Filing System: Registered attorneys and parties can access case documents through the court's e-filing system.

When searching online, you'll typically need one of the following:

  • Case number
  • Party name (plaintiff/defendant)
  • Filing date
  • Attorney name

Can You Search Philadelphia County Court Records for Free?

Yes, you can search basic Philadelphia County court records for free through several channels:

  1. UJS Web Portal: The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's web portal offers free access to basic case information and docket sheets. Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 1500, Harrisburg, PA 17120

  2. Public Access Terminals: Computers available at courthouses provide free access to court records. Philadelphia City Hall, Broad and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107

  3. Philadelphia Courts Website: Basic case information is available for free on the First Judicial District website. First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107

However, there may be fees for:

  • Obtaining certified copies of documents
  • Printing documents at the courthouse
  • Accessing certain detailed records
  • Requesting extensive searches or research assistance
  • Obtaining copies of exhibits or transcripts

What's Included in a Philadelphia County Court Record?

A typical Philadelphia County court record may include:

  1. Case Information:

    • Case number
    • Filing date
    • Case type
    • Judge assigned
    • Parties involved (plaintiffs, defendants)
    • Attorneys of record

  2. Docket Sheet: A chronological listing of all actions taken in the case.

  3. Pleadings:

    • Complaints
    • Answers
    • Motions
    • Petitions

  4. Court Orders and Decisions:

    • Rulings on motions
    • Final judgments
    • Court orders

  5. Evidence and Exhibits: Documents submitted as evidence (may not always be publicly accessible).

  6. Transcripts: Written records of court proceedings (usually available for a fee).

  7. Financial Information: Filing fees, fines, restitution orders, and payment records.

  8. Case Disposition: The final outcome or resolution of the case.

  9. Criminal Case Specifics (if applicable):

    • Charges filed
    • Bail information
    • Sentencing details
    • Probation terms

How Long Does Philadelphia County Keep Court Records?

Philadelphia County court records retention periods vary by case type and importance:

  1. Criminal Cases:

    • Felony cases: Permanently maintained
    • Misdemeanor cases: Typically kept for 7-10 years after case closure
    • Summary offenses: Usually kept for 3-7 years

  2. Civil Cases:

    • Major civil litigation: Permanently maintained
    • Small claims: Typically kept for 7 years after final disposition

  3. Family Court Records:

    • Divorce decrees: Permanently maintained
    • Child custody and support: Maintained until the child reaches majority plus additional years
    • Protection orders: Varies based on type and duration

  4. Probate Records: Wills and estate matters are typically maintained permanently.

  5. Juvenile Records: Special rules apply; some may be sealed or expunged after certain periods.

The Pennsylvania Court Records Retention Schedule, established by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, governs these timeframes. Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 1500, Harrisburg, PA 17120

Digital records may be maintained longer than paper records in some instances.

Types of Courts In Philadelphia County

Philadelphia County's court system, as part of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, includes:

  1. Philadelphia Municipal Court: Handles minor criminal cases, code violations, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes. Philadelphia Municipal Court, 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

  2. Court of Common Pleas: The primary trial court with several divisions:

    • Trial Division (Civil and Criminal Sections) Court of Common Pleas Trial Division, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107
    • Family Court Division (Domestic Relations and Juvenile) Family Court Division, 1501 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
    • Orphans' Court Division (estates, wills, trusts) Orphans' Court Division, City Hall, Room 415, Philadelphia, PA 19107

  3. Philadelphia Traffic Court: Functions now handled by the Municipal Court. Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division, 800 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

  4. Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division: Handles traffic violations. Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division, 800 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123

  5. Specialized Courts and Programs:

    • Drug Treatment Court
    • Mental Health Court
    • Veterans Court
    • DUI Treatment Court
    • The Center for Education and Juvenile Justice

What Types of Cases Do Philadelphia County Courts Hear?

Philadelphia County courts hear a wide range of cases:

  1. Philadelphia Municipal Court:

    • Criminal cases with potential sentences less than 5 years
    • Civil cases with claims up to $12,000
    • Landlord-tenant disputes
    • Code enforcement violations
    • Traffic violations
    • Preliminary hearings for felony cases

  2. Court of Common Pleas - Trial Division (Criminal):

    • Felony criminal cases
    • Serious misdemeanors
    • Appeals from Municipal Court

  3. Court of Common Pleas - Trial Division (Civil):

    • Civil lawsuits exceeding $12,000
    • Complex litigation
    • Appeals from arbitration
    • Class action lawsuits

  4. Court of Common Pleas - Family Division:

    • Divorce proceedings
    • Child custody and support
    • Protection from abuse
    • Juvenile delinquency
    • Dependency cases
    • Adoptions

  5. Court of Common Pleas - Orphans' Court Division:

    • Wills and estates
    • Trusts
    • Guardianships
    • Non-profit organization matters

  6. Specialized Courts:

    • Drug cases (Drug Treatment Court)
    • Veterans' issues (Veterans Court)
    • Mental health cases (Mental Health Court)
    • DUI cases (DUI Treatment Court)

How To Find a Court Docket In Philadelphia County

To find a court docket in Philadelphia County:

  1. Online Methods:

    • UJS Portal: Search the Unified Judicial System portal (https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch). Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, 601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 1500, Harrisburg, PA 17120
    • Philadelphia Courts Website: Visit the First Judicial District website (https://www.courts.phila.gov/). First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19107
    • Civil Docket Search: Use the City of Philadelphia's civil case search service. City of Philadelphia, City Hall, Room 167, Philadelphia, PA 19107

  2. In-Person Methods:

    • Visit the appropriate court clerk's office:
      • For criminal cases: Criminal Justice Center Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
      • For civil cases: City Hall, Room 296 Philadelphia City Hall, Room 296, Philadelphia, PA 19107
      • For family court: Family Court Building Family Court Building, 1501 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
    • Use public access terminals at the courthouse

  3. By Phone: Call the appropriate clerk's office to request docket information.

  4. By Mail: Send a written request to the relevant court office with case information.

Information needed to find a docket:

  • Case number (most efficient method)
  • Party names (plaintiff/defendant)
  • Approximate filing date
  • Attorney names

Which Courts in Philadelphia County Are Not Courts of Record?

In Philadelphia County, most courts are courts of record, meaning they maintain official transcripts and records of proceedings. However, certain proceedings may not be courts of record:

  1. Small Claims Sessions of the Philadelphia Municipal Court for claims under a certain amount may not always maintain complete verbatim records.

  2. Certain Administrative Hearings that take place outside the formal court system, such as:

    • Some code enforcement hearings
    • Certain license and inspection proceedings
    • Some administrative appeals

  3. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Proceedings:

    • Mediation sessions
    • Arbitration proceedings (though the outcome becomes part of the court record)
    • Settlement conferences

  4. Preliminary Arraignments may not always have complete transcripts.

  5. Community Court Programs that focus on rehabilitation rather than formal adjudication.

It's important to note that while these proceedings may not maintain verbatim transcripts, they still generate documents that become part of the official case file. The outcomes and decisions from these proceedings are recorded in the court's docket system.

Lookup Court Records in Philadelphia County

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