Delaware County Court Records and Case Search
Delaware County court records are maintained at the historic Media Courthouse in Media, Pennsylvania, the county seat. The county is part of the 32nd Judicial District and operates under President Judge Linda A. Cartisano. The Court of Common Pleas handles criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court matters for all residents of Delaware County. You can search court records online for free using the statewide UJS Portal, or visit the Government Center in Media to obtain documents and certified copies in person.
Delaware County Quick Facts
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas
The Delaware County Court of Common Pleas is one of the busiest in the Philadelphia region. It operates 12 departments under a budget of approximately $58 million. The court serves all residents of Delaware County from the historic Media Courthouse, which has been the center of county justice for generations. President Judge Linda A. Cartisano leads the court system.
The Clerk of Courts in Delaware County maintains all criminal court records for Common Pleas cases. Criminal filings, dockets, bail records, and appeals are all processed here. The office is located at the Media Courthouse and is open during regular business hours Monday through Friday. All criminal dockets are public unless a judge has ordered them sealed.
The Prothonotary handles civil court records in Delaware County. This includes all civil complaints, family law filings, divorce proceedings, custody cases, judgments, and liens. Protection from Abuse orders are also filed and tracked through the Prothonotary. The office serves as the civil clerk for the Court of Common Pleas and maintains the official index of civil cases in Delaware County.
The Delaware County courts website at delcopa.gov provides access to court schedules, department contacts, and information about how to request court records in Media, PA.
The court administration office manages jury services, case management, and courtroom technology for all Delaware County court proceedings.
| Court |
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Government Center Media, PA 19063 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Website | delcopa.gov/courts |
How to Search Delaware County Court Records
Start your search for Delaware County court records online at the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us to search free of charge. The portal accepts searches by party name, docket number, OTN, citation number, or incident number. It covers all courts in the county, from the Court of Common Pleas down to the Magisterial District Courts. Each search returns a docket sheet with the case number, parties, attorneys, judges, hearing dates, and a log of filed documents.
For actual court documents in Delaware County, you need to contact the right office at the Media Courthouse. Criminal documents are at the Clerk of Courts. Civil and family documents are at the Prothonotary. Probate and estate records are at the Register of Wills. All offices are located at the Government Center in Media, PA. You can also submit a public records request under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. section 67.101, for most types of court records.
The Delaware County court uses a Confidential Information Form to protect sensitive details in public filings. Filers must use this form instead of including Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, or information about minors in the main case file. This policy protects certain information while keeping the rest of the case record open to the public.
Note: Online access through the UJS Portal shows docket sheet information only. Copies of full documents must be requested in person or in writing from the Clerk of Courts or Prothonotary in Delaware County.
Types of Court Records in Delaware County
Delaware County court records cover every type of case the Court of Common Pleas handles. Criminal records include felony and misdemeanor cases from first filing through final sentencing. Civil records include contract suits, personal injury cases, real estate disputes, and appeals from MDJ courts. Family court records cover divorce, custody, and support cases. Orphans' court records cover wills, probate, and guardianship proceedings.
Jury service records are also maintained by the court administration in Delaware County. Naturalization Court holds four programs each year at the Media Courthouse. These ceremonies are public events, and naturalization records become part of the court archive. The court also coordinates records management across all 12 departments to ensure that documents are preserved and accessible over time.
Delaware County Criminal Court Records
The Clerk of Courts in Delaware County is the official keeper of all criminal records at the Court of Common Pleas level. This covers every felony and serious misdemeanor case in the county. The office processes new criminal filings, tracks bail and bond records, dockets motions and orders, and handles appeals to the Superior Court. All criminal case dockets are searchable through the UJS Portal at no cost.
Criminal cases in Delaware County start at the Magisterial District Court level. A preliminary hearing determines whether there is enough evidence to send the case to the Court of Common Pleas. MDJ records are also on the UJS Portal. If a case is held for court, the Clerk of Courts creates a new Common Pleas docket in Delaware County. The full chain of proceedings is visible across both levels of the portal.
For a certified criminal history in Pennsylvania, use the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov. The fee is $22 per search. PATCH is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and produces an official record under the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. section 9101. The county courthouse provides case-level records, not the same type of official report as PATCH.
Delaware County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Delaware County are maintained by the Prothonotary at the Media Courthouse. The Prothonotary is the civil clerk for the Court of Common Pleas and keeps the official index of all civil cases filed in the county. This index covers complaints, judgments, liens, protection orders, and appeals from lower courts. Anyone can search the civil index by party name or case number.
Divorce proceedings in Delaware County begin with a complaint filed at the Prothonotary's office. The case file grows as documents are added, including responses, custody or support filings, settlement agreements, and the final divorce decree. The decree is the official court order that ends a marriage in Delaware County. Certified copies can be obtained from the Prothonotary for a fee.
The Register of Wills in Delaware County maintains probate records, wills, estate accounts, and marriage licenses. Probate records are open to the public and can be searched at the courthouse. Historical estate records preserved at the courthouse are useful for genealogy research in Delaware County. Marriage licenses issued in the county are also part of this office's public record set.
Court Record Access in Delaware County
Pennsylvania law makes most court records in Delaware County open to the public. The Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. section 67.101, gives anyone the right to request access to public records held by government offices, including courts. You do not need to be a party to a case to view most records. Some records are exempt, such as juvenile case files, sealed orders, and documents covered by court-ordered restrictions.
The Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code section 213.81 sets specific rules for online access to court records in Delaware County. This policy determines which records can be viewed through the UJS Portal and which require an in-person visit. Docket sheets are available online for free. Full document images may or may not be available depending on the case type and the court that handled it.
Records management in Delaware County is handled across the court's 12 departments. The court administration office coordinates records retention, disposition schedules, and access policies for all departments. If you have trouble finding a specific record, the court administrator's office is a good starting point to learn which department holds the file you need in Delaware County.
Cities in Delaware County
Delaware County includes many municipalities, from the county seat of Media to larger communities like Upper Darby. Court records for all municipalities in Delaware County are filed at the Media Courthouse. The Court of Common Pleas serves the entire county from one location.
All Delaware County court cases, regardless of which municipality they involve, are filed and maintained at the Court of Common Pleas in Media, Pennsylvania.
Nearby Counties
Delaware County sits just west of Philadelphia and borders several other counties. Court records for each county are held separately. Check the county where the case was filed if you are not sure where to search.