Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania State Court Records

Philadelphia County court records are files created during a legal case in a court in the county. Court records preserve the formal account of a case, ensuring that members of the public, attorneys, and the government have an accurate account of everything that transpired during a hearing or proceeding.

Court records in Philadelphia County are generally managed by the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court, as they are the primary trial courts in the county. Philadelphia County court records do not sit isolated. They frequently connect with other county, city, state, or federal public records.

Are Philadelphia County Court Records Public?

Yes, court records in Philadelphia County are public. Philadelphia County courts are subject to Pennsylvania State law. Under state law, specifically, 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, all courts in the state are mandated to make their records open to the public for inspection and copying. However, the courts are permitted to withhold access if the record requested by an individual is restricted under the law or by court order. Commonly restricted information in the state includes

Child Abuse and Neglect Records
Psychological records
Financial documents
Social security numbers
Driver's license numbers

What Information is Available in Philadelphia County Court Records?

Public court records in Philadelphia County contain the basic essential information that is sufficient to identify and know the events in a case.

The names of parties
The names of the attorneys
The case number
The date the case was initiated
The docket
The list of all actions in the case
Court orders

Philadelphia County Court Records Search

Court records in Philadelphia County can generally be accessed through the following methods:

Online Access

Online case search systems are usually the easiest way to access case information. Below are the case systems that researchers can use to access several case dockets in Philadelphia County.

All these search systems grant researchers access to docket information and can be used by the general public, except the Divorce, Custody, and Protection from Abuse Dockets, which require an account to search for records. The portals also provide only docket information on a case, but not the full record. To access the full case record, individuals will have to opt for in-person access or mail requests.

In-Person Access

Philadelphia County court records are managed by the Office of Judicial Records (OJR), though certain specialized records are held by other departments. Probate records are maintained by the Philadelphia Register of Wills, while family court records are maintained by the Clerk of Family Court.

Individuals wanting to inspect or obtain a copy of a court record in person may visit the appropriate office or division, such as the OJR's civil or criminal office, depending on the type of record needed. Researchers visiting any court office should take their government-issued ID card with them, in case it is requested. At least a name or case number will be needed to locate the record. Copies of the record can also be made, but for a fee.

Mail and Phone Requests

To obtain a copy of a court record in Philadelphia, individuals may send a written request by mail to the appropriate office. For certified copies from the Office of Judicial Records, the request should include the following if the request is for a certified copy of a record:

The case number
The case caption
The document's title
The date of the document
An uncertified copy of the document (if available)
The requester's phone number or email address, so they can be contacted if additional information is required

A cashier's check, business check, or money order and a self-addressed, stamped envelope should be mailed with the request.

For probate records, requesters may, instead of writing a letter, complete and mail the Probate Request Form to the Register of Wills Office address below.

Register of Wills

Room 180

City Hall

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Requests can also be submitted via email. Individuals may complete the Request for Access to Case Records Form and email it to the appropriate office. The email address of each division is present on the form.

Fees for Court Records in Philadelphia County

The fees for court records in Philadelphia County depend on the mode of access and the nature of the request. Case information available on several online portals can be accessed for free. Individuals inspecting a record in person may also be granted access at no cost. However, researchers will be charged a fee if they choose to obtain a copy of the record. Below is the fee schedule in the county.

Regular Copies: 25 cents per page
Certified Copies: $41.58
Transcripts: $3 per page
Probate Record Research: $20
Probate Record Copies: $2 per page

Philadelphia County Courthouse Locations

The Philadelphia County court system is the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and is split into two primary trial courts: the Court of Common Pleas and the Philadelphia Municipal Court. The Court of Common Pleas consists of several divisions, including the Orphans' Court and Family Court. Below are the addresses of the courts.

Court of Common Pleas Trial Division - Civil and Orphans' Court

City Hall, Broad and Market Streets

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Civil Division Phone: (215) 686-6652

Orphans' Court Phone: (215) 686-2230, (215) 686-2231, (215) 686-2232

Court of Common Pleas Trial Division - Criminal and Municipal Court Criminal Division

The Stout Center for Criminal Justice

1301 Filbert Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Court of Common Pleas Trial Division - Criminal Phone: (215) 683-7004, (215) 683-7005, (215) 683-7006

Municipal Court Criminal Division Phone: (215) 686-7000

Family Court

1501 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

Domestic Relations Phone: (215) 686-7466

Juvenile Division: (215) 686-4000

Municipal Court Civil Division

1339 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

Phone: (215) 686-2910

Municipal Court Traffic Division

800 Spring Garden Street

Philadelphia, PA 19123-2690

Phone: (215) 686-1676

Criminal Records Access in Philadelphia County

Criminal records in Philadelphia County are generally categorized into criminal history records and court records. Criminal history records are a compilation of all of a person's arrests, charges, and convictions, while criminal court records are the files relating to a specific case in court.

Criminal history records are maintained at the state level by the Pennsylvania State Police. Individuals can access a record through the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system. A standard check for a record costs $22 but may be higher depending on the request.

Criminal court records may be accessed at the Office of Judicial Records (Criminal Division) or the Municipal Court (Criminal Division), depending on the court that handled the case. The record may also be searched through one of the docket portals.

Philadelphia County Probate Records

Probate records are court documents created during litigation on the administration of a deceased person's estate. These records include wills, death certificates, petitions, estate records, and appraisals. The Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over probate matters in Philadelphia County.

The Register of Wills is the custodian of probate records in the county, and since probate records are public, anyone can visit the office to inspect or obtain a copy. Docket information can also be obtained online on the Common Pleas Orphans' Court Division Dockets page.

Philadelphia County Family Court Records

Family court records are documents covering domestic matters brought to the court, such as divorce, separation, domestic abuse, child custody, and child support. Family matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Family Division (also called the Domestic Relations Division) of the Court of Common Pleas.

Access to family court records depends on the inquirer's relationship to the case. Third parties are generally only allowed to view the basic docket sheet, with access to the full case file reserved for parties to the case. Eligible individuals may visit the Clerk of Family Court's Office to inspect a record.

Federal Court Records in Philadelphia County

Federal court records are a different class of court records that fall outside county or state limits. These records are held by federal courts because they involve issues of federal law, bankruptcy, or multi-state disputes. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handle all federal cases from Philadelphia County.

Both courts have a courthouse in Philadelphia. Individuals interested in viewing a federal court record may visit the relevant courthouse with a copy of their government-issued ID card to lodge a request. Alternatively, federal court records may be accessed online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal.