Chester County Court Records

Chester County Court Records refer to legal records documenting court proceedings. Such records may include court hearings, case files, dockets, and trial transcripts. The local judiciary generates and is responsible for maintaining and storing these records. These agencies are expected to keep these records by law and provide access to them to the general public for various uses.

Court records can be stored in various media, including written or typed documents, microfilm, pictures, electronic files, and audio or video recordings. They are generally considered part of Pennsylvania court records.

Are Court Records Public in Chester County?

According to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, court records are considered public records.

The law grants any citizen the right to request, inspect, and copy any public record after a successful request to the record’s custodian.

Although court records are generally considered public information, there are some occasions where information may be confidential and exempt from public access. Examples of information exempted from disclosure include the following.

• Personal information such as the home addresses of court officials and law enforcement officers
• Information that would lead to risk of physical harm or endanger the personal security of an individual
• Information that would disclose individually identifiable health or medical information such as medical, psychiatric, or psychological records
• A record that would include the identity of a confidential source for law enforcement
• A record which contains information made confidential by court order or the law
• Records containing information about the victim of a crime, including anything that would identify or endanger the safety of the victim
• Any information that would deprive an individual of the right to a fair trial or impartial adjudication

Exempted records may still be accessible but may be issued with the confidential parts redacted. Section 708 of the Right to Know Law contains more comprehensive details on information exempt from public disclosure.

Chester County Court Records Search

There are several options available for record seekers to search for Chester County court records, including the following.

• Visit the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, where the case was heard
• Contact the Chester County Clerk of Courts or the Chester County Prothonotary
• Search online using the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Online Web Portal
• Contact a reliable third-party court record website

Chester County Court Records Search by Name

Several options are available for anyone who wants to perform a name-based search for court records in Chester County. Record seekers may perform name-based searches by contacting the Chester County Clerk or Court for criminal court records or the Chester County Prothonotary for civil court records.

Requests can be made in person at the office or by mailing a written request addressed to either the Court Clerk at

Chester County Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, #1400,
West Chester, PA 19380

Requests for civil court records should be directed to the Prothonotary at:

Chester County Prothonotary (Civil)
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, #1425,
West Chester, PA 19380

For a successful request, court records requests should contain the full name of the subject and supporting information, such as a case number. Copies of court records ordered from the Court of Common Pleas cost $1 per page. For requests up to 1000 pages, requesters will be charged $0.25 per page. Certification of any record will cost an additional $5 for each document. Inquiries about requesting court records in Chester County can be made by calling (610) 344-6135 for the clerk of courts and (610) 344-6300 for the Prothonotary.

Record seekers may also make name-based searches online using the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal. Users may use the Case Search option to look up court cases by search criteria, including participant name and docket number.

Chester County Courts

Pennsylvania’s court system has several tiers of courts that make up the judicial system and hear different cases, including the Court of Common Pleas, the Magisterial District Court, and the Municipal Courts. Listed below are all the different courts operating in Chester County.

Chester County Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, Suite 1400,
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 344-6135
Fax: (610) 344-4465

Chester County Court of Common Pleas - Prothonotary (Civil)
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, Suite 1425,
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 344-6300
Fax: (610) 344-5903

Chester County Orphans' Court
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, #2200,
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 344-6335
Fax: (610) 344-6218

Magisterial District Courts in Chester County
Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-1-01
201 W Market St, #1307,
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 431-4814
Fax: (610) 431-4018

This court serves the Borough of West Chester (Wards 3, 6, and 7) plus the Townships of East Bradford and West Bradford.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-1-02
1572 Paoli Pike,
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: (610) 430-1966
Fax: (610) 430-8641

This court serves the Townships of East Goshen, Easttown, Tredyffrin (Precincts E-1, E-2, M-1, M-5, M-6, W-3, and W-4), Williston, and the Borough of Malvern.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-1-03
256 E Lincoln Hwy,
Coatesville, PA 19320
Phone: (610) 384-3159
Fax: (610) 384-5163

This court serves the Borough of South Coatesville and the City of Coatesville (Wards 2 and 4).

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-1-04
21 W Market St, #100,
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: (610) 344-6622
Fax: (610) 429-4644

This court hears cases for the Borough of West Chester (Wards 1, 2, 4, and 5).

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-1-05
Highlands Corporate Center
615 Sands Court, Coatesville, PA 19320
Phone: (610) 380-3325
Fax: (610) 380-4774

This court serves the Township of Valley and the City of Coatesville (Wards 1, 3, and 5).

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-2-01
347 Bridge St,
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone: (610) 935-1503
Fax: (610) 935-7427

This court serves the Townships of Charlestown and Schuylkill plus the Borough of Phoenixville.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-2-03
601 Westtown Rd, #110,
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: (610) 436-5757
Fax: (610) 431-5755

This court serves the Townships of Thornbury, West Goshen, and Westtown.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-2-07
75 E Uwchlan Ave, #110,
Exton, PA 19341
Phone: (610) 524-7456
Fax: (610) 524-6341

This court serves the Townships of West Pikeland, Upper Uwchlan, and Uwchlan.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-3-01
1130 Ridge Rd, Pottstown, PA 19465
Phone: (610) 469-1910
Fax: (610) 469-1913

This court serves the Townships of East Coventry, East Nantmeal, East Pikeland, East Vincent, North Coventry, South Coventry, Warwick, and West Vincent, plus the Borough of Spring City.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-3-04
916 W Cypress St,
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Phone: (610) 444-6330
Fax: (610) 444-6429

This court serves the Borough of Kennett Square and the Townships of Birmingham, East Marlborough, Kennett, Newlin, Pennsbury, and Pocopson.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-3-05
305 S Third St,
Oxford, PA 19363
Phone: (610) 932-4305
Fax: (610) 932-7649

This court serves the Borough of Oxford and the Townships of East Nottingham, Elk, Lower Oxford, New London, Penn, Upper Oxford, and West Nottingham.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-3-06
4824 Horseshoe Pike,
Honey Brook, PA 19344
Phone: (610) 273-3726
Fax: (610) 273-4392

This court serves the Townships of Honey Brook, Sadsbury, Wallace, West Brandywine, West Caln, and West Nantmeal, plus the Boroughs of Elverson and Honey Brook.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-3-07
315 First Ave, Bldg 3,
Parkesburg, PA 19365
Phone: (610) 857-5547
Fax: (610) 857-5841

This court serves the Boroughs of Atglen, Modena, and Parkesburg, as well as the Townships of East Fallowfield, Highland, Londonderry, West Fallowfield, and West Sadsbury.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-4-01
Chesterbrook Village Shopping Center
500 Chesterbrook Blvd, Suite B3,
Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: (610) 647-6533
Fax: (610) 647-6535

This court serves the Townships of East Whiteland (Wards 3, 4, 5, and 6) and Tredyffrin (Precincts E-3, E-4, E-5, M-2, M-3, M-4, M-7, W-1, W-2, and W-5).

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-4-02
231 Boot Rd,
Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone: (610) 269-5250
Fax: (610) 269-5017

This court serves the Borough of Downingtown and the Townships of Caln, East Caln, and East Brandywine.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-4-03
Whiteland Business Park
748 Springdale Dr, #110,
Exton, PA 19341
Phone: (610) 594-7728
Fax: (610) 594-7896

This court serves the Townships of East Whiteland (Wards 1 and 2) and West Whiteland.

Chester County Magisterial District Court 15-4-04
914 W Cypress St,
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Phone: (610) 444-6338
Fax: (610) 444-4368

This court serves the Boroughs of Avondale and West Grove and the Townships of Franklin, London Britain, London Grove, New Garden, and West Marlborough.

Chester County District Court Records

In Chester County, the Court of Common Pleas serves as the main trial court and holds general jurisdiction over most criminal and civil court cases. It hears cases above the jurisdiction of the magisterial and municipal courts. The following types of cases are heard in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas.

• Criminal cases
• Civil cases
• Juvenile cases
• Family court cases
• Probate cases(Orphans’ Court)

Record seekers may obtain records from court cases from their respective custodians at the Court of Common Pleas.

Chester County Criminal Records

In Chester County, record seekers may request criminal records from the Chester County Clerk of Courts. Record seekers may request a criminal record search by mailing a written request to the clerk of court office at:

Chester County Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, #1400,
West Chester, PA 19380

A criminal record search from the clerk of court will cost $21 per search. Record seekers should call the clerk of courts at (610) 344-6135 for inquiries.

Chester County arrest records and criminal histories can also be obtained from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). Requests for criminal records and background checks can be made by mail or using the online Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) website. Record requests by mail are made by downloading and filling out Form SP4-164. The completed form should be mailed to:

The Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository - 164
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg PA 17110-9758

Record seekers may obtain criminal records online using the PATCH website. Requests can be made by visiting the website, clicking “submit a new record check,” and following the instructions. At the end of the request, the requester may be able to print out the record response directly from the website.

Criminal record checks from the PSP cost a non-refundable fee of $22 per check, while notarized copies of a criminal record check cost an additional $5. Requests via mail must include a certified check or money order for the correct amount made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Chester County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Criminal court case records for Chester County can be obtained from the Chester County Clerk of Courts office. Record seekers may visit the office in person or submit a record request containing details such as names and case numbers to the office by mail. In-person and mailed requests can be forwarded to the clerk of courts at:

Chester County Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, #1400,
West Chester, PA 19380

Copies of criminal court case records from the clerk’s office cost $1 per page and $0.25 per page for requests up to 1000 pages. Certification of the record will cost an extra $5 per document. Inquiries about obtaining these criminal records can be made by contacting the office by phone or email at (610) 344-4283 or arosatihanley@chesco.org.

Interested parties may also look up criminal court case information online using the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal. The available Case Search option allows users to look up court records using various criteria.

Get Chester County Civil Court Records

Chester County civil court records can be obtained from the Chester County Prothonotary’s office. Requests can be made by visiting the office in person during normal business hours or by mailing a written request to the office.

During requests, record seekers must provide information that will enable staff to locate the record and process the request. Requests for civil court records should be made to the county Prothonotary at:

Chester County Court of Common Pleas - Prothonotary (Civil)
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, Suite 1425,
West Chester, PA 19380

Record seekers may also be able to access court records using the terminals at the Prothonotary Office. Although looking up records may be free of charge, any copies required will incur a fee. Copies cost $1 per page, and requests with over 1000 pages will cost $0.25 per page. Payment which is accepted in check and money orders must be made payable to the Prothonotary of Chester County. Cash and credit/debit cards are also accepted during in-person requests.

Contact the Prothonotary’s office for inquiries or questions about civil court documents by calling (610) 344-4140 or emailing prothyfiledepartment@chesco.org. Online requests for records can be made using the Prothonotary paid subscription service ChescoPIN. Users may create an account with the service and use it to access basic court and docket information. ChescoPIN may also be accessed for free from the Prothonotary’s Office or Chester County libraries.

Chester County Family Court Records

Chester County Family Court records is the collective term for records concerning domestic court issues within the county jurisdiction. This will include records of cases involving divorce, child support and custody, alimony, adoption, visitation, and protection from abuse orders. In Chester County, these records are maintained by the Prothonotary’s Office of the Court of Common Pleas.

To obtain family court records in Chester County, record seekers may either visit the Prothonotary’s Office or mail a written request to the office. Record seekers may visit the office during regular office hours from Monday to Friday between 8:0 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or mail the written request to the office at:

Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market St, Suite 1425,
West Chester, PA 19380-0989

The mailed request must contain enough information to identify and locate the required record. Copies of family court records will cost $1 per page, and requests with up to 1000 pages will cost $0.25 per page. Payment is accepted in cash, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover during in-person requests or checks and money orders during mailed requests. Payments by check and money order should be made payable to the Prothonotary of Chester County.

Record seekers may also be able to look up basic court information and docket entries online using the Prothonotary paid subscription service ChescoPIN.

Chester County Marriage and Divorce Records

Chester County marriage and divorce records are considered vital records detailing important life events that occurred within the county. These records are generally considered public records in Pennsylvania and accessible by anyone who makes a successful request to their custodians. In Chester County, these records are maintained by the Chester County Register of Wills for Marriage records and the county Prothonotary for divorce records.

Record seekers may request a certified copy of Chester County marriage records from the Register of Wills in person or by mail. To make the request, applicants must fill out and submit the Certified Marriage Record Request and submit it to the Register of Wills. Walk-in requests will usually be processed immediately, while mailed requests take about 7 to 10 working days.

All requests must include the names of the couple at the time of marriage, the date of the marriage, and a daytime number where the applicant can be reached. Mailed requests should be sent to the following address:

Marriage License Department
Chester County Justice Center
201 W. Market Street, Suite 2200
West Chester, PA 19380-0989

Included in the mailed request should be the appropriate payment and a self-addressed and stamped envelope for the return of the record. Marriage records cost $20 per copy in a money order made payable to the Clerk of the Orphans Court. Cash and credit payments are only accepted during walk-in requests.

To obtain a divorce record, the applicant may contact the Prothonotary’s Office in person during business hours. Requests can also be made by mailing a written request to the office. Both types of requests can be made to the office located at:

201 W. Market Street, Suite 1425
West Chester, PA 19380-0989

Requesters must provide the name of both parties to the divorce when the divorce occurred and a case number, if available. Mailed requests should include payment for the record and a self-addressed and stamped envelope for its return. Copies of divorce records vary according to the type. They cost $0.25 each for regular copies, $7 each for certified copies, and $25 each for exemplified copies. Payment is accepted in checks and credit cards during walk-in requests and checks or money orders during mailed requests. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Prothonotary of Chester County.

On the state level, these vital records can be obtained from the Pennsylvania Health Department, Division of Vital Records.

Chester Birth and Death Records

Chester County Birth and Death are legal documents detailing the births and deaths within Chester County. In Pennsylvania, these records only become public records after a certain amount of time has passed. Birth records become public after 105 years, while death records become accessible only after 50 years. Until that time has passed, only certain eligible parties may access them.

These eligible parties include the following.

• The person named on the birth certificate
• Spouse of the person on the certificate(birth or death)
• Parent or step-parent. A step-parent must also submit a marriage certificate to support the relationship to the person named on the birth certificate
• Brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister
• Son or daughter
• Step-son or step-daughter (must submit the parent's marriage certificate to support the relationship)
• Grandparent or great-grandparent
• Grandchild or great-grandchild
• Power of Attorney
• Attorney or legal representative of the person named on the birth certificate (must provide supporting documentation)
• If the person listed on the birth certificate is deceased, a family member who is not listed above must also submit a copy of the death certificate to be eligible to receive the birth certificate.

Chester County Birth and Death records may be obtained from the Division of Vital Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Record seekers may obtain these records in person, by mail, and online.

Walk-in requests can be made at any of the Public Offices of the Department of Health. Walk-in services are available from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Any requests received by 2:30 p.m. will be processed on the same day. Requesters must show a Valid Identification during their request at the office.

Mailed requests can be made by filling out and signing either the Application for Birth Certificate or Death Certificate and mailing them with payment and a copy of valid identification to:

Division of Vital Records
Birth Certificate/Death Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103

Online requests can be made using Pennsylvania's only authorized Online Vital Records Ordering vendor. Users simply visit the website, select the certificate they require, and follow the instructions.

Birth Certificates and Death Certificates cost a non-refundable fee of $20 each. Online orders may be paid for using credit cards and will incur an additional $10 service fee. Mailed requests should include payment in check or money order made payable to VITAL RECORDS. Processing time for Chester County birth and death records is approximately two weeks and three weeks, respectively.

Birth and death records are important vital records that are very useful in establishing an individual's citizenship, identity, and genealogy.

Chester County Probate Court Records

Chester County probate records are records concerning probate cases within the county. They include records of wills, estates, guardianships, and other events involving the assets of a deceased person. The Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphan Court maintain these records in Chester County.

Record seekers may be able to request Chester County probate court records by contacting the Register of Wills in person or by mail. In-person requests can be made by coming to the office at:

The Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market Street, Suite 2200
West Chester, PA 19380-0989

Record seekers may be able to view probate records or request copies of probate records at the office. Mail requests will require mailing in a written request with as much detail about the required probate record as possible. The written record should be sent to the Register of Wills along with any payment for copies.

Record inquiries from the register of wills can also be made by telephone at (610) 344-6335 or by email at rwills@chesco.org. During these requests, the record seeker must provide a name or file number, and after receiving basic information from the file, more detailed information can be requested in person or by mail.

Chester County Property Records

Chester County property records are records of property in the county and transactions involving these properties. Examples of property records are records concerning liens, deeds, mortgages, trusts, property transfers, and other related documents. In Chester County, these records are maintained by the Chester County Recorder of Deeds who is responsible for maintaining these and all other land and real estate records.

Property records can be obtained from the Recorder of Deeds in person, by mail, or online. Record seekers may contact the recorder of deeds office located at:

Chester County Government Services Center,
313 W Market St, Suite 3302,
West Chester, PA 19382

They may ask to view the records in person or, if available, use the public terminals at the office to look up property records by name, address, parcel number, or record type.

Mailed requests can be made by posting a written request containing the previous information. Requesters should also include a self-addressed and stamped envelope for returning the record. Payment for any copies may be required in advance, so record seekers are advised to call the recorder of deeds ahead of their request at (610) 344-6330 or email rodinfo@chesco.org to inquire about the availability of the records and copy fees.

The Chester County Recorder of Deeds also offers several online options for looking up different property records. The Records Search and Name Search tools allow users to look up different records. Instructions for obtaining records, such as deeds, can be found on the recorder’s website.

Obtaining copies in person will cost $0.50 per page while having copies mailed to the requester will cost $5 per page.

Chester County Court Records Online

Record seekers may try third-party records websites as an alternative for obtaining Chester County court records. Pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us and other similar websites are privately owned websites that may offer a convenient option for users to look up court records online. They allow users to obtain a variety of court records from one location without having to visit the courthouses in person. The interfaces on these websites are user-friendly, allowing searches to be made using simple criteria such as names and case numbers, generally for a fee. However, users should note that these websites have no government affiliations, so the accuracy of records cannot be guaranteed.