Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Court Case Search

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not have a Superior Court in the correct sense of the term, which means a main trial court. In  Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, the main trial court is the Courts of Common Pleas, which have general jurisdiction over criminal, family, civil, and probate matters. In Pennsylvania, the Superior Court refers to the intermediate appellate court, which functions the same way the Courts of Appeals function in some other states. Record seekers who wish to obtain information on cases within Lehigh County may need to search within the Lehigh Court of Common Pleas, not the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. 

What Kinds of Cases Are Heard in the Lehigh Court of Common Pleas?

The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is a court of general jurisdiction, giving it jurisdiction over a wide variety of cases. Here are some cases commonly heard at the Lehigh Court of Common Pleas:

• Major Civil Disputes: A civil dispute is a legal dispute between two legal entities that involves the enforcement or protection of legal rights. It includes contractual and business disputes that exceed a certain financial threshold. 
• Felony Criminal Cases: Felonies are serious criminal offenses that attract punishments ranging from more than one year of imprisonment to life imprisonment or death. They include serious crimes like homicides, aggravated assault, and serious drug offenses. 
• Family law matters are legal disputes relating to marriage and family. They include divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, and alimony, among others. 
• Probate proceedings relate to managing the property of deceased people. They include cases involving wills and the administration of estates. 

Specialized court divisions also exist that employ a mix of legal, social, and political strategies to provide lasting solutions to certain criminal issues. Examples include Juvenile Court, Mental Health Court, and Drug Abuse Court.

Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas

As the main trial court in Lehigh County, the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is a court of general jurisdiction. This means that it can preside over a wide range of civil and criminal cases. As a result, the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is an essential part of the law and justice system in Lehigh County. Residents of Lehigh County rely on the Court of Common Pleas to resolve legal disputes and enforce their rights, making it a vital aspect of maintaining law and order in Lehigh County. 

Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas
Lehigh County Courthouse 
455 W. Hamilton Street,
Allentown, PA 18101

Lehigh County Case Lookup

A county-wide case lookup is the process of searching through all court records in a county, including those from the main trial courts, specialized courts, and appellate courts. Ways to conduct county-wide case lookups include:

For Online Searches

One of the most effective and convenient ways to conduct a county-wide case lookup is by searching through the court’s official website. The state of Pennsylvania has a Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal. On this official website, you can find information on various civil and criminal cases. You can search for cases using the names of parties, case numbers, or the attorney's information. You may need to complete a registration or pay fees to access certain types of records. Also, certain confidential files may not be available online.

Walk-in Requests

If you cannot or would rather not use the website, you also have the option of walking into the clerk’s office at the Lehigh County Courthouse. The clerk’s office is usually open Mondays to Fridays, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. You can either request the clerk’s assistance or use the public access terminals for self-service. You may need to show a valid means of identification to access certain records, and obtaining copies of court documents may also require you to pay fees. You can pay using cash, card, or checks.

Mail-in Requests

Another option is to send in a case search request via mail. To conduct a mail-in request, simply provide all the necessary identifying information, like the case number, names of parties, or upcoming hearing dates. You may need to fill and submit certain request forms as requested by the clerk’s office. For ease of return for any documents you require, it is advisable to include a self-addressed and stamped envelope. Remember that you may need to pay fees to obtain copies of court documents or to certify copies of documents. The Lehigh Court of Common Appeals mail-in address is: 

Lehigh County Clerk of Courts 
455 W. Hamilton Street 
Allentown, PA 18101

Additional Considerations

You can also obtain limited information on cases by calling the clerk’s office. However, to obtain full case files and certain types of information, you need a formal request. Remember to have relevant case details ready if you want to phone the clerk’s office.

Lehigh Court of Common Pleas Case Search by Name

Name-based searches are a popular and effective way to conduct a case search. You can search for cases by name online, in person, or via a mail-in request. When conducting a name-based search, ensure you spell the party names correctly to ensure your search returns accurate results. In the case of parties with common names, including extra information like the case number or hearing date can help return more accurate search results. You can also explore various filters on the court website to improve your search accuracy. 

Lehigh Court of Common Pleas Docket Search

A court docket is a document containing a detailed timeline of all activities in a case. Court dockets contain virtually every information on a case, including processes filed, motions moved, rulings, and past and scheduled hearing dates. This information is incredibly useful for monitoring a case’s progress. You can conduct a docket search online on the court’s official website, in person, or via a mail request. To conduct a docket search, simply provide the names of any of the parties or the case number. 

Lookup Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Online

In addition to the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal, which gives official online access to case records, there are also third-party websites that provide information on publicly available court records in Lehigh County. Such third-party platforms include Pennsylvaniacourtrecourt.us. However, although a convenient option., third-party sites operate independently of any government agency. As such, case records may not be as accurate as records from primary sources due to outdated information or improper collation of records before uploading. Requesters can verify such information by contacting the court clerk’s office.

Supreme Court vs. Superior Court

The term “Superior Court” is a bit complex when it comes to the state of Pennsylvania. Usually, the term “Superior Court” is a common law term used to describe the main trial court in an area. However, in Pennsylvania, the main trial court is the Court of Common Pleas. The term “Superior Court” in Pennsylvania refers to the intermediate-level appellate court, which plays the role of a Court of Appeal. Appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas go to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and appeals from this court go to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. 

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest judicial and appellate authority in the state. It receives appeals from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania and also decides on constitutional matters. The Supreme Court may also refer to the Supreme Court of the United States, which is the highest judicial authority in the country and presides over constitutional disputes of a federal nature.