Lancaster County Court Records

Lancaster County court records are official documents on civil and criminal adjudication within Lancaster County, PA. Such records are typically generated during the prosecution of civil and criminal cases. Lancaster County court records encompass trial documents from the Courts of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts. Pennsylvania court records (and those of its counties) contain documents and information on civil, criminal, appellate, probate, family law, traffic, and municipal ordinance cases.

Typically, Lancaster County court records information include but are not limited to:

• Case details such as case number, case type, and filing date
• Names of the plaintiff and defendants and their representatives
• Case documents (these include complaints/Petitions, answers/responses, motions, orders, and judgments)
• Docket Entries
• Transcripts
• Exhibits
• Sentencing details
• Appeal and post-trial information.

Lancaster court records are crucial documents for the delivery of Justice within the county. They serve as evidence of fair and equitable judgment in legal prosecutions of trial cases. In addition, Lancaster County court records serve as legal precedence for similar cases in the future.

Are Court Records Public in Lancaster County?

Yes, Lancaster County court records are public. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL) stipulates that all government records (including Lancaster County public records) in the custody of the Commonwealth, local, legislative, and judicial agencies are accessible to interested persons unless exempt by

• state or government statutes
• Judicial order
• Privilege.

In addition, Article I, Section 11 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Pennsylvania Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System, Commonwealth Court decisions, and local court rules reinforce public access to Lancaster County court records.

Notwithstanding the public access to Lancaster County court records, the Pennsylvania Right to Know law exempts public access to

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Grand Jury information
• Attorney/Client privilege information
• Trade secrets
• Medical and Mental Health Records
• Victim Information and pre-sentencing report
• Sealed and expunged records
• Custody and Divorce proceedings
• Confidential Informant information
• Court records whose public access may impact an ongoing investigation.

Lancaster County Court Records Search

Lancaster County court records are available through online and offline repositories. Interested persons can search for Lancaster County court records online through their custodian agencies' websites, government websites, or third-party databases. Additionally, Lancaster County court records are accessible through in-person visits to the records custodian agencies' offices, public notice boards, or libraries.

Lancaster County Court Records Search by Name

Record seekers may sometimes obtain information on legal prosecutions in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, by entering a name. To search for any type of Lancaster County court records using a name as a criterion, users may need to log in to the record's online repositories and enter the name of the record owner into the search tool when prompted to provide a search criterion.

Also, requesters may need to include the name of the owner of the record they are searching for when making offline requests to access Lancaster County court records. Irrespective of the method of searching for court records in Lancaster County, requesters may have to make payments to access Lancaster County court records.

Lancaster County Courts

Lancaster County's court structure comprises the Common Court of Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts. In Lancaster County, the Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases and handles cases beyond the Jurisdiction of the Magisterial Courts.

The Lancaster County Magisterial County handles civil and criminal cases relating but not limited to

• Summary offenses
• Preliminary hearings
• DUI cases
• Third-degree misdemeanors
• Ordinance Violations
• Landlord/Tenant disputes
• General civil claims within certain financial limits.

The Lancaster County Magisterial Court does not have jurisdiction over civil lawsuits against the Pennsylvania Commonwealth. The list below outlines the contact information of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas and the various Magisterial Courts within the county.

Lancaster County Courts of Common Pleas

50 N. Duke St.
P.O. Box 83480
Lancaster,
PA 17608
Ph: (717) 299-8041

Lancaster County Magisterial District Courts

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-1-01

641 Union St, Lancaster,
PA 17603
Phone: (717) 299-7896
Fax: (717) 390-2345

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-1-02

2205 Oregon Pike, Lancaster,
PA 17601
Phone: (717) 569-8774
Fax: (717) 569-8721

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-1-03

341 Chestnut St, Columbia, PA 17512
Phone: (717) 684-2761
Fax: (717) 684-9774

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-2-01

123 Locust St, Lancaster,
PA 17602
Phone: (717) 299-7974
Fax: (717) 299-8375

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-2-02

150 N Queen St, #120, Lancaster,
PA 17603
Phone: (717) 295-2000
Fax: (717) 209-3031

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-2-03

1351 Elm Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603
Phone: (717) 299-7898
Fax: (717) 390-2346

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-2-04

796-A New Holland Ave, Lancaster,
PA 17602
Phone: (717) 299-7966
Fax: (717) 390-2344

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-2-05

2168 Embassy Dr, #150, Lancaster,
PA 17603
Phone: (717) 735-2288
Fax: (717) 735-2270

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-2-06

841 Stehman Rd, Millersville,
PA 17551
Phone: (717) 872-4361
Fax: (717) 872-1190

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-2-07

609 E Main St, Ephrata,
PA 17522
Phone: (717) 733-8688
Fax: (717) 733-4330

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-2-08

690 Furnace Hills Pike, Lititz,
PA 17543
Phone: (717) 626-0258
Fax: (717) 626-5528

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-3-01

424 S Angle St, Mount Joy,
PA 17552
Phone: (717) 653-4575
Fax: (717) 653-0401

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-3-02

15 Geist Rd, Lancaster,
PA 17601
Phone: (717) 656-2191
Fax: (717) 656-4425

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-3-03

324 Beaver Valley Pike, Willow Street,
PA 17584
Phone: (717) 464-4141
Fax: (717) 464-2824

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-3-04

25 E State St, Quarryville,
PA 17566
Phone: (717) 786-7368
Fax: (717) 786-2072

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-3-05

14 Center St,
P.O. Box 618, Intercourse,
PA 17534
Phone: (717) 768-3312
Fax: (717) 768-3250

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-3-06

745B E Main St, New Holland,
PA 17557
Phone: (717) 354-4206
Fax: (717) 354-8881

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-3-07

2 Cardinal Dr, Stevens,
PA 17578
Phone: (717) 336-2801
Fax: (717) 336-3394

Lancaster County Magisterial District Court 02-3-09

920 S Spruce St, Elizabethtown,
PA 17022
Phone: (717) 367-4330
Fax: (717) 367-8019

Lancaster County District Court Records

In Lancaster County and the rest of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth, the Magisterial District Courts handle cases that fall within the jurisdiction of the district courts in other U.S. states. The district court in Lancaster County oversees the following types of cases:

• Minor criminal offenses such as harassment, underage drinking, and disorderly conduct
• Non-felony criminal offenses
• Preliminary hearings for criminal felonies
• Traffic violations
• Civil cases such as small claims and Landlord-Tenant disputes
• Municipal code violations
• Emergency Protection from Abuse (PFA)
• Issuance of search and arrest warrants.

To access Lancaster County district court records

• Log in to the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal

  • Expand the drop menu and select any search criteria from the available options.
  • Provide the required information and perform a search for Lancaster County district court records.

• Visit the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts Office and request access to district court records at:

50 N Duke St, Lancaster,
PA 17602

• Identify the Lancaster County magisterial court that handled the specific case, visit their clerk's office, and make a Right-to-Know request to access district court records.
• Visit or call the Lancaster County Prothonotary Offices and request access to civil case records in their possession.

Lancaster County Criminal Records

Criminal records provide comprehensive details of individuals' crime histories and interactions with the criminal justice system. Law enforcement agencies in Lancaster County generate criminal records during official duties.

In Lancaster County, criminal records in the possession of law enforcement include:

• Lancaster County arrest records
• Jail and Incarceration Records
• Traffic Violation Records
• Investigative Reports
• Incident Log/Blotters
• Arrest and Search Warrants
• Criminal History Reports
• Booking Records
• Incident/Police Reports.

Lancaster County criminal records are public and accessible to interested persons. To access Lancaster arrest records and other documents in the possession of law enforcement agencies:

• Visit the Lancaster County, PA Sheriff's Office website

  • Click the Who's in Jail link to access the Public Inmate Search Portal
  • Use name, birth date, and Personal Identification Number to search for criminal records through inmate records

• Log in to the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History Page

  • Click the New Volunteer Records Check or Submit a New Records Check link
  • Scroll down and accept the terms and conditions for the search
  • On the new page, indicate the type of request search (Individual or Company Request)
  • Complete the online form to access the search portal
  • Provide the necessary information to access Lancaster County criminal records. Access to Lancaster County criminal records through the PATCH portal is available to owners of the criminal records, legal representatives, and volunteers only. Also, using the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History portal to search for Lancaster County criminal records involves fee payments.

• Visit the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office at:

50 N Duke Street
P.O. Box 83480
Lancaster,
PA 17608
(717) 299-8200

• Contact local and municipal police departments and request access to criminal records in their possessions.

Lancaster County Criminal Court Case Lookup

The Common Pleas and Magisterial Courts in Lancaster County create criminal records during criminal trials. There are several options for accessing Lancaster County criminal records. To look for Lancaster County post-trial criminal records:

• Log in to the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal and use the online search tools to look for records on Lancaster County criminal case adjudications
• Contact the Lancaster County Common Pleas Courts or the Magisterial Court that handled the specific case and make a Right-to-Know request to access Lancaster criminal records.

Get Lancaster County Civil Court Records

Lancaster County civil court records refer to documents, files, and information on non-criminal prosecutions. These include but are not limited to:

• Probate cases
• Personal Injury Cases
• Business Litigation
• Trust and Administration
• Guardianship and Conservatorship
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
• Wills and Codicils
• Divorce
• Contract Disagreements
• Small Claims.

In Lancaster County, PA, Common Pleas and Magisterial Courts handle civil cases within the county. Lancaster County civil court records documents contain documents such as:

• Complaints and Petitions
• Docket Entries
• Discovery Documents
• Summons
• Settlement Agreements
• Judgment and Decrees
• Court Transcripts.

Per the Pennsylvania Right to Know and other enabling laws, Lancaster County civil court records are public documents. However, due to the private nature of some civil cases, certain Lancaster civil court records are restricted.

To obtain Lancaster County civil court records, log in to the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal and search for court records relating to civil case prosecutions in Lancaster County. Also, Lancaster County civil court records are accessible through Right-to-Know requests at the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts Office. In addition, interested persons can visit the Lancaster County court that handled the specific civil case and request access to the case record.

Lancaster County Family Court Records

Lancaster County family court records refer to documents on family dispute adjudication within the county's courts. In Lancaster County, PA, the Magisterial Courts handle cases relating to family disputes. Lancaster County family law records encompass documents on:

• Divorce
• Adoption
• Child Custody
• Paternity
• Guardianship Petition
• Name Change
• Domestic Violence cases.

Under the Pennsylvania judicial system, family case adjudication is the responsibility of the Courts of Common Pleas. Pennsylvania State and U.S. federal laws exempt public access to some Lancaster County family law records for privacy reasons, and to access them, an entity must be an involved party, a person with tangible interest, or has authority to do so under the law.

Lancaster County family law records are accessible online through the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal. Also, requesters can visit the Lancaster County Common Pleas Courts Clerk Office and request access to family law records. Family law records are crucial documents for the accountability and transparency of family case adjudications.

Also, they are important documents for protecting the rights of vulnerable persons involved in family law disputes. Furthermore, Lancaster family law records are critical documentation for establishing a family’s genealogy of residents or people within the county.

Lancaster County Marriage and Divorce Records

Lancaster County marriage and divorce records are official documents that detail the union of individuals as legal couples and the termination of marriages within the county. In Lancaster County, marriage and divorce records are treated differently in terms of public availability. Typically, Lancaster County marriage records are public and accessible to interested individuals. On the other hand, access to Lancaster County divorce records is restricted to the owners of the records, their legal representatives, and persons with legal authorization.

For individuals seeking access to Lancaster County marriage and divorce records, the following tips may aid the search process.

To access a Lancaster County marriage certificate

• Log in to the Lancaster County Register of Wills Marriage License Search Portal
  • Use marriage date to search for marriage records of marriage after 1948
• For Lancaster County marriage records from 1885 upward, visit the Lancaster County, PA Register of Wills Office and request access to marriage records at:

50 N. Duke St.
Lancaster,
PA 17602
Phone: (717) 295-5994

To access Lancaster County divorce records

• Visit or call the Visit the Lancaster County, PA Prothonotary’s Office between 8.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (except on public holidays) at:

The Lancaster County Courthouse,

50 N Duke St,
Lancaster,
PA 17602
Phone: (717) 299-8282

Lancaster Birth and Death Records

Lancaster County birth and death records are official documents that detail life-changing events in the lives of people living within the county. Hence, they are part of Lancaster County Vital Records. Birth and death records document the birth and death of individuals. Per Pennsylvania laws, Lancaster County birth and death records are private, and to access them, a requester must be an immediate or extended family member, a legal representative of the record owner, or a person with legal tangible interest.

Lancaster County birth certificates and death decrees are available through the Vital Records Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. To obtain a Lancaster birth certificate or death record

• Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health Online Vital Records Ordering Page

  • Select the appropriate certificate (birth or death certificate) from the available options to access the ordering portal.
  • Provide the necessary information and order for a Lancaster birth certificate or death decree.

• Visit the nearest Pennsylvania Department of Health office in neighboring Harrisburg County at:

Division of Vital Records,
Harrisburg State Office Building
Room 103
333 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101-2234
Phone: (717) 772-3480

• Download an Application for Birth or Death Certificate form from the Pennsylvania Department of Health website

• Complete the form (for birth or death certificate), include a check/money order for $30.00 to cover the access and mailing cost, and mail it to:

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

The same address applies to death records.

Birth and death records are vital documents that play important roles as proof of a person's identity for official documents, establishing citizenship, and eligibility for government benefits. In addition, birth records are crucial documents for school and healthcare enrollments, inheritance and estate settlements, and genealogical and historical research.

Lancaster County Probate Court Records

Lancaster County probate court records refer to official documents on real estate administration within Lancaster County. In Lancaster County, PA, the Orphans' Court Division of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas oversees probate cases. Lancaster County probate court records encompass but are not limited to documents and files on the adjudication of cases relating to:

• Wills
• Estate Administration
• Trusts
• Guardianship
• Adoption.

To access Lancaster County probate records:

• Visit the Lancaster County Register of Wills website

  • Scroll down and click Probate under the Quick Link header to access the Register of Wills search page
  • Use a name, file number, or filing date to look for Lancaster County probate records

• Contact the Orphans' Court Division of the Lancaster County Courts of Common Pleas through the Lancaster County Register of Wills Office:

50 N. Duke St., Lancaster,
PA 17602
Phone: (717) 295-5994

Lancaster County Property Records

Lancaster County property records are official documentation on real estate within the county. Generally, property records documents and information include:

• Property deeds
• Parcel Number
• Zoning information
• Plats Maps
• Mortgage Information
• Easement Agreements
• Property tax records
• Building permits and inspections
• Property sales history
• Land Use Records
• Affidavits and Declarations
• Lease Agreements
• Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs).

To access Lancaster County property records:

• Visit the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Website:

  • Scroll down and click Property Assessment Information under the Resources header to access the Property Search Page
  • Use parcel, site, sales, or Building/Structure Criteria to look for Lancaster County property records

• Visit the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Office and request access to property records at:

150 N Queen Street,
Lancaster,
PA 17603
Phone: (717) 299-8000

Lancaster County Court Records Online

Third-party online resources are convenient means for accessing Lancaster County public records. These resources offer round-the-clock access to Lancaster County court records from different locations. Some private online resources gather information from various sources and make them available to those interested through online databases.

For instance, Pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us (a third-party platform) accumulates civil and criminal records from state and local civil and criminal records custodian agencies and makes them accessible to the public. In addition, some third-party websites may offer free access to Lancaster County court records and save requesters the costs of accessing government repositories. However, requesters should note that sourcing official records from non-government databases poses potential risks. Data from non-government custodians may be out-of-date or incomplete.