Lancaster Pennsylvania Court Records
Lancaster court records are filed and maintained through Lancaster County, where the city of Lancaster serves as the county seat with about 60,000 residents. All major criminal, civil, family, and estate matters for Lancaster residents go through the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas at 50 North Duke Street in downtown Lancaster. Three Magisterial District Courts operate within the city of Lancaster itself for minor criminal cases, traffic violations, and small civil claims. Many Lancaster court records are available for free through the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us or through the Lancaster County website at lancastercountypa.gov.
Lancaster Quick Facts
Where to Find Lancaster Court Records
Lancaster court records are kept at the Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 North Duke Street in downtown Lancaster. The Clerk of Courts office is the chief filing office for the Court of Common Pleas for criminal and juvenile matters. The Clerk's office maintains all criminal court records, tracks dockets, processes docket sheets, and stores case files. The Prothonotary handles civil records at the same courthouse address. Three separate Magisterial District Courts serve the city of Lancaster for minor cases and local hearings.
| Court | Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address | 50 North Duke Street Lancaster, PA 17602 |
| Website | lancastercountypa.gov |
Three Magisterial District Courts serve the city of Lancaster. District 02-3 is at 225 West King Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. Another MDJ is at 1351 Elm Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603. A third location is at 301 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. These local courts handle traffic violations, summary offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, preliminary hearings for criminal cases, and civil claims up to $12,000. All MDJ records feed into the statewide UJS Portal for public access.
How to Search Lancaster Court Records
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the best free tool for searching Lancaster court records. Enter a name, docket number, OTN, or citation to find cases. The portal covers all three Lancaster city MDJ courts and the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. Docket sheets show party names, charges, hearing dates, judge names, and case status. There is no charge to search or view docket sheets.
The Lancaster County website at lancastercountypa.gov provides contact information for the Clerk of Courts and the Prothonotary, links to online resources, and guidance on how to request Lancaster court records in person or by mail. The county also maintains archives at 150 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 for older records, with a phone number of 717-299-8319.
For in-person searches, visit the Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 North Duke Street during business hours. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal files. The Prothonotary handles civil files. Bring valid photo ID. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and make copies from case files. Call before your visit to confirm current hours and copy fees for Lancaster court records.
Note: The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides statewide criminal history checks for $22 per person, covering Lancaster and Lancaster County records along with all other Pennsylvania courts.
Types of Cases and Court Records in Lancaster
Lancaster court records cover criminal, civil, family, and estate matters. Summary offenses and traffic violations start at the three MDJ courts within the city. Preliminary hearings for felony and misdemeanor cases also happen at the local MDJ courts. Cases that need further prosecution move to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. Civil claims under $12,000 stay at the MDJ level; larger suits go to the Prothonotary at Common Pleas.
The Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas handles all felony criminal prosecutions, misdemeanor appeals, major civil suits, and family court matters for Lancaster city residents. The Criminal Division takes on felonies and major misdemeanors. The Civil Division handles large lawsuits and foreclosures. Family Court covers divorce, custody, and support. Orphans' Court handles estate administration, probate of wills, and guardianships. The Clerk of Courts is the chief filing office for criminal and juvenile matters in Lancaster County.
Lancaster Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records for Lancaster residents start at the three local Magisterial District Courts within the city. Summary offenses may be resolved entirely at the MDJ level. Felony cases receive preliminary hearings at one of the three Lancaster MDJ courts and then move to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas for full prosecution. Both MDJ and Common Pleas dockets are searchable through the UJS Portal under different docket numbers. Searching by name returns results from all Lancaster area MDJ courts simultaneously.
The Lancaster County Clerk of Courts at 50 North Duke Street maintains all criminal records at the Common Pleas level. The Clerk's office is the chief filing office for criminal and juvenile matters at the Court of Common Pleas in Lancaster County. It tracks dockets, records court judgments, stores sentencing records, and maintains case files. You can search online for free through the UJS Portal or visit in person during business hours. Mail requests are also accepted for Lancaster criminal court records.
The Lancaster Police Department at cityoflancasterpa.gov handles police records including incident and accident reports through the city's Right-to-Know process.
Police records from the Lancaster Police Department are separate from court records and are requested through the city's Right-to-Know Law process.
Lancaster Civil Court Records
Civil court records for Lancaster cases are filed with the Lancaster County Prothonotary at the courthouse at 50 North Duke Street. This office maintains civil case files for personal injury suits, contract disputes, mortgage foreclosures, and landlord-tenant appeals from MDJ courts. Civil dockets are searchable through the UJS Portal by party name or docket number at no charge. The Lancaster County website at lancastercountypa.gov also provides contact information and access guidance for the Prothonotary.
Small civil claims under $12,000 and landlord-tenant disputes from Lancaster city are handled at the three local MDJ courts. Those records are also searchable through the UJS Portal. For older civil records in Lancaster, the county archives at 150 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 (phone 717-299-8319) may have historical filings. Genealogy and historical records for Lancaster County are also available through the archives office.
Note: Family court records for Lancaster residents including divorce, custody, and support cases go through the Lancaster County Family Division at the courthouse at 50 North Duke Street and are accessible through the UJS Portal or in person.
Accessing Lancaster Court Records
Lancaster court records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101) and the Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. Most docket information is free and available through the UJS Portal. Full case files, certified copies, and restricted records require an in-person visit to the Lancaster County Courthouse or a written request. Sealed records, juvenile records, and expunged cases are not publicly accessible.
Lancaster County also has an active e-filing system for certain case types. Check the county website at lancastercountypa.gov for guidance on which case types support electronic filing and how to access electronic records through the county's online tools. Electronic filing local rules for Lancaster County are also available on the county courts website. These rules govern how attorneys and parties submit documents electronically in Lancaster court cases.
Lancaster County Court Records
Lancaster is the county seat of Lancaster County, and all Lancaster city court cases go through the Lancaster County court system. For more on county court offices, related records, archives, and additional Lancaster 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.