Fayette County Court Records in Uniontown
Fayette County court records are kept at the courthouse in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, the county seat. Located in southwestern Pennsylvania, Fayette County is part of the 10th Judicial District. The Court of Common Pleas handles criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court matters for all residents of the county. The Clerk of Courts maintains criminal records and the Prothonotary maintains civil records. You can search Fayette County court records online for free using the Pennsylvania UJS Portal, or visit the courthouse at 61 East Main Street in Uniontown during regular business hours.
Fayette County Quick Facts
Fayette County Court of Common Pleas
The Fayette County Court of Common Pleas is located at the Fayette County Courthouse, 61 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401. The court serves as the main trial court for the county and handles all cases above the Magisterial District Court level. It operates four divisions: Criminal, Civil, Family Court, and Orphans' Court. Each division maintains its own set of records.
The Clerk of Courts in Fayette County is responsible for all criminal court records at the Common Pleas level. This office keeps dockets, case files, bail records, and criminal appeal paperwork for every felony and serious misdemeanor case in the county. Staff at the Clerk of Courts office can search records by name or case number. All criminal records are public unless a judge has ordered them sealed.
The Prothonotary in Fayette County handles all civil court records. This includes divorce proceedings, custody matters, civil judgment records, and lien filings. The Prothonotary serves as the civil clerk for the Court of Common Pleas and keeps the official index of all civil cases in Fayette County. Records can be searched by party name at the courthouse in Uniontown.
The Fayette County government website at fayettecountypa.org provides information on all court offices, department hours, and how to access court records in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
| Court |
Fayette County Court of Common Pleas 61 E Main Street Uniontown, PA 15401 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Website | fayettecountypa.org |
How to Search Fayette County Court Records
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the best place to start when looking for Fayette County court records. The portal is free to use and open to anyone. You can search by name, docket number, OTN, citation number, or incident number. The results include a docket sheet showing the court name, the assigned judge, the case status, all hearing dates, and a list of every document filed in the case. This covers both the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts in Fayette County.
Docket sheets from the UJS Portal give you a clear summary of any Fayette County case, but they do not include the actual text of documents like motions, briefs, or transcripts. To get those, you need to contact the right office at the Fayette County Courthouse. Criminal documents go through the Clerk of Courts. Civil and family documents go through the Prothonotary. Bring a name or case number with you when you visit the courthouse in Uniontown.
For an official certified criminal history in Pennsylvania, use PATCH at epatch.pa.gov. PATCH is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and costs $22 per search. This is the official source for criminal history under the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. section 9101. The Fayette County courthouse provides case-level records for proceedings in the county, which is different from a statewide certified history report.
Note: In-person visits to the Fayette County Courthouse are your best option when you need to review actual documents or get certified copies of court orders and decrees.
Types of Court Records in Fayette County
Fayette County court records include documents from every division of the Court of Common Pleas. Criminal case records include the charging documents, preliminary hearing minutes, motions and responses, plea agreements, trial records, and sentencing orders. Civil case records include complaints, judgments, liens, and protection orders. Family Court records cover divorce filings, custody agreements, and support orders. Orphans' Court records include wills, probate petitions, estate inventories, and guardianship orders.
Probate records in Fayette County are maintained by the Register of Wills at the courthouse in Uniontown. These records are open to the public. Wills and estate records are useful for heirs, attorneys, and researchers. Marriage licenses issued in Fayette County are also a public record kept by the Register of Wills. Real estate records, including deeds for Fayette County properties, are recorded at a separate county office and indexed for public search.
Magisterial District Court records in Fayette County cover summary offenses, traffic violations, preliminary hearings, and small civil claims. MDJ records are part of the UJS Portal and can be searched by name or docket number. If a party appeals a MDJ decision, the case moves to the Common Pleas level and a new docket is created in Fayette County. The full record chain is visible across both court levels on the portal.
Fayette County Criminal Court Records
The Clerk of Courts in Fayette County keeps all criminal court records for the Court of Common Pleas. Every felony and serious misdemeanor case handled in the county becomes a permanent part of this record. Charges, motions, plea records, verdicts, and sentences are all docketed and stored. Appeals from Magisterial District Court decisions are also processed by the Clerk in Fayette County.
Criminal dockets for Fayette County cases are freely searchable on the UJS Portal. Each docket shows the charges, the name of the assigned judge, bail conditions, court dates, and the outcome of the case. The docket is a public record in Fayette County. Actual filed documents are at the courthouse and require a visit or a written request to obtain. Staff can help you find specific documents once you have a case number.
The Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, Title 234, govern how criminal cases are handled at every court level in Fayette County. These rules set the process for charging, arraigning, hearing, and trying defendants. MDJ courts follow the same rules for preliminary hearings and summary cases. Understanding these procedures can help you know what to expect from a Fayette County criminal case record.
Fayette County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Fayette County are handled by the Prothonotary at the courthouse in Uniontown. All civil case filings go through this office, from the initial complaint to the final judgment. Common types of civil cases in Fayette County include property disputes, contract claims, and appeals from MDJ civil decisions. The Prothonotary indexes judgments and liens by name so they can be found during property title searches.
Divorce proceedings in Fayette County are handled by the Prothonotary as civil matters. The full divorce file includes the complaint, the response if any, any agreements on property or support, and the final divorce decree. Custody and support cases in Family Court are also tracked through this office. Protection from Abuse orders are filed and indexed by the Prothonotary in Fayette County.
The Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code section 213.81 sets the rules for which civil records are viewable online and which require an in-person visit. For Fayette County, docket sheets are available on the UJS Portal. Full document images may require a request to the Prothonotary. The Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. section 67.101, gives the public access to most civil court records in Fayette County.
Court Record Access in Fayette County
Most court records in Fayette County are open to the public. You do not need to be a party to a case to view or request records. The Fayette County Courthouse is the place to go for in-person access. Staff at both the Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary offices can search by name or case number and provide copies for a fee. Bring a valid ID and the information you have about the case.
Juvenile case records in Fayette County have restricted access under Pennsylvania law. These records are not available through the UJS Portal and are not open to the general public at the courthouse. Sealed cases and certain confidential filings are also not accessible to the public. For all other records, the courthouse in Uniontown is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. section 67.101, applies to court records in Fayette County just as it does across the state. Under this law, you can submit a written request for records to the appropriate office. The office must respond within five business days. Most requests for court records in Fayette County are fulfilled at the Clerk of Courts or Prothonotary office without the need for a formal Right-to-Know request.
Fayette County Register of Wills and Probate Records
The Register of Wills in Fayette County manages probate proceedings, estate administration, and guardianship establishment. Wills and estate records are open to the public. Marriage licenses issued in Fayette County are also part of the Register's records. These records are particularly useful for genealogy research and for anyone who may have an interest in an estate filed in Fayette County.
Real estate records for Fayette County are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds. Deeds, mortgages, and property documents are recorded and indexed at this office. Anyone can search the real estate index by property address or owner name. These records connect to court records when judgments or liens are recorded against a property in Fayette County.
The Orphans' Court division of the Court of Common Pleas in Fayette County handles all formal probate matters when an estate must go through court supervision. Guardianship proceedings for minors and incapacitated adults are also part of the Orphans' Court record system. All of these records are maintained at the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown.
Nearby Counties
Fayette County is in southwestern Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Each county keeps its own court records. Check the county where the case was filed to find the right courthouse.