Franklin County Court Records in Chambersburg
Franklin County court records are maintained at the courthouse in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the county seat. Located in south-central Pennsylvania, Franklin County is part of the 39th Judicial District, which it shares with Fulton County. The Court of Common Pleas handles criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court cases for all Franklin County residents. The Clerk of Courts keeps criminal records and the Prothonotary keeps civil records. You can search Franklin County court records online for free through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal, or visit the courthouse in Chambersburg in person during regular business hours.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is located at the courthouse in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The courthouse houses all court offices for the county, including the Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and the Register of Wills. The court has four divisions: Criminal, Civil, Family Court, and Orphans' Court. Franklin County shares the 39th Judicial District with neighboring Fulton County.
The Clerk of Courts in Franklin County maintains all criminal court records for Common Pleas cases. This office keeps every docket, case file, motion, order, and bail record for felony and serious misdemeanor cases filed in the county. Computer docket entries are available from 1993 forward. Records older than 1993 are kept in bound docket books at the courthouse. Two public computers are available in the office for anyone who wants to do their own search. Staff will research records only for government agencies, not for individual members of the public. Records going back more than 30 years are maintained at the Chambersburg courthouse.
E-filing is available in Franklin County through PACFile, the statewide electronic filing system. Attorneys and self-represented litigants can use PACFile for most types of filings in the county. This creates electronic records that are indexed alongside any paper filings already on file.
The Franklin County government website at franklincountypa.gov provides access to all court offices, local rules, and information about how to search court records in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
| Court |
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Chambersburg, PA 17201 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
| Website | franklincountypa.gov |
How to Search Franklin County Court Records
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the best free tool for searching Franklin County court records. The portal lets you search by party name, docket number, OTN, citation number, or incident number. Results show a docket sheet for each case with the court name, judge, case status, hearing dates, and a list of filed documents. The portal covers both the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts in Franklin County.
In-person searches at the Chambersburg courthouse give you direct access to court files. You can use the public computers in the Clerk of Courts office to search criminal records from 1993 forward. For records before 1993, you need to ask staff to locate the right docket book. Once you find the case, you can ask to see the actual file. Copies and printouts are available for a fee. Bring the name or case number of the record you want to find.
The Prothonotary in Franklin County no longer accepts faxed pleadings as of July 22, 2024. All filings must be submitted in person, by mail, or through PACFile. Filing fees for self-represented parties require cash or money order only. No personal checks are accepted. The office also no longer offers passport services, which are now available at the Lilian S. Besore Memorial Library in Chambersburg.
Note: The Clerk of Courts in Franklin County does not provide certified criminal record checks. For a certified criminal history, contact the Pennsylvania State Police at epatch.pa.gov or visit www.psp.pa.gov.
Types of Court Records in Franklin County
Franklin County court records include documents from every division of the Court of Common Pleas. Criminal case files contain charging documents, ARD case records, bail records, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. ARD stands for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, a diversion program for first-time offenders. Civil case files include complaints, answers, motions, and judgments. Family court files cover divorce proceedings, custody orders, and support records. Orphans' Court files include will probates, estate accounts, and guardianship orders.
The Prothonotary in Franklin County handles several specific document categories. These include divorce records, custody and support filings, Protection from Abuse orders, judgment recordings, lien filings, and district judge appeals. The office processes civil complaints and records them in the official civil docket for Franklin County. The docket is searchable by name at the courthouse and through the UJS Portal online.
Confidential filing rules in Franklin County protect sensitive information in court records. Effective January 6, 2018, a Confidential Information Form is required for any document that includes Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, state ID numbers, or information about minors. Abuse victim contact information is also confidential in family court records. Confidential documents include financial source documents, medical records, educational records, Children and Youth Services records, marital property inventories, income statements, and party agreements.
Franklin County Criminal Court Records
The Clerk of Courts in Franklin County is the official keeper of all criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas. Every felony and serious misdemeanor case filed in the county creates a permanent docket entry here. This includes ARD cases, summary appeals, and appeals from Magisterial District Court decisions. All criminal records are open for public review except juvenile records, which are confidential under Pennsylvania law.
Franklin County criminal dockets are searchable on the UJS Portal. Each docket shows the charges, case status, attorney of record, bail conditions, hearing dates, and the final outcome. Computer dockets go back to 1993. For cases before that date, staff can help you find the bound docket book at the courthouse. You can then request the actual case file for review if you need more detail than the docket provides.
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts office maintains all criminal case records for the county and is the official source for criminal dockets in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Expungement petitions are handled by the Clerk of Courts in Franklin County. To expunge a record, a Pennsylvania State Police background check under Pa.R.Crim.P. 490 or 790 must be attached to the petition. The petitioner must also serve a copy on the attorney for the Commonwealth. Forms for summary offense expungement and misdemeanor or felony expungement are available at the courthouse. A Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis is also available for those who cannot afford the filing fee.
Franklin County Civil Court Records
The Prothonotary in Franklin County handles all civil court records for the Court of Common Pleas. Civil case filings go through this office from the initial complaint to the final judgment. Common civil matters in Franklin County include contract disputes, property claims, and appeals from MDJ civil decisions. Judgments and liens are indexed by name so they can be found during title searches on Chambersburg-area properties.
Divorce records in Franklin County are civil matters maintained by the Prothonotary. The full case file includes the complaint, the response if any, any agreements on property or children, and the final divorce decree. Custody and support cases in Family Court are also tracked through this office. Protection from Abuse orders are filed with the Prothonotary and indexed as part of the public civil docket in Franklin County.
The Franklin County Prothonotary office maintains civil court records for the county and handles divorce, custody, judgment, and protection order filings at the Chambersburg courthouse.
Court Record Access in Franklin County
Most court records in Franklin 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 courthouse in Chambersburg is open during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Court staff cannot give legal advice or explain legal procedures, so consult an attorney if you have questions about your case.
Self-represented litigants can find resources online through the Franklin County courts website at franklincountypa.gov. The site provides links to forms and general information for people who are filing without an attorney. E-filing through PACFile is available for both attorneys and self-represented individuals in Franklin County. This means many types of filings can be submitted and tracked online without a trip to the courthouse.
The Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code section 213.81 governs what is available online through the UJS Portal and what requires an in-person visit to the Chambersburg courthouse. Docket sheets are free and available online. Full document images depend on the case type and how the local system is set up. For the most complete access to Franklin County court records, a visit to the courthouse is the most reliable option.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders several other counties in south-central Pennsylvania. Each county keeps its own court records. If you are not sure which county to search, check the address where the case was filed.