Bucks County Court Records Search
Bucks County court records are maintained by the Court of Common Pleas at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown. Bucks County is part of Pennsylvania's 7th Judicial District and one of the most populous counties in the state. Searching Bucks County court records is available online 24 hours a day through the county's e-filing and web viewer system and through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. This guide explains how to find criminal, civil, family, and estate records in Bucks County and what each office provides.
Bucks County Quick Facts
Bucks County Court of Common Pleas
The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas is located at the Bucks County Justice Center, 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Phone: 215-348-6000. The historic Bucks County Courthouse is at 55 E Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Court schedules, local rules, and forms are all available online. The court includes Criminal, Civil, Family, and Orphans' Court divisions. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Clerk of Courts is Eileen Hartnett Albillar. The office is at 100 N. Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Phone: 215-348-6389. This office handles all criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas. Functions include processing motions and petitions, bail processing, receiving fine and fee payments, issuing private detective licenses, and transmitting appeals to state appellate courts. The Clerk serves as the criminal court records custodian for all cases beyond the MDJ level.
The Prothonotary is Coleen Christian. The main office is at the Bucks County Justice Center, 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. Phone: 215-348-6191. Family Division phone: 215-348-6822. The Prothonotary also operates a Levittown Office at 7325 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19055. A Quakertown Office at 261 California Road, Quakertown, PA 18951 is open Wednesdays only. Office hours for the Doylestown main office are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM.
| Justice Center |
100 North Main Street Doylestown, PA 18901 Main: 215-348-6000 Clerk of Courts: 215-348-6389 Prothonotary: 215-348-6191 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | buckscountycourt.org |
How to Search Bucks County Court Records
Bucks County offers one of the most accessible online court record systems in Pennsylvania. The Prothonotary Portal for civil matters is available 24 hours a day at the Bucks County online case search system. Search by case number, party name, filing date, or case type. Results show case number, case type, filing date, parties involved, and status such as open, closed, or disposed. For criminal and traffic records, use the state UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us.
The Bucks County E-Filing and Web Viewer system provides 24/7 public access to civil case records. Registration is required for e-filing privileges. Attorneys and self-represented litigants can both file pleadings online through the electronic system. Case documents can be viewed online with proper credentials. Online viewing fees apply for document images beyond the docket sheet. Case numbers use the XXXX-XXXXX format without the 09 prefix. Right-to-Know requests for records not available online can be submitted to the Agency Open Records Officer, Douglas M. Wayne, Esq., at 55 E. Court Street, 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901, phone 215-348-6265.
Criminal court records in Bucks County include arrest reports and police filings, case dockets and hearing schedules, motions, rulings, and sentencing information, and appeals with related judicial decisions. Civil court records include complaints, petitions and responses, docket sheets showing hearing dates and rulings, judgments, settlements, and court orders. Family court records include divorce petitions, custody agreements, and child and spousal support orders.
Note: Sensitive Orphans' Court records in Bucks County may require a judicial order to access, even for parties who would otherwise have a right to review them.
Types of Court Records in Bucks County
Bucks County court records cover all four divisions of the Court of Common Pleas. The Criminal Division processes felony and misdemeanor prosecutions. The Civil Division handles contract disputes, tort claims, and property matters. The Family Division processes divorce, custody, support, and Protection from Abuse orders. The Orphans' Court manages estates, wills, guardianships, and adoptions. Documents filed in each division include complaints, writ of summons, divorce petitions, custody filings, and judgments, all accessible through the county's online portal.
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is Linda Bobrin, Esq. The office is at 55 E Court Street, 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901. Phone: 215-348-6265. This office probates wills, manages Orphans' Court proceedings, issues marriage licenses, reviews estate inventories and accountings, processes guardianship petitions, and collects inheritance taxes on behalf of the Commonwealth. Adoption records are sealed and confidential. This office also serves as the Agency Open Records Officer for Right-to-Know requests in Bucks County.
Bucks County Criminal Court Records
The Bucks County Clerk of Courts at 215-348-6389 maintains all criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas. Each case gets a docket from the moment it is certified up from a Magisterial District Court. The docket tracks every filing: charging papers, bail decisions, motions, hearing dates, verdicts, and sentencing orders. All motions and petitions in open cases are filed through this office. Bail processing is coordinated here. Payment of fines and fees is received and receipted by the office.
Bucks County Magisterial District Courts handle summary offenses, traffic citations, preliminary hearings, and small civil claims up to $12,000. All MDJ dockets are searchable on the UJS Portal at no charge. Once a case moves to Common Pleas, the Clerk of Courts opens a new docket. Bucks County also operates specialized courts. Veterans Court provides treatment for veterans with mental health or substance abuse issues and has a minimum program length of 15 months. Drug Court requires at least 12 months of participation. Records may be expunged upon successful completion of Veterans Court.
For a statewide criminal history report, use PATCH at epatch.pa.gov for $22. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, the Criminal History Record Information Act governs how Pennsylvania criminal records are collected, maintained, and shared. PATCH reports reflect statewide data from all 67 counties, not just Bucks County.
Bucks County Civil Court Records
The Bucks County Prothonotary at buckscounty.gov/361/Prothonotary serves as the Clerk of the Civil Division. The office processes complaints, writs of summons, divorce filings, custody petitions, and judgments. The E-Filing system allows 24/7 online filing for registered attorneys and public access to civil dockets at any time. The Levittown branch office at 7325 New Falls Road serves residents in the lower Bucks County area. The Quakertown office at 261 California Road is open on Wednesdays for residents in upper Bucks County.
Divorce and custody records in Bucks County are filed with the Prothonotary's Family Division. Phone: 215-348-6822. These records include divorce petitions and decrees, custody and visitation agreements, child and spousal support orders, mediation reports, and judicial decisions. Under Title 231 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, all civil proceedings in Bucks County follow state procedural rules along with any local court rules adopted by the 7th Judicial District. Protection from Abuse orders are also maintained in the family court record system.
Public Access to Bucks County Court Records
Bucks County court records are public under 65 P.S. § 67.101, the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Free online access is available for basic docket entries. Print capabilities allow records to be saved for personal use. Certified copies are available from the Clerk of Courts or Prothonotary upon request. In-person visits to the courthouse are the only option for sealed or otherwise unavailable records. No reason is needed to request public court records in Bucks County.
Some records are not public. Sealed Orphans' Court records may require a court order to access. Juvenile records are restricted by state law. Adoption files are confidential. Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, the Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy limits what personal data appears in online dockets. Social Security numbers and financial account information are redacted from public-facing records. The full case file at the courthouse may include sealed exhibits or restricted documents not visible online.
Note: Right-to-Know Law requests for Bucks County court records that are not available through the online portal can be directed to the Agency Open Records Officer at 55 E. Court Street, 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901, or by calling 215-348-6265.
Cities in Bucks County
Bucks County includes several large communities. Court records for residents of Bensalem and Levittown are filed at the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. The Prothonotary's Levittown branch office at 7325 New Falls Road serves lower Bucks County residents directly.
Nearby Counties
Bucks County borders several eastern Pennsylvania counties. If you are not sure which county holds the records you need, check the county where the parties lived or where the case was filed.