Lancaster County court files are public in most cases, but they are spread across the Court of Common Pleas, the magisterial district courts, and several row offices. A case lookup works best when you start with a docket number and then confirm the case details at the courthouse. This page shows where a file lives, what each entry means, and how to get a certified copy.
Case Lookup: Court Case Search
- Office: Lancaster County Courthouse
- Official website: https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/
- Before you file: confirm the current hours, fees, and identification requirements with the office.
Case Record Information
A docket summary shows the parties, the attorneys, the judge, the case type, and a list of filings with dates. It is a log, not a full file. Each line tells you that a paper was filed or an order was entered, and the line may link to a scanned image. Read the whole log from the first entry forward, since an early charge can be replaced later.
Plaintiff, Defendant & Attorney Details
The docket names each party and the role that party plays. A plaintiff or a petitioner starts the action, and a defendant or a respondent answers it. The attorney of record is the lawyer who appears for a party, and a party may appear without counsel. Names can repeat across cases, so compare the address or the birth year when the portal shows it. Note the party role, not just the name.
Assigned Judge & Court Division
The docket lists the judge assigned to the case and the division that hears it. Common Pleas has civil, criminal, family, and orphans' court divisions, and each keeps its own calendar. A case can be reassigned when a judge retires or a conflict appears. Check the current entry before a hearing, and call court administration if the room number is missing. Ask for the courtroom, not just the judge.
Case Classifications & Activity
Court cases fall into a few broad groups, and the group decides which records are public. Civil suits cover money and property, and the court records page explains how to request a copy of the docket. Criminal cases cover charges filed by the state. Family matters cover custody, support, and divorce. Probate files cover estates. Juvenile and some family files are closed by rule. Know the group before you search, since the portal may show a docket number with no detail.
The table groups the main case types by the office that keeps them. Use it to pick a starting point, then read the docket for the exact entries.
| Case group | Where it is filed | Public detail |
|---|---|---|
| Civil | Court of Common Pleas, civil division | Docket and most filings |
| Criminal | Magisterial district court, then Common Pleas | Docket, charges, and sentencing entries |
| Family | Court of Common Pleas, family division | Limited; some files are closed |
| Probate | Register of Wills and orphans' court | Estate index and selected papers |
A docket number can look like a case even when the file is sealed. If a group above returns no detail, ask the office whether the file is closed by rule or simply not indexed online. A clerk can tell you which answer applies, and the answer decides your next step.
Civil, Criminal, Family & Probate Dockets
Each docket has its own style. A civil docket lists a complaint, an answer, pretrial exchanges, and a judgment, while the case information guide explains what each docket entry means. A criminal docket lists a complaint, bail, a plea, and a sentence. A family docket may show only a case number and a hearing date. A probate docket lists a will, an executor, and an inventory. Read the entries in order, and note the last action before you decide what it means.
Filings, Motions & Hearing Timelines
A filing starts a clock. The other side may have 20 days to answer a complaint, and a motion may set a shorter or longer period. A continuance moves a hearing without ending the case. The docket shows the new date, but it may not show the reason. Check the entry a day before the hearing, and call the tipstaff or court administration when two dates appear. Ask which date controls.
Orders, Judgments & Case Outcomes
An order decides a request. A judgment ends a civil suit and states who owes what. A sentence ends a criminal case and states the term, the fine, and the conditions. A verdict is the jury's finding, and it may come before a judgment is entered. The outcome line on a portal summary can be incomplete. Read the last few entries and ask the clerk for the final order.
Case Lookup: Court Documents & Official Files
Not every paper in a file is online. The portal often links to images for recent filings, and older papers may exist only in a bound volume or on microfilm at the courthouse. A certified copy carries a seal and a signature, and it is the version an agency or a bank will accept. Ask the Clerk of Courts which items are scanned and which require a counter request.
Available Online Documents
Availability changes by court and by filing date. A complaint filed last month may appear as a PDF, and a 1998 judgment may show only a line in the docket. Some courts post a case summary but no images. Others post nothing beyond the index. Check the document tab and the docket tab, and note the date of the last scan. Ask the clerk when a paper you need is not posted.
Sealed & Restricted Records
Juvenile files, protection order files, and many family matters are closed by law. A judge can seal a record after a petition, and an expunged criminal case may drop from public view. The index may still show a case number with no detail. Do not read a blank result as proof that no case exists. Ask the Clerk of Courts whether a file is sealed, and ask what a party may release.
Requesting Certified Copies
Ask for a certified copy at the counter or by a written request that names the docket number and the document. A fee applies per page or per document, and the clerk can quote the amount before you order. Bring photo identification and a self-addressed envelope if you want the copy mailed. Check the spelling of every name on the receipt, since a certified copy is hard to correct later.
Case Lookup: Record Accuracy & Resolution
Court data is entered by people under time pressure, and the portal copies what the clerk typed. A misspelled name, a transposed case number, or a wrong filing date can send you to the wrong file. Keep the receipt from every search and the date you ran it. When a record looks wrong, ask the office that docketed the entry to correct it, and ask for a corrected copy in writing.
Recent Filing Update Delays
A paper filed at the counter may take a day or two to appear online, and a scanned image can lag the docket line by a week. A hearing result may post the same afternoon or not at all. Do not assume a case is unchanged when the screen looks the same. Call the clerk with the docket number when a deadline is close, and note the name of the person who answered.
Name Ambiguity & Number Errors
Common names create the main risk. A search for a last name and a first initial can return hundreds of rows, and two people with the same name may share a birth year. Add a middle name, a filing year, or a party role to narrow the list. Compare the case type and the attorney before you open a file. A case number with one wrong digit may point to a real but unrelated suit.
Unlisted Case Resolution
A blank result does not always mean the case is missing. Check the spelling, try the other party, and widen the filing year. Some older files sit only in a ledger, and some are indexed under a maiden name or a business name. The Clerk of Courts can search an internal index that the public portal does not show. Bring the docket number, the names, and the date of the filing.
Location and Contact Information
The main court offices sit in the Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 North Duke Street. The Clerk of Courts keeps criminal and civil filings for the Court of Common Pleas, and court administration handles calendars and courtroom assignments. Filing hours can differ from public counter hours, and a division may close early on a holiday. Call before you travel with papers that need a stamp.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County Courthouse (Clerk of Courts and Court Administration) | 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 | Clerk of Courts: (717) 299-8275; Court Administration: (717) 299-8041 | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (confirm division and filing hours) | https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ |
The table repeats only the details supplied for this page, so confirm a division's direct line before you rely on it. The portal is a search tool, not a filing desk. A certified copy, a payment, and a sealed file all require a counter visit or a written request. Ask for the office name, the clerk's name, and a reference number on every call you make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Readers ask about timing, documents, and closed files more than anything else. The answers below point to the office that keeps each record and the step that reveals the truth. Court rules and portal features change without much notice, so confirm the current process before a deadline. Keep the docket number handy when you call, and write down the name of the person who helps.
How long after filing does a case appear online?
A new filing often shows on the portal within one to three business days, but the range is not fixed. A paper filed late in the day may wait until the next morning, and a scanned image can take longer than the docket line. Criminal complaints may post faster than civil suits. Call the Clerk of Courts with the docket number when a deadline depends on the entry.
Can public users view full court case documents?
Often they can view a summary and a few images, but not the whole file. The portal may post a complaint, an order, or a judgment and leave exhibits and pretrial papers out. Some documents are sealed or limited to the parties. A certified copy from the Clerk of Courts is the version to use for a loan, a background check, or a court filing. Ask which papers are withheld.
What is the difference between pending and closed case status?
A pending case is still active. Filings, hearings, or orders may still arrive, and the docket can change any week. A closed case has reached a final disposition, such as a judgment, a dismissal, or a sentence. A closed case can reopen on appeal, and a dismissal may allow a refiling. Read the last entry and the disposition code, not just the current status label on the summary page.
Who confirms missing or unlisted court case files?
The Clerk of Courts is the first call for a Common Pleas file that will not appear. Give the docket number, the party names, and the filing year. The clerk can search an internal index and say whether the file is sealed, archived, or simply not posted yet. For a magisterial district court case, call that court directly. Ask for the full name of the person who checked the index.
