Philadelphia Court Records Search
Philadelphia court records cover criminal, civil, traffic, and family cases filed within the city. Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county and the largest city in Pennsylvania, home to about 1.6 million people. All court records for the city flow through the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and the Philadelphia Municipal Court, both part of the First Judicial District. The Office of Judicial Records maintains case files and handles requests for copies. You can search many Philadelphia court records online through the UJS Portal or through the court's own systems at courts.phila.gov.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
Where to Find Philadelphia Court Records
Most Philadelphia court records come from two main court systems. The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas handles felony criminal cases, major civil suits, family law, and probate. The Philadelphia Municipal Court handles misdemeanors, summary offenses, small civil claims up to $12,000, and traffic violations. Both courts are part of the First Judicial District and maintain records at different locations within the city.
| Court | Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address | 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
| Phone | (215) 686-7000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | courts.phila.gov |
The Philadelphia Municipal Court is located at the Stout Center for Criminal Justice at 1301 Filbert Street. Twenty-seven law-trained judges preside over that court's cases. For traffic matters in Philadelphia, the Traffic Division operates at 800 Spring Garden Street. You can reach the Traffic Division at 215-686-1676. Records from all three courts are searchable through the UJS Portal or in person at the court offices.
How to Search Philadelphia Court Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal is the main online tool for searching Philadelphia court records. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us to search by name, docket number, OTN, or citation number. The portal is free to use and covers criminal cases from the Court of Common Pleas and Philadelphia Municipal Court. It returns docket sheets showing parties, charges, hearing dates, and case status. You do not need an account to search.
For civil and landlord-tenant cases in Philadelphia, the Municipal Court operates its own electronic filing system called CLAIMS. Visit fjdclaims.phila.gov to search by case number, plaintiff name, or defendant name. The system covers criminal, civil, landlord-tenant, and code enforcement cases filed in Philadelphia Municipal Court. It is open to the public at no charge.
In-person searches at the Office of Judicial Records let you view full case files and order certified copies. Call ahead to confirm what you need to bring. Staff can look up records by name or docket number and make copies from the file during your visit.
The Philadelphia court system at courts.phila.gov also provides direct access to calendars and case search tools for cases within the First Judicial District. This system gives quick access to court calendars and Philadelphia case information separate from the statewide UJS Portal.
Note: The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides official criminal history records for $22 per person and covers statewide records, not just Philadelphia.
Types of Cases and Court Records in Philadelphia
Philadelphia court records cover a wide range of case types. Each type goes through a different division, and the records are kept and accessed in different ways. Knowing which court handles your case type helps you find records faster. Philadelphia is unique in Pennsylvania because it has both a Court of Common Pleas and a separate Municipal Court with its own judges and divisions.
Criminal cases start in the Philadelphia Municipal Court for misdemeanors and summary offenses. Felony cases receive preliminary hearings there and then move to the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division. Civil cases under $12,000 stay in Municipal Court, while larger suits go to Common Pleas. Family matters including divorce, custody, and support go to the Family Division of Common Pleas. Estate and probate matters go to Orphans' Court.
Traffic violations in Philadelphia are handled by the Municipal Court Traffic Division. This division was created in 2013 when the former Philadelphia Traffic Court was abolished. The Traffic Division does not handle DUIs, red-light camera tickets, or parking tickets. Parking is handled by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. All other motor vehicle code violations go through the Traffic Division at 800 Spring Garden Street.
Philadelphia Criminal Court Records
Criminal records in Philadelphia come from two courts. The Municipal Court Criminal Division processes all arrests in Philadelphia County. It handles summary offenses and misdemeanor trials. Felony cases receive preliminary hearings at Municipal Court and then move to the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division for trial. Both courts generate records that are searchable through the UJS Portal.
The Philadelphia Municipal Court criminal dockets show charges, hearing dates, bail information, and case outcomes. After a felony case moves to Common Pleas, a new docket is created there. Both dockets remain available on the UJS Portal under different case numbers. When searching for Philadelphia criminal court records, you may need to check both the Municipal Court and Common Pleas dockets to get the full picture of a case.
The Philadelphia Police Department at phila.gov/police maintains incident reports, accident reports, and police clearances. These are not court records but may be part of a broader background search. Requests go through the Right-to-Know Law process under 65 P.S. § 67.101.
Philadelphia Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Philadelphia are split between two courts based on the amount in dispute. The Philadelphia Municipal Court handles civil claims up to $12,000, including small claims, code enforcement matters, and landlord-tenant disputes. The Court of Common Pleas Civil Division handles larger lawsuits, complex litigation, mortgage foreclosures, and equity actions.
The Prothonotary in Philadelphia maintains civil records for the Court of Common Pleas. This office receives all civil filings and keeps the official docket. You can search civil case dockets through the UJS Portal or by visiting the Prothonotary in person. For Municipal Court civil and landlord-tenant records, use the CLAIMS system at fjdclaims.phila.gov. Copies of filed documents cost a per-page fee payable at the clerk's office.
Note: Family court records in Philadelphia including divorce, custody, and support cases are filed with the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas and are accessible through the UJS Portal.
Accessing Philadelphia Court Records
Philadelphia court records are largely public under Pennsylvania law. The Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 governs what can be viewed online and what requires an in-person visit. Most criminal and civil docket information is available free online. Full document images may require a trip to the clerk's office.
Some records are restricted or sealed in Philadelphia. Juvenile records are not public. Certain domestic violence records have limited access. Expunged records are removed from public view. If you are searching for a record that does not appear online, it may be sealed, expunged, or filed under a different spelling of the name.
The Philadelphia court system image below shows the Municipal Court electronic filing system (CLAIMS), which is one of the main access points for court records in the city.
The CLAIMS system covers landlord-tenant, small claims, criminal, and code enforcement cases filed in Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Certified copies of court records cost more than plain copies. Costs vary by document type and the number of pages. Call the Office of Judicial Records at (215) 686-7000 to ask about current copy fees before your visit.
Philadelphia Traffic Court Records
The Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division handles motor vehicle code violations for the city. The Traffic Division was established by Act 17 of 2013 after the old Philadelphia Traffic Court was abolished. The division is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with extended evening hours also available. You can reach them at 215-686-1676 or by email at tcsupport@courts.phila.gov.
Services at the Traffic Division include paying traffic tickets, responding to citations, scheduling hearings, and appealing convictions. Appeals cost $35.00 per incident. If you do not respond to a citation within 10 days, a $25.00 late fee is added. The Traffic Division also operates an Impoundment Court for vehicle releases. Payment plans are available, including via Zoom for remote hearings.
Traffic records from the Traffic Division are searchable through the UJS Portal along with other Philadelphia court records.
Note: Parking tickets in Philadelphia are not handled by the Traffic Division. Contact the Philadelphia Parking Authority separately for parking citation records and payments.
Philadelphia County Court Records
Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, meaning the city and county share the same boundaries and government. All court filings for city residents go through Philadelphia County courts. For more on the county court system, related court offices, and additional resources, visit the Philadelphia County court records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities file court cases at their own county courthouse. Pick a city below to learn about court records in that area.