Montgomery County Court Records and Case Search
Montgomery County court records are maintained by the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. One of the most populous counties in the state, Montgomery County lies just northwest of Philadelphia. The Court of Common Pleas serves the 38th Judicial District and handles all major criminal, civil, and family court matters filed in Montgomery County. The Prothonotary office offers a Civil Viewer tool for free online access to docket entries, plus a second location in Willow Grove. You can search Montgomery County court records online or visit either courthouse location during business hours.
Montgomery County Quick Facts
Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas
The Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas sits in the 38th Judicial District and is the main trial court for all major civil and criminal matters in the county. This court handles felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, major civil lawsuits, family law proceedings, and orphans' court matters. Multiple court divisions serve the county's large population. The main courthouse is at Swede and Airy Streets in Norristown, PA 19401.
The Prothonotary, Noah Marlier, is the elected civil clerk of the Court of Common Pleas. His office signs and seals all writs and processes in civil cases. The Prothonotary's main phone is 610-278-3360. For civil case filing and records, call 610-278-3361. For protection from abuse matters, call 610-278-1191. The office has a second location at 102 N. York Road, Suite 302, Willow Grove, PA 19090, open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The Montgomery County official website at montcopa.org provides access to all court offices, online tools, and public records resources.
| Norristown Office |
One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede Street Norristown, PA 19401 Phone: 610-278-3360 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Willow Grove Office |
102 N. York Road, Suite 302 Willow Grove, PA 19090 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Website | montcopa.org/prothonotary |
How to Search Montgomery County Court Records
Montgomery County offers several ways to search court records. The Prothonotary's Civil Viewer tool provides free online access to docket entries for civil cases. You can search by case number, parcel number, case type, filing date, party name, or assigned judge. Results display in grid or simple format. The Civil Viewer also has a "similar sounding results" option to help when you are unsure of a spelling. Case types searchable include Complaint, Divorce, Custody, Judgment, Lien, and Protection from Abuse.
For access to actual filed documents in Montgomery County civil cases, a "Pay per Page" option is available online. The first page costs $0.50, and each additional page costs $0.10. Major credit cards are accepted. Attorneys registered for e-filing who are attorneys of record on a case get one free document look. This pay-per-page access is available without visiting the courthouse.
You can also use the statewide UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us to search both civil and criminal cases in Montgomery County. This is the best tool for criminal record searches. For in-person access or certified copies, visit either Prothonotary location during business hours. Bring a photo ID and call ahead if you have questions about specific records.
The Montgomery County Prothonotary page at montcopa.org provides access to the Civil Viewer, e-filing support, and office contact information.
Note: Electronic filing is available for attorneys through the Prothonotary's e-filing system. For e-filing support, email ProthyEfilingSupport@montgomerycountypa.gov. Personal checks are not accepted at the Montgomery County Prothonotary.
Types of Court Records in Montgomery County
Montgomery County court records cover a wide range of case types. The Prothonotary handles civil cases including Change of Name, Custody, District Court Appeals, Divorce, Driver's License Suspension Appeals, Landlord-Tenant, Federal Income Tax Liens, Judgments, Mechanics Liens, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, and Protection From Abuse. All of these are recorded and maintained as part of the civil court record in Montgomery County.
The Clerk of Courts maintains all criminal records for the Court of Common Pleas. These include felony and misdemeanor cases, bail records, and appeals. Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) courts across the county handle smaller civil claims under $12,000, summary offenses, traffic violations, and criminal preliminary hearings. Records from MDJ courts are also searchable through the UJS portal. The Register of Wills handles probate and estate filings and also runs a marriage license search and application tool online.
Montgomery County Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records in Montgomery County are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Norristown courthouse. These records cover all felony and misdemeanor cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas. Each criminal docket shows the charges, bail status, court dates, motions, rulings, and the final outcome or sentence. Criminal records in Montgomery County are public unless sealed or expunged by court order.
Search Montgomery County criminal records for free through the UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Search by name, OTN, or case number. Docket sheets give a full history of every event in the case. For certified copies of criminal records, visit the Clerk of Courts in Norristown or call 610-278-3360. For an official statewide criminal history check, use the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov for $22. PATCH draws on records from all 67 Pennsylvania counties including Montgomery.
Montgomery County Civil Court Records
Civil court records in Montgomery County are maintained by the Prothonotary and can be searched through the Civil Viewer online tool. Docket entries are free to view. Document images require pay-per-page access at $0.50 for the first page and $0.10 for each additional page. Cases can be filtered by type, judge, filing date, and party name. Search results show case number, type, filing date, all parties, and current status for each Montgomery County civil case.
If you have an open PACSES case for child support, spousal support, or alimony, you must file with the Domestic Relations Section office rather than the Prothonotary. This is an important distinction for family law matters in Montgomery County. The Prothonotary handles new filings and existing case records for most civil matters, but domestic support matters are managed separately.
Payment methods accepted at the Montgomery County Prothonotary include cash, certified check, money order, and attorney's checks. Credit cards are accepted for many in-person filings and electronic filing through Govolution. A processing fee of 2.60% applies for debit and credit card payments. ACH payments carry a $2.00 fee.
Note: Act 54 of 2024 and Act 167 of 1992 increased custody filing fees in Montgomery County by 50 cents. The Criminal Justice Enhancement Account fee also increased from $2.50 to $3.50.
Public Access to Montgomery County Court Records
Court records in Montgomery County are open to the public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, and the Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. The Civil Viewer tool and the UJS portal both provide free access to basic case information without requiring a login or giving a reason for your search. These tools cover a large part of what most people need when searching Montgomery County court records.
Some records are sealed or restricted. Juvenile records are not accessible to the public. Mental health records are restricted. Certain family court documents may also have limited access when they involve minor children. The Prothonotary offices in Norristown and Willow Grove can help you understand what is available for any specific case. Call 610-278-3360 to ask before visiting either location.
Montgomery County Register of Wills Records
The Montgomery County Register of Wills maintains probate and estate records for the county. When someone dies in Montgomery County, the estate may go through probate at this office. Probate records include admitted wills, letters testamentary, estate inventories, and final accounts. The Register of Wills also handles guardianship appointments for minors and incapacitated adults through the Orphans' Court division of the Court of Common Pleas.
The Montgomery County Register of Wills, accessible through montcopa.org, offers online case search, case party search, probate caveat search, and marriage license search and application tools.
The Register of Wills website lets you search probate case records online, search by party name, and look up marriage licenses. You can also apply for a marriage license online through the county site. These tools are available to the public at no charge and give access to a wide range of estate-related Montgomery County court records without a courthouse visit.
Cities in Montgomery County
Montgomery County includes many municipalities, townships, and boroughs. Court cases filed in Montgomery County are handled at the Court of Common Pleas in Norristown, regardless of which municipality the case involves.
All municipalities in Montgomery County fall under the jurisdiction of the 38th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas in Norristown for major civil and criminal matters.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County is surrounded by several other Pennsylvania counties. Each county has its own court system. Check where the case was filed to make sure you are searching the right county.