Search Adams County Court Records
Adams County court records are maintained by the Court of Common Pleas at the historic Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg. The county is home to multiple court divisions serving residents across its townships and boroughs. You can search for Adams County court records online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal or in person at the courthouse on Baltimore Street. Both criminal and civil case records are open for public review under state law. This guide explains how to find and access the records you need.
Adams County Quick Facts
Adams County Court of Common Pleas
The Adams County Court of Common Pleas is part of Pennsylvania's 1st Judicial District. The courthouse sits at 111-117 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg. This court handles the most serious cases in the county, including felony crimes, major civil disputes, divorce, and estate matters. Four divisions operate within the court: Criminal, Civil, Family Court, and Orphans' Court. Each division has its own staff and filing procedures.
The Prothonotary serves as the clerk of the Civil Division. This office files and stores all civil court documents, including divorce records, custody orders, judgments, and liens. The Prothonotary also accepts name change petitions and passport applications. Public terminals in the office allow you to search civil case dockets at no cost. Staff can help you find records but cannot give legal advice. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies, and certified copies carry an additional fee set by state law.
The Clerk of Courts office handles all criminal case records in Adams County. The office is also at 111-117 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg. Staff maintains records for every felony and misdemeanor case filed in the Court of Common Pleas. Public access computers are available for searching criminal records. The office also keeps ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) case records for first-time offenders who complete a diversion program. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Court |
Adams County Court of Common Pleas 111-117 Baltimore Street Gettysburg, PA 17325 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | adamscounty.us/Departments/Courts |
How to Search Adams County Court Records
The fastest way to search Adams County court records is through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. This free tool lets you look up criminal dockets, traffic cases, and MDJ records by name, docket number, OTN, or citation number. Docket sheets show the court name, the judge assigned, documents filed, and hearing dates. You do not need to create an account to search basic case information. Results appear right away for most cases.
To search civil records in Adams County, visit the Prothonotary's office at the courthouse in Gettysburg. Public terminals there let you search by party name or case number. You can view docket entries at no charge. Getting copies of actual documents costs $0.50 per page. For older cases or records not yet in any online system, an in-person visit is the most reliable option. Bring valid photo ID and the full name of the party or a case number if you have one.
You can also submit written requests by mail to the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts offices. Include the full name of the person, the approximate year of the case, and the type of matter you are looking for. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Staff will search available records and respond. For certified copies, include payment according to the fee schedule, or call ahead to confirm the current amount before sending your request.
Note: The public access computers at the Adams County Clerk of Courts office are available during regular business hours for searching criminal records at no cost.
Types of Court Records in Adams County
Adams County court records fall into four main categories based on the division of the Court of Common Pleas that handled the case. Each type of record is kept by a different office and may have different access rules. Knowing which type you need helps you go to the right place and ask the right questions.
Criminal records cover felony and misdemeanor cases prosecuted in Adams County. These include charges, arraignment information, bail decisions, motions, trial results, and sentencing orders. Juvenile records are also criminal in nature but are sealed and not available to the public under state law. Civil records include personal injury suits, contract disputes, property cases, and appeals from lower courts. Family court records cover divorce, custody, and support matters. Orphans' Court records deal with estates, wills, guardianships, and adoption proceedings. Adoption records are sealed and not open for public inspection.
Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, most court records are public documents. The Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 governs what appears online. Some sensitive information is redacted from public dockets, including Social Security numbers and account numbers. The full case file with all documents is held at the courthouse.
Adams County Criminal Court Records
The Adams County Clerk of Courts maintains all criminal case records at the Common Pleas level. Every felony and misdemeanor case that moves past the Magisterial District Court stage ends up in this office. The docket for each case shows every step from charging through final disposition, including bail decisions, motions filed by the prosecution and defense, trial dates, and the outcome. You can view criminal dockets on the UJS Portal for free.
Magisterial District Courts serve Adams County for lower-level matters. These courts handle summary offenses, traffic tickets, and preliminary hearings for felony and misdemeanor charges. They also handle civil claims up to $12,000. MDJ dockets are searchable on the UJS Portal alongside Common Pleas records. If a case from an MDJ is appealed or sent up to Common Pleas, a new docket is created in the higher court while the MDJ record remains in the lower court system.
ARD records in Adams County are kept by the Clerk of Courts. The ARD program allows first-time, non-violent offenders to complete requirements and have charges dismissed. Successful completion may allow the person to seek expungement under Pennsylvania law. Expungement forms are available through the Clerk of Courts office. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, the Criminal History Record Information Act governs the collection and use of criminal records across the state.
Note: The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides official Pennsylvania criminal history reports for $22, which includes statewide records beyond a single county search.
Adams County Civil Court Records
The Adams County Prothonotary keeps all civil court records for the Court of Common Pleas. The office is reachable through adamscounty.us/Departments/Prothonotary. Civil cases include contract disputes, personal injury claims, property matters, and appeals from district courts. Each case receives a docket number when filed, and all subsequent filings are added to that docket. Judgments are recorded and indexed so creditors can search for liens against a debtor's property.
Divorce records are filed with the Prothonotary in Adams County. The civil docket for a divorce case will show the parties, filing date, motions, orders, and the final decree. Custody orders and support agreements are also part of the family court record managed by the Prothonotary. Name change petitions go through this office as well. These cases follow the rules in Title 231 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.
The Prothonotary also handles naturalization records from historical periods. These older records are preserved in the office archives. Passport application processing is available at the Prothonotary during regular business hours. Appeals from Magisterial District Courts in civil matters are filed here and assigned new Common Pleas docket numbers. Civil filing fees are set by state statute and collected by this office.
Public Access to Adams County Court Records
Most Adams County court records are open to the public. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 gives every person the right to request government records. Court records are generally treated as public under this law and under the court's own public access policies. You do not have to be a party to a case to view or request records. You do not need to explain why you want the records.
Some records are restricted or sealed by law. Juvenile records are confidential. Adoption records are sealed. Certain parts of family court files may be sealed by order of the judge. Victim contact information may be redacted from public copies. Mental health records in court files are protected. The full case file at the courthouse may contain sealed exhibits or documents not shown in the online docket.
The Register of Wills at adamscounty.us/Departments/Register-of-Wills handles Orphans' Court matters in Adams County. Estate dockets can be searched by decedent name or case number. Guardianship dockets are also available for public review. Online access to some Orphans' Court records requires registration. Adoptions, termination of parental rights cases, and incapacitation records are not available online due to confidentiality requirements.
Adams County Orphans Court and Estate Records
The Register of Wills in Adams County serves as the Clerk of the Orphans' Court Division. This office probates wills, issues letters testamentary and letters of administration, processes guardianship petitions, and collects inheritance tax on behalf of the Commonwealth. Marriage licenses are also issued by this office with the proper identification and fees. Historical wills dating back to the county's formation in 1800 are preserved in the archive.
Estate dockets can be searched online by decedent name or case number through the county's online records system. Registration is required for full access to the search tool, but the search itself is free. Estate inventories list the assets of the deceased. Final accountings show how the estate was distributed. The court reviews and approves these accountings before closing an estate. Guardianship records for both minors and incapacitated adults are also maintained and open to public review.
Note: Inheritance tax returns filed through the Adams County Register of Wills are processed as an agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue under state law.
Nearby Counties
Adams County borders several Pennsylvania counties. If you are unsure which county court holds the records you need, check where the case was filed or where the parties lived at the time.