Erie Pennsylvania Court Records
Erie court records are filed and maintained through Erie County, where the city of Erie serves as the county seat on the southern shore of Lake Erie. Erie has about 95,000 residents and is part of the 6th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. All major criminal, civil, and family cases for Erie residents go through the Erie County Court of Common Pleas at 140 West 6th Street. Five Magisterial District Courts serve the city of Erie alone, with additional MDJ courts across the county. You can search many Erie court records for free through the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us or through the Erie County website at eriecountypa.gov/courts.
Erie Quick Facts
Where to Find Erie Court Records
Erie court records are kept at the Erie County Courthouse at 140 West 6th Street in downtown Erie. The Court of Common Pleas handles all felony criminal cases, major civil suits, family matters, and appeals from MDJ courts. The Erie County Clerk of Records is located at Room 114 of the courthouse and maintains court records along with real estate records. Five separate Magisterial District Courts serve the city of Erie itself, each covering different wards of the city.
| Court | Erie County Court of Common Pleas (6th Judicial District) |
|---|---|
| Address | 140 West 6th Street Erie, PA 16501 |
| Clerk of Records | Room 114, Erie County Courthouse |
| Phone | 814-451-6302 |
| Website | eriecountypa.gov/courts |
The Erie County Clerk of Records at Room 114 handles court records and property documents. The Court Administration phone number is 814-451-6302. In addition to the main courthouse, five Magisterial District Courts operate within Erie city limits. District 06-1-01 covers the 1st and 4th Ward at 824 E. 6th Street. District 06-1-02 serves the 2nd Ward at 1021 Parade Street. District 06-1-03 serves the 3rd Ward at 809 W. 12th Street. District 06-1-04 covers the 5th Ward at 861/2 E. 38th Street. District 06-1-05 serves the 6th Ward at 1571 W. 38th Street.
How to Search Erie Court Records
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the main free tool for searching Erie court records. You can search by name, docket number, OTN, or citation. The portal covers criminal cases at both the MDJ level and the Court of Common Pleas level for Erie County. Docket sheets show charges, hearing dates, judge names, and case status. Searching and viewing docket sheets costs nothing.
For civil and family records in Erie, the Clerk of Records office at Room 114 of the courthouse maintains all court filings. You can visit in person during business hours or submit a written request by mail. The Erie County courts website at eriecountypa.gov/courts also lists local court rules, administrative orders, and contact information for each court office.
The five Magisterial District Courts that serve Erie city are all searchable through the UJS Portal. Each MDJ court has its own docket numbers, but the name search function on the portal returns results from all of them at once. This makes it easy to find records from any of the five Erie city MDJ courts in a single search.
Note: The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides statewide criminal history checks for $22 per person, covering Erie County records along with all other Pennsylvania courts.
Types of Cases and Court Records in Erie
Erie court records cover criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases. The five MDJ courts within Erie city handle summary offenses, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, small civil claims up to $12,000, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Once a felony moves past the preliminary hearing, it goes to the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. Misdemeanor cases that are not resolved at the MDJ level may also move to Common Pleas.
The Court of Common Pleas in Erie handles all felony criminal prosecutions, major civil litigation, and family matters including divorce, custody, and support. Appeals from MDJ decisions are also heard at Common Pleas. The court is part of the 6th Judicial District, and local rules govern procedure in Erie County. The Erie County courts website lists local rules and administrative orders that apply to cases filed in Erie.
Erie Criminal Court Records
Criminal records for Erie begin at the Magisterial District Court level. Summary offenses and some misdemeanor matters are handled entirely by the MDJ courts within Erie city. Felony charges receive preliminary hearings at the MDJ level and then move to the Court of Common Pleas at 140 West 6th Street. Both sets of records are available through the UJS Portal under separate docket numbers. The MDJ dockets show the preliminary hearing outcome, and the Common Pleas dockets show the full criminal case history.
The Clerk of Records at Room 114 of the Erie County Courthouse maintains criminal case files at the Common Pleas level. This includes all filed documents, docket entries, orders, and sentencing information. You can search online through the UJS Portal for free, visit in person during business hours, or submit a written request by mail to the Clerk of Records office at 140 West 6th Street, Room 114, Erie, PA 16501.
The Erie Police Department at erie.pa.us handles police records including incident and accident reports. These are separate from court records and go through the city's Right-to-Know process.
Police records from the Erie Police Department are not court records but may supplement a search for Erie criminal court records when researching a case.
Erie Civil Court Records
Civil court records for Erie cases are filed with the Clerk of Records at the Erie County Courthouse. This office maintains civil case files at the Common Pleas level, including personal injury suits, contract disputes, mortgage foreclosures, and landlord-tenant appeals. Civil dockets are searchable through the UJS Portal by name or docket number at no charge. Full document copies require a visit to the courthouse or a written request to the Clerk of Records.
Small civil claims under $12,000 and landlord-tenant disputes in Erie are handled at the Magisterial District Court level. Each of the five MDJ courts in Erie city handles civil claims for its geographic area. These cases are also searchable through the UJS Portal. If you are unsure which MDJ court handled a particular case, search by party name on the portal and it will return results from all Erie city MDJ courts at once.
Note: Family court records for Erie residents including divorce, custody, and support cases are filed with the Family Court division of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas and are accessible through the courthouse at 140 West 6th Street or through the UJS Portal.
Accessing Erie Court Records
Erie court records are public under Pennsylvania law. The Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 governs which records are available online and which require in-person access. Most docket information is free and searchable through the UJS Portal. Full document images and certified copies require a trip to the courthouse or a written request. Records involving juveniles, sealed cases, and expunged records are not available to the public.
When visiting the Erie County Courthouse at 140 West 6th Street, bring valid photo ID. Security screens all visitors at the entrance. The Clerk of Records office at Room 114 can help with record requests and copy orders. Call 814-451-6302 before your visit to confirm hours, current copy fees, and what to bring. Erie County local court rules may affect specific procedures for requesting records in some case types.
Erie County Court Records
Erie is the county seat of Erie County, and all Erie city court cases are filed through the Erie County court system. For more on county court offices, related records, local rules, and Erie County resources, visit the county court records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby Pennsylvania cities file court cases at their own county courthouse. Select a city below to find court record information for that area.