Philadelphia County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

Philadelphia County merged with the city of Philadelphia to form a consolidated city-county government in 1952. As the most populous county in Pennsylvania, it accommodates a population of 1,603,797 within a total area of 134.4 square miles. The Philadelphia court system functions within the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania and consists of a Court of Common Pleas and a Municipal Court.

The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas serves as the general jurisdiction court, adjudicating a wide variety of cases through these divisions:

• Trial Division: This division is further divided into criminal and civil sections. The criminal section handles serious cases like homicide and felony, while the civil section hears civil claims exceeding $10,000, equity actions, and negligence cases.
• Orphan's Court Division: This division focuses on the protection of the personal and property rights of incapacitated persons and minors. It also settles disputes involving estate tax, inheritance, and marriage license issues.
• Family Court Division: This division is divided into the juvenile and domestic relations branches. The juvenile branch holds hearings for adoption proceedings, juvenile probation, juvenile delinquency, and termination of parental rights, while the domestic relations branch handles cases relating to paternity, domestic violence, and child custody.

Similarly, the Philadelphia Municipal Court is divided into three divisions, namely: Civil, Criminal, and Traffic. The Civil Division hears small claims up to $12,000, code enforcement cases up to $15,000, landlord-tenant, and personal injury cases. The Criminal Division conducts felony cases and tries misdemeanor offenses, while the Traffic Division adjudicates violations of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.

Based on available data, the Court of Common Pleas administers a high volume of cases each year. The Trial Division sees approximately 8,000 criminal and 40,000 civil cases. The Family Division processes several cases annually, including 2,000 juvenile cases, 7,000 protection from abuse cases, 13,000 spousal support cases, 6,000 child custody cases, and 1,500 divorce cases. The Municipal Court also plays a crucial role, administering 40,000 civil and criminal cases and about 70,000 traffic-related cases each year. In addition, Philadelphia court records are held by the Clerk of Court and are accessible by visiting the clerk's office or utilizing the UJS web portal. It is worth noting that there may be limited access to certain records that are part of publicly available records.

The Philadelphia court system ensures an efficient case management system through its multi-divisional structure. The Court of Common Pleas focuses on major criminal and civil cases, as well as family, juvenile, and property-related cases, while the Municipal Court hears traffic and other minor cases. Also, it provides access to court records, both remotely and in person, while maintaining confidentiality safeguards.