A docket is the running log of a court case, and in Lancaster County it is the first place to look when a hearing date, a filing, or an order matters. The Clerk of Courts keeps the official record for the Court of Common Pleas, and the state portal publishes a summary. This page sets out the entries, the schedules, and the copy rules that surround a docket.
Court Docket 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.
Docket Activity & Hearing Schedules
The docket records each step in order, from the complaint to the final order. A hearing entry names the date, the time, the courtroom, and the judge. A continuance adds a new entry and leaves the old one in place. Read the whole list, since the newest date is not always the one that stands. Confirm the schedule with court administration. Ask for the next event when you call.
Criminal, Civil, Family & Probate Filings
The Court of Common Pleas hears criminal, civil, family, and probate matters, and each type carries its own case number prefix. A criminal case may begin in a district court and arrive later. A probate file opens with the Register of Wills. A family file may be closed to the public. Identify the case type before you search, since the prefix narrows the list. Write the prefix beside the case number.
Filings, Motions, Orders & Judgments
Each paper filed in a case gets a docket entry with a date and a short description. A motion asks the court to act, and a rule returnable sets a deadline for a response. An order decides a request, and a judgment fixes an amount owed. Read the description carefully, since a filing is not a ruling. Ask the clerk for the paper behind an entry.
Upcoming, Rescheduled & Completed Hearings
A hearing can be listed, moved, or finished, and the docket shows each change. A completed hearing usually carries a note about what happened next. A rescheduled hearing may leave the earlier date visible, which confuses a reader who stops at the first line. Check the newest entry and the status field. Call the court the day before you appear. A courtroom can change on the morning of the hearing.
Chronological Activity Timelines
The value of a docket lies in its order. Each entry is stamped with the date it was filed, not the date of the event it describes. A motion filed in March may describe a February incident. Read the entries from top to bottom to see how the case developed. A gap of months can mean a delay, a settlement talk, or a missing filing.
The table lists the entries a reader meets most often and what each one means. Use it to pick out the lines that matter before you order a copy.
| Docket entry | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint | The case has been filed | Filing date and charges |
| Appearance | A lawyer has entered the case | Name and bar number |
| Motion | A party asks the court to act | Filing date and response deadline |
| Order | The judge has ruled on a request | Judge's name and date |
| Continuance | A hearing has been moved | The new date and courtroom |
| Judgment | A sum or a right has been decided | Amount and satisfaction note |
| Sentencing order | A criminal sentence has been set | Term, fine, and costs |
A single entry rarely tells the whole story. Pair the docket with the paper it describes, since the description is a summary written by a clerk. When an entry is unclear, ask for the document by its filing date. A copy of the paper, not the line, is what a landlord, an employer, or another court will want.
Court Docket: Public Availability & Copy Requests
Most Court of Common Pleas dockets are open, and the state portal carries a summary that anyone can read. Some cases are closed: juvenile matters, sealed files, and records a judge has restricted, while the criminal records guide covers charges and final dispositions. A docket entry may remain visible after the paper is sealed. Ask the Clerk of Courts which parts of the file can be copied and which need an order. Bring the case number to the counter.
Public Search Logs & Sealed Exclusions
The public search shows a case summary, not the whole folder. Exhibits, investigation reports, and presentence reports often stay out of view. A sealed case may disappear from the list entirely, or it may leave a stub with no detail. Ask the clerk whether a case was sealed and which order did it. Keep the search result with the date you printed it. Ask for the search date on the printout.
Online Directory & Court Clerk Requests
The state portal is a search tool run by the judiciary, and the county clerk is the office that holds the paper. Use the portal to find the case number and the latest entry. Then call or visit the Clerk of Courts for a copy. A clerk can confirm the courtroom, the judge, and the next listed event for a case. Ask the clerk which office stamped the original paper.
Certified Copies, Fees & Timelines
A certified docket copy carries a seal and a signature that prove it came from the court. Ask for one when another court, an insurer, or an agency needs proof. The fee is charged per page, and the source block lists no amount, so ask before you order. A mailed request takes longer than a counter visit. Bring the case number and exact page range.
Court Docket: Record Accuracy & Resolution
A docket can be wrong in small ways that matter: a misspelled party name, a hearing logged under the wrong courtroom, an order entered twice. A reader who stops at the error may miss the next step. Ask the clerk to correct the entry and to note the change. Ask for the correction in writing and keep the note. Keep a copy of the corrected page and the date you requested it.
System Delays for Recent Filings
A paper filed at the counter may not appear online for a day or more. Staff enter filings in the order they arrive, and a heavy calendar slows the queue, and the court calendar page shows the scheduled hearing dates. A hearing set on short notice can post after the parties already know. Call the clerk when a deadline is close. Do not assume a missing entry means nothing was filed. Write down the time of the call and the clerk's name.
Unlisted Docket & Hearing Resolution
A case that will not appear may use a different name, a different county, or a different court. Check the spelling, then search the district courts and the appellate courts. A sealed case needs an order before the clerk can confirm it. A hearing that is missing from the list may have been moved. Ask for the newest entry and the assigned courtroom. Ask the clerk to read the newest entry aloud.
Location and Contact Information
The Court of Common Pleas for Lancaster County meets in the courthouse on North Duke Street in Lancaster City. The Clerk of Courts keeps the docket and issues copies, and court administration handles scheduling questions. The state portal publishes a summary of most cases. Confirm the courtroom and the counter hours before you travel, since a division may close early. Bring a photo ID for the records counter.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts | 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 | (717) 299-8275 | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (confirm division and filing hours) | https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ |
| Court Administration | 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 | (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 the phones and hours from the source block. A docket copy is not the same as a hearing notice, and the clerk can say which one you need. Ask for the case number, the entry date, and the page count before you pay. Keep the receipt with the certified copy, since a later request may need the same reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions cover the points readers raise most about a Lancaster County court docket. Each answer names the office that keeps the record and the step that confirms it. Docket entries, hearing dates, and copy fees can change, so check with the court before you rely on a printout. A short call often prevents a wasted trip. Call before you file a paper that a deadline governs.
How quickly do new hearing schedules post online?
A hearing date usually appears within a day or two of the scheduling order, yet the portal is not live. Staff enter the entry after the order is signed, and a holiday can add time. A short-notice hearing may post after the parties are told by phone. Call court administration when a date is close, and confirm the courtroom. Ask for the courtroom number and the judge's name.
What details are included in a public docket log?
A public docket shows the case number, the parties, the case type, the judge, and a dated list of filings. Each entry carries a short description, such as a motion, an order, or a hearing. It may show the courtroom and the next event. Exhibits and reports are usually kept out of the public view. Ask the clerk for the docket sheet when you want the full list.
What is required to obtain certified docket copies?
Bring the case number, the date of the entries you need, and a photo ID. Ask the clerk for a certified copy rather than a printout, and expect a per-page fee. A mailed request needs a self-addressed envelope and payment in the form the clerk accepts. Confirm the total before the copy is made. Ask whether the fee is charged per page or per document, and get the total.
Who confirms missing or unlisted court docket entries?
Start with the Clerk of Courts, which holds the official docket for the Court of Common Pleas. Give the case number, the party names, and the date of the missing entry. If the case began in a district court, ask that office too. A sealed file needs an order before the clerk can comment. Write down each name and date. Ask each office for a reference number and an email reply.
