Washington County Court Records

Individuals and organizations initiate civil lawsuits in Washington County to ask courts for relief against another party. Alleged offenders are also arraigned before judges and tried in different Washington County courts. During these proceedings, opposing sides submit arguments, motions, witness testimony, evidence, disposition materials, and arrest records to court administrators (like clerks and prothonotaries). The courts also issue orders, subpoenas, judgments, and decrees.

These materials and information are generally called Washington County Court records. They are not necessarily the same as documents produced in relation to internal judicial administration processes, such as ethics investigations on court personnel and judges.

Parties looking for court records need them to follow up cases, prepare for legal arguments, or research crime rates in the county. Judges can also refer to historical records when deciding and drafting judgments and orders.

People can search for court cases through the central Pennsylvania Court records database provided by the commonwealth’s unified judicial system. They can also approach the clerk of court and prothonotary’s offices to find and collect case files.

Are Court Records Public in Washington County?

Yes, state laws and court rules ensure every individual’s right to inspect Washington court records. Section 102 of the Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law (RTKL) includes the state’s judiciary as one of the public agencies mandated by section 701 to provide public records to any requesting individual. The Supreme Court also declared in 204 Pa. Code § 213.81(3.0) that all case records are presumed public unless there is a statutory restriction in place.

While the public enjoys presumed access to case records, not all records generated and received by courts are classed as Washington County public records. The following documents and information are considered confidential according to various court rules and state laws:

• Financial account, social security, driver license, and state ID numbers
• Address and other identifying information of abuse victims
• Certain Washington County criminal records held by the Pennsylvania State police and other law enforcement agencies, especially information on active investigations
• Juvenile court proceedings
• Expunged and sealed court records
• Medical and mental health records
• Children and Youth Services information
• Certain information in divorce proceedings
• Financial source records

Washington County Court Records Search

Individuals who want to obtain Washington court records can do so by approaching the custodian of the record they seek. To identify the right custodian, they must determine the type of record they want to access. For example, different custodians manage criminal and civil records generated in the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. Parties looking for records must also keep in mind that viewing case records and collecting copies may involve different processes.

There are more things to consider. Searchers should ideally check if the record they seek is open to the general public and learn about the fees and payment methods for obtaining copies of court documents.

People are also free to explore other options, such as using the services of third-party websites that offer more streamlined search processes for Washington public records.

Washington County Court Records Search by Name

A name search simplifies the research process, as it allows individuals to provide the names of the parties involved in a case to fetch case records. Some systems also allow searching by attorney name. That way, they do not always have to provide numbers, such as case and citation numbers, when they are not known.

Washington County Courts

The following are contact and address information of the various courts in Washington County:

Court of Common Pleas

Washington County Courthouse
1 South Main Street
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6797
Fax: (724) 228-6938

Magisterial District Court

Magisterial District 27-1-01
26 South Main Street
1st Floor
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-8836
Fax: (724) 228-6218

Magisterial District 27-1-02
604B Park Avenue
Monongahela, PA 15063
Phone: (724) 258-5106
Fax: (724) 258-5145

Magisterial District 27-1-03
416 Fallowfield Avenue
Charleroi, PA 15022
Phone: (724) 483-6373
Fax: (724) 483-3550

Magisterial District 27-2-01
68 East Pike Street
Suite 205
Canonsburg, PA 15317
Phone: (724) 745-5754
Fax: (724) 745-5763

Magisterial District 27-3-01
453 Valleybrook Road
Suite 100
McMurray, PA 15317
Phone: (724) 941-1015
Fax: (724) 942-8355

Magisterial District 27-3-02
900 Main Street
Suite 120
Bentleyville, PA 15314
Phone: (724) 239-5050
Fax: (724) 239-5522

Magisterial District 27-3-03
685 National Pike West
Brownsville, PA 15417
Phone: (724) 632-3143
Fax: (724) 632-3160

Magisterial District 27-3-06
3441 Millers Run Road
Suite 103
Cecil, PA 15321
Phone: (724) 746-8515

Magisterial District 27-3-07
2038 Smith Township State Road
Suite 3
Burgettstown, PA 15021
Phone: (724) 947-5492
Fax: (724) 947-5523

Magisterial District 27-3-10
200 Buffalo Center Lane
Suite C
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 222-8122
Fax: (724) 225-4357

Washington County Superior Court Case Search

Washington County does not have a Superior Court but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does. The state’s Superior Court is one of its two intermediate appellate courts and not a trial court. People interested in Washington County’s main trial court are looking for the Court of Common Pleas. It has original jurisdiction over every legal proceeding in Washington County but only handles matters outside the purview of minor courts.

The Court of Common Pleas hears civil, criminal, and family cases. It is where the public go for adoption, divorce, business transactions, contract disputes, and some personal injury cases. It is also the main court for high-profile state criminal cases in Washington County.

Individuals can access records and information generated in any of the court's divisions through the Case Search system provided by the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. People can search for cases using the following parameters:

• Participant (case party) name
• Attorney
• State ID (SID)
• Organization name
• Incident number
• Date filed
• Calendar event
• Citation number
• Parcel
• Offense tracking number (OTN)

If they are searching by attorney, organization, or participant name, they can indicate the types of cases they want to view under Docket Type, choose Washington County, and select case status to limit search results to specific case types.

Depending on the case being viewed, the system can show the case status, disposition (including outcome), sentence length, judge name, and charges.

People can also use options provided by the offices of the Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, and Clerk of Orphans Court. These options include search and copy mail-in requests, in-person inspection and copy requests, and online resources for viewing case records and documents.

Washington County District Court Records

Washington County magisterial district courts are the county’s courts of limited jurisdiction. They handle preliminary hearings for criminal matters before being transferred to the Court of Common Pleas. Magisterial district court judges also hear civil cases worth up to $12,000.

People looking to find records generated in these courts can also use the UJS web portal and use resources provided by the office of the Prothonotary. Individuals interested in getting paper files can visit the magisterial district judge office that presided over a particular case or covers a specific region to submit their copy request forms. For example, civil cases worth $12,000 or less heard in the City of Washington typically fall under Magisterial District Number 27-1-01.

Washington County Criminal Records

Washington County arrest records are usually the foundational datasets for criminal records. They show when an individual was first taken into custody, the arresting officer and agency, details of their charges, and bail information. These records are generally created by local law enforcement agencies and may not go on to be part of Washington criminal records if the individual is not charged. However, prosecutors use them alongside gathered evidence to charge alleged offenders to court.

To find Washington County arrest records, interested parties can contact the arresting agency in person or by phone to confirm the availability of the records they seek. They can also contact the Correctional Facility by phone or email to request inmate information.

Washington County Criminal Court Case Lookup

While Washington County criminal records contain arrest details, they are primarily made up of court hearings, pleadings, motions, dispositions, motions, judgments, and sentencing information. These records are generated when the commonwealth prosecutes an individual for allegedly breaking a state statute.

Smaller criminal offenses like traffic and ordinance violations are heard in the district courts while more serious offenses are prosecuted in the Court of Common Pleas. Individuals can retrieve these records through the UJS portal and the office of the Clerk of Courts.

People who want to search for case records or purchase copies of court documents can visit the clerk's office or fill out the File Request Form and submit it to the following location:

Clerk of Courts
100 W Beau Street
Suite 206
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6787

Individuals seeking transcripts of criminal proceedings can complete the Washington County Request for Transcript form and send it to the clerk's address.

The followings are the costs for obtaining copies of documents and transcripts:

• Search: $10.50
• Copies: 25 cents per page
• Certified true copy: $10
• Transcript Deposit: $50
• Original transcript: $2.75 per page (plus 50 cents per page for copies)
• Expedited original transcripts: $3.75 per page (plus cents per page for copies)

Get Washington County Civil Court Records

Civil court cases are matters involving legal disputes between two parties. Plaintiffs initiate these suits against defendants and usually seek financial damages or compensation. They can also be used to force another party to take specific actions, such as pausing or discontinuing certain projects, handing over property rights, or giving up custody of a child.

Civil cases are adjudicated by magisterial district judges if the money involved is not more than $12,000. Cases worth higher are heard in the civil division of the Court of Common Plea.

The prothonotary is the primary custodian for records emanating from these courts. The office provides public computers for viewing case documents and data at Crossroads Building and the Courthouse Law Library.

The office's public portal also allows members of the public to view civil case information and documents. It offers party, case number, judgment, document, publication, calendar searches. While users can search and view basic case details for free, creating accounts can afford them advanced access. They can further filter cases by selecting filed date, case status, and role of case party (if searching by name).

The public portal primarily shows basic information such as party information, docket entries, case status, future hearings (for active cases), claims, and judgments. While the site displays documents, they are usually only available to individuals with authorized access.

People who want to order copies of documents can do so in person or call or email the office for information. Individuals who want to request transcripts can also fill out the Washington County Request for Transcript form and send it to the Prothonotary's office at the following address:

95 West Beau Street
Suite 510
Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6770

Additionally, the UJS portal also hosts civil case details generated in the Washington Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial district courts. Individuals can choose which court's portal to open depending on the monetary threshold of the case they want to access.

Washington County Family Court Records

The Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction over family law matters and handles these cases through its civil division. These cases include child custody, juvenile (crimes committed by people under 18), divorce, alimony, and abuse matters. The Orphans’ Court also handles some family-related matters, including parental rights, adoption, guardianship of minors, and marriage license petitions.

Case records generated in these courts are usually protected and only available to case parties, their legal representatives, and other authorized entities. Eligible parties can approach the Prothonotary's office to view these case details and documents and obtain copies. Members of the general public can also go through the UJS portal and the Prothonotary's public portal to find publicly available family case records.

Washington Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage records are case documents and entries created during divorce and annulment proceedings. They are generally filed with the county's Prothonotary, and people seeking records of their divorce can visit or contact the same office.

Washington County Marriage and Divorce Records

As mentioned, people seeking divorce records can approach the Prothonotary's office. For other Washington County marriage records, such as copies of marriage licenses and applications, individuals can approach the Register of Wills office instead.

These records are also called Washington County vital records and can be used to get social security benefits, prove one's marriage, and apply for a change of name.

The ROW office allows individuals to fill out the application form for certified copies of marriage licenses, which they can then send to:

Washington County Register of Wills
Washington County Courthouse
100 West Beau Street,
Suite 102
Washington Pennsylvania 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6775
Fax: (724) 250-482

Individuals can also visit the Register of Wills office at the above location to make in-person requests. They can also inquire about obtaining a copy of their Washington County marriage certificate, although certified license copies are also legally binding. Each copy costs $10 whether the individual wants a certified copy of their marriage license or application.

Washington Birth and Death Records

Washington County birth records are legal documents that serve as proof of a person's birth place, age, and identity. They are usually required for certain purposes, such as passport applications, and social security registration. They can also be accepted for school enrolment, driver's license and marriage license applications, and age verification.

Death records are also legal paperwork required to prove a passing's passing in certain dealings. These dealings include probate proceedings, collecting retirement and social security benefits, and completing insurance claims.

Only specific individuals permitted by Pennsylvania law can obtain these documents. They include persons named on the record and their family members (including spouses), power of attorney, legal representatives, certain government agencies, and people with valid court orders.

One can obtain a Washington County birth certificate or death record created from 1906 till date through the Vital Records division of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Orders can be processed online, by mail, and in person. People looking to use the online method must go through the PDOH's vendor (attracts an extra $10 processing fee).

Requesters must do the following if they are ordering by mail:

• Fill out the birth or death certificate application form
• Attach valid identification to prove their eligibility
• Include the $20 fee (payable to Vital Records)
• Submit to the following mailing address:

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

People who want to request these records in person can visit one of the division's 6 public locations.

One can look up Washington County birth records from 1893 to 1906 through the Register of Wills office.

Washington County Probate Court Records

The Orphans’ Court (under the Court of Common Pleas) handles probate cases within the county. These cases include probate of wills and lawsuits regarding trusts and estates. The Court also handles guardianships for minors and adults.

Parties looking to obtain probate records can go through the office of the Clerk of Orphan's Court (also Register of Wills). They can use the Prothonotary's public portal to view these case records online and also review historical records through the Washington County Digital Records Library.

Washington County Property Records

Property records are real estate information and files used to legally document property transactions. People go through these records when buying or selling real estate assets, finalizing mortgaging and refinancing deals, and verifying tax assessment numbers.

Washington County provides various online tools for viewing property information. They include the following:

• Washington County Property Records portal: This is the county's main property information database. It goes into fine details about each parcel. It displays owner, assessment, and address information. Users can also see sales history, photos, features, sketches, and other structural details.
• Parcel and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Viewer: This map-based system allows the public to pick out buildings on a map and open their details on the county's property records webpage.
• Recorder's online database: The county recorder also provides access to deeds and other property documents through its third-party vendor.

Members of the public can also use public computers at the recorder's office to view recorded land documents. The office is at 95 West Beau Street, Suite 520, Washington, PA 15301. They can also call (724) 228-6806 for details on requesting copies of official documents.

Washington County Court Records Online

Third-party online services usually offer faster and more convenient options for accessing Washington County public records. Platforms like Pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us are designed to facilitate multiple requests and queries from one search environment. That way, users can look up criminal, arrest, court, vital, and property records without having to switch sites or web portals.

One must note that these services provide records after sourcing them from official custodians. They are not affiliated with Washington County judicial and government agencies.

Third-party sites are also not completely free. While they may offer basic data without charges, users should expect to subscribe or pay per search to access certain records and documents.