Lancaster County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Located in southern Pennsylvania, Lancaster County is one of the most populous counties in the state, with a population of over 553,202 residents. Its county seat is Lancaster. The county is home to 3 Courts of Common Pleas and 19 Magisterial District Courts.

Lancaster County Courts of Common Pleas, located in Lancaster, are the highest trial courts in the county. They are tasked with handling all criminal and civil cases beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. Criminal cases handled by the courts include felonies and other lesser-included offenses, while their civil jurisdiction covers general civil claims without financial limits. Likewise, appeals of some administrative agencies' decisions and arbitration reviews are heard by the courts. They also have several Divisions for specific cases such as the Domestic Relations Division that handles juvenile matters, adoptions, spousal support, and related issues. On the other hand, the Orphans' Court Division handles the administration of the decedent's estates, will construction, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and termination of parental rights and responsibilities.

The Magisterial District Court is the first level of judicial jurisdiction in the county where traffic cases and lesser-included criminal offenses are handled. The civil jurisdiction of the court covers civil claims in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $12,000. It also sets bail and conducts preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases. Proceedings of the District Court are held in Lancaster, Millersville, Ephrata, Lititz, Columbus, Mount Joy, Intercourse, Quarryville, St. Elizabethtown, New Holland, Dr. Steven, and Willow Street.

The Unified Judicial System's Caseload Statistics show that Lancaster County Courts of Common Pleas resolved 4,840 criminal and 3,698 civil cases in 2022. Similarly, the court handled 564 juvenile cases, 1,121 domestic relations cases, and 30 cases involving the Orphans' Court. According to the Magisterial District Court Caseload of the Unified Judicial System for 2022, the Magisterial District Court filed 3,221 civil cases, 8,095 criminal cases, and 69,156 traffic cases in total. Also, Lancaster County recorded an estimated crime rate of 14.56 per 100,000 people. The Lancaster County Clerk of Court is responsible for maintaining case records in the county. There are several ways to request these records. Requesters can use the online Court Record Inquiry for court records or send a written request by mail to the Clerk's Office. However, confidential case records, such as records of adoption and dependency proceedings, are not made available to the public.

In summary, the Circuit Court, County Court, and Court of Common Pleas constitute the judicial system in Lancaster County. They handle several kinds of cases and ensure that disputes are resolved in accordance with the law. The courts provide equal access to justice for all, which builds public trust and confidence in the legal process. In addition, they promote transparency by granting public access to case records.