Cumberland County Court Records Search
Cumberland County court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts and the Prothonotary at the Judicial Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The county is part of the 9th Judicial District and handles criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court cases. Both offices maintain public records going back more than 30 years. You can search court records in person at the courthouse, or start your search online using the state's free case portal. This guide explains how to find Cumberland County court records and what to expect when you do.
Cumberland County Quick Facts
Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas
The Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas sits at the Judicial Center in Carlisle. It serves as the main trial court for the county and handles all major cases. The court is organized into four main divisions: Criminal, Civil, Family Court, and Orphans' Court. Each division has its own filing office and staff.
The Clerk of Courts manages all criminal court records for Cumberland County. This office keeps dockets, case files, motions, and orders for every criminal case that comes before the Court of Common Pleas. Staff can help you look up cases using public computers at the courthouse. The office has records going back more than 30 years, with computer docket entries available from 1993 forward. For records before 1993, bound docket books are kept on site. The Clerk of Courts is located at 1 Courthouse Square, Carlisle, PA 17013.
The Prothonotary handles all civil court records in Cumberland County. This includes divorce proceedings, custody matters, judgments, liens, and Protection from Abuse orders. The office also holds naturalization records dating from 1798 to 1942. Online payment is available for copy bills, PFA costs, and divorce decree requests, which makes it easier to get records without visiting in person.
Visit cumberlandcountypa.gov/courts to find court schedules, local rules, and contact information for every division of the Cumberland County court system.
The court also runs several special programs. These include a Regional Drug Court, Custody Conciliation, Divorce Hearing Officer services, and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Each of these programs creates records that become part of the larger case file in Cumberland County.
The image above shows the Cumberland County courts website, which lists all court divisions and links to each office that handles court records in the county.
| Court |
Cumberland County Judicial Center Court of Common Pleas 1 Courthouse Square Carlisle, PA 17013 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | cumberlandcountypa.gov/courts |
How to Search Cumberland County Court Records
You have two main options when looking for court records in Cumberland County. You can search online for free using the state portal, or you can visit the courthouse in Carlisle to look at records in person. Online searches give you basic case information quickly. In-person visits let you review full case files and request paper or certified copies.
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal lets you search court records from every county, including Cumberland. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us to search by name, docket number, OTN, citation number, or incident number. The search is free and shows docket sheets with the court name, judge assigned, case status, hearing dates, and a list of filed documents. To get the actual documents, you need to contact the Clerk of Courts or Prothonotary directly.
To search in person at the Cumberland County courthouse:
- Go to 1 Courthouse Square in Carlisle during business hours
- Use one of the two public computers at the Clerk of Courts office
- Ask staff to pull the actual case file if you need to review documents
- Request copies or printouts for a fee
- Bring a valid ID and the name or case number you are searching
Note: The Clerk of Courts in Cumberland County does not provide certified criminal record checks. For an official criminal history report, contact the Pennsylvania State Police through the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov for a $22 fee.
Types of Court Records in Cumberland County
Cumberland County maintains many types of court records across its different divisions. Understanding which office holds the record you need saves time. Criminal records are at the Clerk of Courts. Civil records, including divorce, are at the Prothonotary. Probate and estate records are at the Register of Wills, which also has records from 1978 to present.
Docket sheets are the starting point for any court record search. A docket sheet for a Cumberland County case shows the court name, case number, judge, parties, attorneys, dates, and a list of every document filed. The docket itself is available for free on the UJS Portal. The underlying documents, such as motions, orders, and transcripts, are held at the courthouse and require a visit or a records request to obtain.
Confidential filing rules protect certain information in Cumberland County court records. Effective January 6, 2018, court filings must not include Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, state ID numbers, the names and dates of birth of minors, or contact information for victims of abuse. These items must be submitted on a separate Confidential Information Form that is not available in the public file.
Cumberland County Criminal Court Records
The Clerk of Courts in Cumberland County is the official keeper of all criminal case records at the Common Pleas level. This covers felony cases, serious misdemeanors, and appeals from Magisterial District Courts. The office processes expungement petitions and Limited Access petitions, which can restrict public access to certain criminal records after a case is resolved.
Criminal dockets for Cumberland County cases are searchable on the UJS Portal. Each docket shows charges, court dates, motions filed, verdicts, and sentences. Arrest records and summary offense records from Magisterial District Courts are also searchable through the same portal. MDJ courts in Cumberland County handle preliminary hearings, summary offenses, traffic violations, and small civil claims up to $12,000.
The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. section 9101, governs how criminal records are used and shared in Pennsylvania. This law sets rules for who can access records and how they must be handled. Cumberland County court records follow these rules. For an official certified criminal history, use the PATCH system run by the Pennsylvania State Police rather than the county courthouse.
Note: Summary appeal forms are available through the Clerk of Courts for those who want to challenge a Magisterial District Judge decision in Cumberland County.
Cumberland County Civil Court Records
The Prothonotary in Cumberland County keeps all civil court records for the Court of Common Pleas. Civil cases include contract disputes, personal injury suits, landlord-tenant appeals, and property matters. The office also handles all family law filings, including divorce, custody, and support cases. Judgments and liens are indexed so creditors and title searchers can find them.
Divorce records in Cumberland County are part of the civil docket. The Prothonotary maintains the full case file, which includes the complaint, any responses, support agreements, and the final divorce decree. The office accepts online payment for copy bills and divorce decree requests, which means you may be able to get basic records without a courthouse visit. For certified copies of a divorce decree, contact the Prothonotary directly.
Protection from Abuse orders are also filed with the Prothonotary. These records are part of the public docket but contain some information that is protected under the confidential filing rules. District magistrate appeals, where someone challenges a decision from an MDJ court, are also processed by the Prothonotary in Cumberland County.
Court Record Access in Cumberland County
Most court records in Cumberland County are open to the public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. section 67.101. You do not need to be a party to a case to view or request records. The main limits on access involve juvenile records, sealed cases, and the confidential information described above.
The Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy, found at 204 Pa. Code section 213.81, sets the rules for which case records can be viewed online and which require an in-person visit. Some documents are available through the UJS Portal as electronic docket sheets. Others are only in paper form at the courthouse. The policy applies to all courts in Cumberland County, including MDJ courts.
Transcript requests are processed through the Court Administrator's office in Cumberland County. If you need a transcript of a hearing or trial, contact the court administrator to find out the current fee and estimated turnaround time. The Court Administrator also handles ADA and language access requests for those who need accommodations when appearing in court.
Note: Video conferencing protocols are in place for Cumberland County court proceedings, and the court administrator can provide details on how to participate in a remote hearing.
Cumberland County Register of Wills and Probate Records
The Register of Wills in Cumberland County manages probate proceedings, estate administration, guardianships, and marriage licenses. The office has searchable records from 1978 to the present. If you need older probate records, the courthouse may have historical files available on request.
Probate records become public court records once an estate is opened. They include the will, the petition for probate, the inventory of assets, and the final accounting. These records are useful for genealogy research and for anyone who may have a claim on an estate. The Register of Wills also holds naturalization records in coordination with the Prothonotary, covering the county's historical immigration history from 1798 to 1942.
The office offers virtual probate services, which allows some estate matters to be handled without an in-person visit to the Cumberland County courthouse. Fee schedules and forms are available on the county website. Marriage licenses issued in Cumberland County are also kept by the Register of Wills and are part of the public record.
Nearby Counties
Cumberland County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. Each county maintains its own court records. If the case you are looking for was filed in a different county, you will need to contact that county's clerk or prothonotary directly.