Search Lancaster Court Records

LancasterCountyCourt.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports.
All searches conducted on LancasterCountyCourt.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Court Records

Lancaster County court records are the official files and docket entries created when a case is filed and processed in the county’s trial-level court, the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County(41st Judicial District). These documents help to preserve an accurate record of what was filed, what the court decided, and what actions were taken, thereby preserving historical accounts of decisions and outcomes.

Lancaster County has one main trial court, the Court of Common Pleas, where most cases are heard. However, the courthouse has different offices responsible for maintaining various types of case records. For example, the Prothonotary generally preserves civil and many domestic-relations filings, the Clerk of Courts oversees criminal (and related) court records, and the Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court maintains probate and Orphans’ Court matters (such as estates and certain guardianship/adoption filings). These records are maintained under the Pennsylvania court rules and statewide public-access policies that define what constitutes a case record, a record request, and public access options (in person or remotely, where available), as well as which information is restricted or confidential.

Court records often connect to other public records, but they are not the same. The Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains vital records (birth and death certificates), while law enforcement typically creates arrest or booking information at the time of custody. For federal cases originating from Lancaster County, PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) provides access to federal case files in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, not the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.

Are Lancaster County Court Records Public?

Yes. Most Lancaster County court records are public unless specific statutes or rules restrict access to certain case types or documents. Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System (UJS) Case Records Public Access Policy governs access to case records across the UJS, including the Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts.

Requesters may access dockets and filings for most public case types (subject to redactions or confidential filing rules). These include criminal case dockets and filings, except for certain records (such as warrants, affidavits, and grand jury matters), as well as civil, family law, and landlord-tenant cases.

Even for public cases, the Case Records Public Access Policy requires that certain sensitive information and documents remain confidential (Sections 7.0 and 8.0). Examples of restricted or closed court records include:

  • Juvenile dependency and delinquency records
  • Adoption and certain Orphans’ Court cases
  • Guardianship proceedings for allegedly incapacitated persons
  • Mental health treatment proceedings
  • Child support and domestic-relations protections
  • Grand jury proceedings and related documents

Sensitive information, like Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers, driver’s license numbers, and State Identification (SID) Numbers, is also protected.

What Information is Available in Lancaster County Court Records?

In Lancaster County, court records typically consist of two parts: (1) the case file documents that parties file (and the court accepts), and (2) the court’s docket or index entries that track what happened in the case over time. Depending on the case type, the components of a typical Lancaster County court record often include the following:

  • Case-identifying information: case caption or parties, docket number or case number, and the court or filing office, case type, and attorney appearances and representation details.
  • Parties and participants: names of parties (and, when applicable, attorneys of record)
  • Docket entries (chronological history): filings received, events scheduled or held, and actions taken by the court.
  • Filed documents: complaints or petitions, motions, responses, exhibits (as accepted and maintained in the case file)
  • Court actions and outcomes: orders, judgments, decrees, opinions, sentencing orders (as applicable)
  • Criminal-case specifics (when applicable): charge listings, offense tracking numbers (OTN), disposition information, and key dates/events reflected on the docket sheet
  • Indexes and registers: tools used to locate and identify cases

Lancaster County Court Records Search

Online access

Criminal Court and MDJ dockets: Use the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal to search, view, and print public docket sheets for Criminal Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts (traffic, minor criminal, and civil). The PAeDocket app allows free searches by name or case number.

Civil Court of Common Pleas records (Prothonotary): Access civil court record information through the County’s official Prothonotary pages. Use the Civil Court Record Search on the Public Records page to check case status by case number or party name. The website also offers an Index Book for historical records, including divorce records (1851-1997) and judgment records (1983-1993).

Marriage and Probate (Register of Wills/Orphans’ Court-related records): The Register of Wills’ Office and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court website offers search tools for marriage and probate records.

In-person access

To request copies, certification, or assistance with Lancaster County court records, visit the appropriate courthouse filing office. For criminal and juvenile matters, contact the Clerk of Courts at 50 N. Duke St. (2nd floor), Lancaster, or call (717) 299-8275.

For civil Court of Common Pleas records, contact the Prothonotary’s Office. The Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court maintain records for marriage licenses, probate, estate, adoptions, and guardianship cases, also within the courthouse.

The Lancaster County Archives provides access support in the Lake County Courthouse through its public computers. However, the Archives does not allow USB devices on its public computers.

Mail and phone requests

Archives requests

For Archives requests, applicants are expected to submit their requests by email or U.S. Mail and pay before receiving copies. The Archives expects requesters to provide as much detail as possible (references from indexes when available; otherwise, name, timeframe, and record type).

For emailed record requests, the Archives typically emails the records after a credit card payment has been made online, upon receipt of the invoice amount from the Archives staff.

For Prothonotary filings where parties need copies returned, filers must include self-addressed, stamped envelopes so copies can be returned.

Phone requests

Requesters may obtain criminal court records by contacting the Clerk of Courts Office by phone; the office phone number and location are available on the Clerk of Courts Office page.

Because fees, certification options, and acceptable payment methods may vary by office and record type, the most reliable approach for mail/phone copy requests is:

  • Identify the case or record as precisely as possible.
  • Specify whether plain or certified copies are needed.
  • Ask the office for the total cost (including postage) and accepted payment method, and
  • Include any required return envelope or postage where applicable.

Fees for Court Records in Lancaster County

In Lancaster County, fees for court records depend on which office holds the record and whether the requester needs a plain or certified copy. Outlined below are the costs from the different offices.

Clerk of Courts

  • Plain copies: $0.25 per page
  • Certified copy: $9.25
  • Redaction: $2.00 per page (when applicable)

Note: The Clerk of Courts accepts payments in cash (exact change), certified check, or money order (no personal checks).

Prothonotary

  • Plain copies: $0.25 per page
  • Certifications: $7.00 (first page) and $2.50 (each additional page)

Note: Mailing costs may apply to certain transmissions, including a returned check fee policy.

Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court

  • Marriage license application and license: $75.00 (a convenience fee may apply for card payments)
  • Certified copy fee (marriage record): $20.00
  • Orphans’ Court copies: the Orphans’ Court bill of costs lists photocopies at $1.00 per page and other certifications and record services at set amounts (depending on what is requested).

Online access and subscription fees

  • Statewide online docket access: generally available online without a paid subscription.
  • Online payments and card processing: Some Lancaster County offices may charge vendor processing or convenience fees for in-person or online credit card payments (in addition to the underlying court fee).

Vital records fees

The Pennsylvania Department of Health handles birth and death certificates as state vital records and not through the county courthouse:

  • Birth or death certificate: $20 per certificate. A $10 processing or service fee also applies when ordered online through the state’s authorized vendor.

The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court maintains local marriage license records.

Lancaster County Courthouse Locations

Lancaster County Courthouse (Court of Common Pleas - main trial court)

50 N. Duke Street

P.O. Box 83480

Lancaster, PA 17608

Phone: (717) 299-8041

Typically handles: Criminal cases (adult), civil cases (including many family filings such as custody/divorce through the Prothonotary), Juvenile matters (delinquency and other juvenile court proceedings)

This courthouse houses many court-related services and offices, including the Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and the Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court.

Clerk of Courts

50 N. Duke St. (2nd Floor)

Lancaster, PA 17602

Phone: (717) 299-8275

Division and case types: Criminal Court of Common Pleas case filings and records, and Juvenile Court case filings and records (where maintained by this office).

Prothonotary Office

50 N. Duke St.

P.O. Box 83480

Lancaster, PA 17608

Phone: (717) 299-8282

Division/case types: Civil Court of Common Pleas (lawsuits, judgments, liens, etc.) and Common family-related civil filings such as custody, divorce, and PFA (filed/processed through Prothonotary workflows)

Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court

50 N. Duke St.

Lancaster, PA 17602

Phone: (717) 295-5994

Division/case types:

  • Probate/estates (Register of Wills functions)
  • Orphans’ Court matters (e.g., estate-related court matters and other Orphans’ Court proceedings handled through this office)

This office administers marriage licensing through its marriage department.

Lancaster County Government Center

150 N. Queen Street (Enter on Chestnut St.)

Lancaster, PA 17603

Phone: (717) 299-8000

This location is listed as the contact location for certain court divisions or services.

Magisterial District Courts (MDJs)

Lancaster County has several MDJ offices, each with its own address and phone number. Requesters may use the official MDJ directory or locator to find the correct court by municipality or zip code, and access the court’s address and phone number.

Division/case types (generally):

  • Traffic citations and many summary (minor) criminal matters
  • Landlord-tenant cases and small civil claims (up to the MDJ limits)
  • Preliminary arraignments/hearings in criminal cases before they move to the Court of Common Pleas (when applicable)

Criminal Records Access in Lancaster County

In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) operates the official state-level criminal history record check, not county courts. The PSP provides criminal history information to the public upon request through its Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system.

When a user submits a criminal history background check online, PATCH analyzes the information provided and submits it to the criminal history database maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. The method produces a state criminal history background check, distinct from a docket sheet or certified court documents obtained from a county courthouse.

Inquirers may also access local criminal case records through the statewide Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal. The platform’s Public Web Docket Sheets allow users to browse, view, and print docket sheets for the Criminal Courts of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Courts, and the Philadelphia Municipal Court.

Visitors to the UJS Case Search page can search for cases based on a variety of criteria, including participant name, docket number, and OTN.

Those seeking certified copies or assistance locating a record may contact the Lancaster Clerk of Court’s criminal division at (717) 299-8275 or visit the courthouse at 50 N. Duke St. (2nd Floor), Lancaster, PA 17602.

Lancaster County Probate Records

Lancaster County probate records consist of court files and office documents used to manage a deceased person’s estate after death and to protect people who need help making decisions. In Pennsylvania, such paperwork, comprising estate records, wills, and probate filings, is handled in the Register of Wills and Orphans’ Court system.

Typical examples include wills, estate administration (opening an estate and appointing a personal representative), and documents issued during probate, such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. Probate-related court files may also include guardianship or adjudications of incapacity matters and other Orphans’ Court filings.

Interested parties may search some Lancaster County probate records online through the county’s probate record search system. Nonetheless, they may need to visit the office to access older records or documents unavailable for online purchase.

Requesters should note that not every probate-related case is fully public. Certain matters may be confidential or restricted by law, and some filings may require additional steps to access or may be completely inaccessible to the public.

Lancaster County Family Court Records

In Lancaster County, divorce- and custody-related filings are managed through the Prothonotary (Civil Division). The county provides a Civil Court Records Search portal for civil and family case lookups, but availability may vary by document type. However, requesters seeking more details than are available online must request access or copies through the Prothonotary’s office at the courthouse.

The Domestic Relations Section (DRS) typically manages child support matters. Pennsylvania’s child support system allows people to file certain support actions and manage payments online, and the county DRS also provides official contact options for case questions and correspondence.

Adoption filings are accepted through the Orphans’ Court. However, most adoption records are confidential or restricted, and access is usually limited to legally eligible parties.

Inquirers may request certified copies (divorce decrees, custody orders, support orders, or probate or adoption-related certifications) from the office that maintains the file. Certified copy fees and procedures vary by office, and mailed requests may require specific payment methods and a self-addressed stamped envelope where applicable.

Federal Court Records in Lancaster County

At the federal level, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has jurisdiction over Lancaster County and other counties in eastern Pennsylvania. This court hears cases involving federal crimes, lawsuits based on federal law, and specific matters from different states that meet federal requirements.

Requesters may access federal case documents through the Clerk’s Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The court maintains multiple courthouse locations (including Philadelphia), and the Clerk’s Office can help with basic case information and obtaining copies, including certified copies when available.

Interested parties may access most public federal case records online through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). This portal allows registered users to search for cases in the specific federal court where the case is filed and also search nationwide using the PACER Case Locator. PACER requires an account, but there is no registration fee involved. However, fees may apply when accessing records after logging in.