Lancaster County Pennsylvania Court Records
Lancaster County court records are managed by the 2nd Judicial District, one of the largest and most active judicial districts in Pennsylvania. The courthouse is located at 50 North Duke Street in Lancaster, the county seat. Lancaster County has a full range of court services, including the Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, and County Archives. The Prothonotary offers electronic filing through the CountySuite Portal and maintains a public access terminal for in-person record searches. Lancaster County court records include criminal dockets, civil filings, divorce and custody records, and historical archives going back to the 18th century.
Lancaster County Quick Facts
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas
The Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas is the main trial court for the 2nd Judicial District. It handles serious criminal cases, major civil lawsuits, family court matters, and Orphans' Court proceedings. The court sits at the courthouse at 50 North Duke Street in Lancaster. All records for cases in the 2nd Judicial District are maintained at this location.
The Clerk of Courts is the chief filing office for criminal and juvenile matters in Lancaster County. The office records, maintains, and processes all criminal dockets. Other responsibilities include preparing prison commitments, processing bail, handling motions and petitions, processing summary appeals, and forwarding appeals to the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts. The office also licenses private detectives and accepts warrants, name changes, summary convictions, and other legal filings.
The Lancaster County Clerk of Courts is the primary filing office for all criminal and juvenile records in the 2nd Judicial District.
| Court |
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas 2nd Judicial District 50 North Duke Street Lancaster, PA 17602 |
|---|---|
| Prothonotary |
Andrew E. Spade, Prothonotary 50 N. Duke St., P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608 Phone: 717-299-8282 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Filing Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Recorder of Deeds | Phone: 717-299-8238 |
| Website | lancastercountypa.gov |
How to Search Lancaster County Court Records
Lancaster County court records are searchable through several tools. The Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives free access to criminal and civil dockets for the 2nd Judicial District. Search by party name or case number. You can view and print docket sheets at no charge. This is the fastest way to check if a case exists in Lancaster County.
The Prothonotary at lancastercountypa.gov/454/Public-Records provides an online civil court record search. The page links to the Prothonotary Civil Court Record Search, downloadable forms, and access to the Public Access Terminal for electronic case records. You can also find contact information for submitting documents by email. The Prothonotary has department-specific email addresses for Custody (ProthyCustody@lancastercountypa.gov), Divorce (ProthyDivorce@lancastercountypa.gov), New Suits (ProthyNewSuits@lancastercountypa.gov), PFA matters (ProthyPFA@lancastercountypa.gov), and Judgments and Satisfactions (ProthyJudgments@lancastercountypa.gov).
The Lancaster County Prothonotary's public records page at lancastercountypa.gov/454/Public-Records gives access to the civil court record search and downloadable forms for the 2nd Judicial District.
For in-person searches, visit the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts at 50 North Duke Street in Lancaster. A public access terminal is available in the Prothonotary's office for electronic record lookups. Staff can also search by name or case number and provide copies for a fee. Filing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Note: Lancaster County uses the CountySuite Portal for electronic filing by attorneys. Documents filed through the portal are deemed received as of the date and time submitted. All filings currently require an Affidavit Regarding Generative Artificial Intelligence.
Types of Court Records in Lancaster County
Lancaster County court records go back to the 1700s. The County Archives at 150 North Queen Street in Lancaster holds historical records going back to 1729. Current court records are maintained at the courthouse and through electronic systems.
Criminal records include charging documents, dockets, bail orders, plea agreements, trial records, and sentences. Civil records include complaints, answers, motions, orders, and judgments in money and property cases. Family records include divorce filings, custody petitions, and support orders. Orphans' Court records include wills, estate inventories, guardianship orders, and inheritance tax records. The Archives also holds birth records from 1852, marriage records from 1852, death records from 1730, deeds from 1729, naturalizations from 1800, and civil records going back to 1873.
Lancaster County Criminal Court Records
The Clerk of Courts in Lancaster County is the chief filing office for all criminal records in the 2nd Judicial District. All records are available to the public unless specifically restricted by law. Criminal dockets include charges, bail, motions, plea records, trial transcripts, verdicts, and sentencing orders.
The Clerk of Courts office processes criminal background searches and expungements. Background check requests can be submitted through the office. An expungement, once ordered by a judge, removes the record from public access. The Clerk of Courts also accepts bonds filed by tax collectors and constables, financial statements of townships and boroughs, and warrants.
Appeals from Lancaster County criminal cases go to the Pennsylvania Superior Court and Supreme Court. The Clerk of Courts processes all appeal paperwork. The full docket for every criminal case in Lancaster County is visible on the UJS Portal and in person at the courthouse.
Lancaster County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Lancaster County are managed by the Prothonotary, Andrew E. Spade. This office maintains all civil case files, tracks filings, records judgments and liens, and provides public access to the docket. The Prothonotary handles divorce decrees, custody orders, protection from abuse filings, name changes, naturalization records, and all other civil matters in the 2nd Judicial District.
Attorneys can file electronically through the CountySuite Portal. This system accepts all major credit cards and charges a 2.5% convenience fee with a $2.00 minimum. Documents are deemed filed as of the date and time they are received by the portal. Documents that must be filed under seal should be designated as such in the portal at the time of filing. Due to staffing shortages, there may be delays in docketing, but filing dates remain the date the document was received.
Lancaster County also has an extensive archives program for historical civil records. The County Archives at 150 North Queen Street (phone 717-299-8319) holds civil records beginning in 1873, deeds from 1729, and naturalizations from 1800 to 1991. These historical records are valuable for genealogy research and legal history in Lancaster County.
Note: Individuals who receive calls claiming to be from the Prothonotary's office about collecting on judgments should not provide personal information. The Prothonotary is a neutral filing office and does not attempt to collect on any judgments.
Public Access to Lancaster County Court Records
Lancaster County court records are public under Pennsylvania law. The Clerk of Courts states that all records are available to the public unless specifically barred by law. Anyone can request access to criminal records, civil filings, and docket sheets. You do not need to be a party to the case.
The Prothonotary maintains a public access terminal at the courthouse for electronic case records. This lets visitors search court records on site without needing staff assistance. For paper copies, fees apply. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The Archives at 150 North Queen Street holds historical records for those doing genealogy or legal history research.
The Lancaster County Archives at 150 North Queen Street holds court records, deeds, and other historical documents going back to 1729, making it one of the richest archives in Pennsylvania.
Real estate records in Lancaster County are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds, reachable at 717-299-8238. Deeds and mortgages are recorded and indexed, with online search available for recent records and historical land records dating to 1729. These records are separate from court records but often relate to cases handled by the Court of Common Pleas.
Cities in Lancaster County
Lancaster County is home to many municipalities across a large geographic area. Lancaster city is the county seat and the location of the Court of Common Pleas. All major court filings for the 2nd Judicial District are processed at the courthouse in the city of Lancaster.
Lancaster city is the hub of all judicial activity in Lancaster County. The courthouse at 50 North Duke Street serves the entire county for all Common Pleas-level cases and court record access.
Nearby Counties
Lancaster County sits in south-central Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Each has its own courthouse and court records system. If you are unsure which county court covers your case, check the address of the property or location where events occurred.