Bucks County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Steeped in history, Bucks County has a population of over 645,100 and its county seat is in Doylestown. The Bucks County trial court system comprises two major courts: Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. Courts of Common Pleas have total jurisdiction over all civil and criminal proceedings, while Magisterial District Courts have limited authority over certain case types.

Most often, general civil claims without monetary restrictions and criminal cases are heard in the Bucks County Courts of Common in Doylestown. In addition, it handles adoptions, juvenile issues, appeals of some administrative agency decisions, delayed birth certificates, domestic relations, and certain arbitration reviews. It has a division dedicated to the Orphans' Court, which deals with guardianships, estates, wills, trusts, adoptions, and termination of parental rights. The majority of preliminary hearings, certain DUI cases, certain third-degree misdemeanors, and some ordinance infractions are heard by the county's twenty Magisterial District Courts. They also hear summary crimes. A few general civil claims, subject to financial restrictions, as well as specific landlord-tenant matters are also heard by them.

The court system in Bucks County handles a sizable number of cases each year—roughly 9,297—which is a good indicator of the county's active legal community. Its heavy caseload also attests to the necessity of a robust legal system, especially in light of the county's crime rate of around 1441.40 incidents per 100,000 residents. The majority of Bucks County court records are typically accessible to the public. To retrieve a court record in the county, use the Docket Lookup Information resource and select the appropriate lookup link. Alternatively, court records from Bucks County courts can be accessed by submitting a standard RTK request form to a specific court's Agency Open Records Officer. Note that privileged records, records that are expressly made non-public by another law, and Right to Know Law exemptions, including certain criminal and non-criminal investigative records, are not available to the public.

In summary, Bucks County's judicial system is committed to delivering justice in a range of legal matters and is an essential part of the county's administration. The Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts, at the heart of the county's legal system, allow it to effectively handle the wide variety of cases it hears. The public's trust in Bucks County's judicial system is increased by the deployment of a computerized system for the management of court data that guarantees accessibility and transparency.