York County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

York County was founded in 1749 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2022, the county's population stood at 457,051. York City serves as the county seat. The court system in York County consists of the Courts of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court, and Magisterial District Courts. These courts oversee the legal proceedings and resolution of various legal matters under their jurisdictions. York County Courts are under the 19th Judicial District of Pennslyvania.

Located in York City, the York County Court of Common Pleas is a general jurisdiction trial court. The court operates some Divisions that handle different cases, including felonies and civil matters. The Family Division of the Court hears and decides cases involving divorces, child custody, child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, estates, trusts, and guardianships. Additionally, this Division has a Domestic Relations Section that offers services such as paternity establishment, enforcement of support orders, and location of absent parents. There are 19 Magisterial District Courts in York County. The Magisterial District Judges preside over small claims cases (up to $12,000), landlord-tenant disputes, traffic cases, and minor criminal matters. Lastly, The Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles cases concerning incapacitated persons, appointment of guardians, adoptions, and wills.

The Pennsylvania UCR Program showed that the total crime index in York County in 2023 was 7,771. Based on the 2022 Caseload Statistics of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, York County's Court of Common Pleas processed 6,198 out of the 9,226 criminal cases on its dockets. Furthermore, of the 2,688 civil cases docketed with the court, 2,378 were resolved through jury/non-jury trials, settlements, default judgments, and other means of disposition. The Domestic Relations Section of the Common Pleas Court handled 1,507 new cases and concluded 1,502 cases for the year. Likewise, the Orphans' Court Division finalized 595 cases concerning adoptions, termination of parental rights, and guardianships. York County's Magisterial District Courts collectively finalized 83,845 cases, including 7,550 criminal, 3,629 civil, 7,028 landlord/tenant, 56,811 traffic, and 7,827 non-traffic cases. The York County Clerk of Courts records court filings and manages the records of all court proceedings. Anyone can look up court records online or request copies from the Clerk's Office. However, confidential files, such as juvenile records, are publicly unavailable.

The administration of York County's government relies on its judiciary system to ensure justice with the adjudication of numerous legal matters brought before the courts. The Court system comprises the Courts of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court, and Magisterial District Courts. Furthermore, the Clerk of Courts guarantees access to public court files and information, ensuring accountability within the judicial system.