Allegheny County Court Records
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Allegheny County, the second-most populous county in Pennsylvania, is home to the City of Pittsburgh and a substantial court system anchored in the Fifth Judicial District. The county's Department of Court Records runs three divisions — Criminal, Civil/Family, and Wills/Orphans Court — each responsible for a distinct category of judicial filings. Whether you need to verify a criminal case, obtain a divorce decree, research a civil lawsuit, or look into a probate matter, this guide explains where records are held, how to access them, and what fees and restrictions apply.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Allegheny County?
You can locate Allegheny County court records through the county's own electronic systems, the statewide Unified Judicial System, or by visiting the clerk's offices in downtown Pittsburgh in person. The Pennsylvania courts website at PennsylvaniaCourts.us provides general information about the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and can help you identify which division handles your case type.
Online Search Options
Two electronic tools are available for searching Allegheny County court cases:
- Allegheny County Electronic Filing and Retrieval System — The Department of Court Records eFiling portal lets registered users search civil, family, criminal, and orphans court dockets by case number, party name, or case type. It also provides scanned images of filed documents for most cases, unless the file has been sealed by court order.
- UJS Portal (Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania) — The statewide case search tool run by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts is free and open to the public. You can search by participant name, case number, organization name, offense tracking number, police incident number, or state ID number. The Allegheny County District Attorney's Office also publishes a Court Case Lookup Guide with step-by-step instructions for using this portal.
In-Person Searches
Each division of the Department of Court Records has a public counter where you can review dockets and request copies. Self-service computer terminals are available at each location.
| Division | Address | Phone | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Division | Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant St., Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | (412) 350-5323 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Civil/Family Division | City-County Building, 414 Grant St., First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 | (412) 350-5729 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Wills/Orphans Court Division | City-County Building, 414 Grant St., First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 | (412) 350-4180 | Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
The Department of Court Records accepts filings in person, by mail, and electronically through the eFiling system. No applications or filings are processed after 4:00 PM, and all offices are closed on county holidays.
Are Court Records Public in Allegheny County?
Pennsylvania operates under a strong presumption that government records are public. The Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. 67.101 et seq.) establishes that records of state and local government agencies are presumed to be open unless a specific exemption applies. Court records, however, are generally subject to separate judicial policies rather than the Right-to-Know Law itself.
Under the Unified Judicial System's public access policy, docket information and most case filings at the Court of Common Pleas level are open to the public. Allegheny County confirms that all court case files are open to the public unless sealed by court order, and no formal Open Records Request is required to view court files or obtain copies.
Records that are restricted or sealed include:
- Juvenile dependency and delinquency records
- Adoption files
- Cases sealed by specific court order
- Records protected by statute or local court rule prohibiting public access
- Certain family law filings involving child custody, where access may be limited to the parties, their attorneys, and authorized court personnel
Certified copies of most court documents can be obtained for a fee from the appropriate division of the Department of Court Records. Standard photocopies of public records produced under the county's open records policy cost $0.25 per page, with record certification at $1.00 per record. Court-specific copy and certification fees differ by division and are covered in the relevant sections below.
Allegheny County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Allegheny County are heard by the Criminal Division of the Court of Common Pleas, which handles felonies, misdemeanors, and certain appeals from lower courts. The Pittsburgh Municipal Court processes criminal, housing, and traffic matters within the city, while the county's Magisterial District Courts handle summary offenses, preliminary hearings, some DUI cases, third-degree misdemeanors, and ordinance violations.
Searching Criminal Court Records
The Department of Court Records, Criminal Division keeps all criminal case filings. You can search by case number, party name, or case type through the county's eFiling and Retrieval System. The statewide UJS Portal also gives free access to criminal docket sheets.
For in-person research, criminal case files from the current year and the four prior years are stored in Room 220 of the Allegheny County Courthouse. Older files must be ordered from an off-site storage facility and may take additional time to retrieve. Public computer terminals in the courthouse are available for researching criminal records. For questions about case files, background checks, or file retrieval, call (412) 350-5320 — note that case-related information is not discussed over the telephone.
Criminal Division Fee Schedule
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certifications | $20.00 |
| Criminal Record Check | $25.00 |
| Petitions for Expungement | $232.00 |
| Summary Appeals | $94.00 |
| Appeal to Appellate Court | $80.00 (plus $91.25 appellate court fee) |
| Subpoena | $10.00 |
| Bail Bond Posting Fee | $50.00 |
| Post-Conviction Relief Act Petition | $20.00 |
No personal checks are accepted. A $30.00 fee applies to returned (NSF) checks.
Statewide Criminal Background Checks
The Pennsylvania State Police maintains the central repository of criminal history records for the entire state. You can request a background check online through the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system for a fee of $22.00 per request. Requests can also be submitted by mail using the Criminal History Request Form along with a $22.00 money order and an optional $5.00 notary fee, mailed to:
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Phone: (888) 783-7972 (toll-free)
The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office directs individuals seeking criminal history information to the Department of Court Records at (412) 350-5729.
Allegheny County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas hears general civil disputes, contract claims, personal injury cases, statutory appeals, and matters on the Arbitration Docket. The Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division accepts and maintains all filings for these cases.
How to Search Civil Records
Civil dockets and filed documents are accessible through the county's eFiling and Retrieval System, which you can search by case number, party name, or case type. The system shows the official docket — the list of all documents filed in a case — along with scanned images of filings, unless the case is sealed. The UJS Portal offers an additional free search option for Common Pleas civil docket sheets.
For in-person research, visit the Civil/Family Division office:
Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division
City-County Building
414 Grant Street, First Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469
Phone: (412) 350-5729
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
The department accepts filings in person, by mail, and electronically. For legal assistance with civil matters, you may contact the Allegheny County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service at (412) 261-5555. The Department of Court Records cannot provide legal advice.
Civil Division Fees
Fees for civil case filings and services are published in the Civil and Family Court Record Fees schedule. Effective June 1, 2026, the records retention fee increases from $3.50 to $7.00 for all new filings, per Administrative Order AD-26-000097-PJ. No personal checks are accepted, and a $35.00 charge applies to NSF checks. Overpayments of $10.00 or less are not refunded.
Property Records
Property records are maintained separately from court records, though civil cases often involve real estate disputes. The Allegheny County Department of Real Estate provides an online records search portal for property lookups by address or parcel number. Additional property data is available through the Allegheny County Information Portal. Copies of property records can be requested by mail for $10.00 per copy, sent to: Department of Real Estate, Attn: Copy Department, County Office Building, Room 101, 542 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Allegheny County Family Court Records
The Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas is at 440 Ross Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (Phone: (412) 350-5600), open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The division has two sections: the Adult Section, which handles divorce, child custody, child support, and protection from abuse matters; and the Juvenile Section, which addresses dependency, delinquency, and termination of parental rights cases.
Searching Family Court Records
Family court filings are kept by the Department of Court Records, Civil/Family Division, and can be searched through the county's eFiling and Retrieval System using the case number, case type, or party names. In-person searches are available at the Civil/Family Division office at 414 Grant Street, First Floor.
Family court records are generally public in Pennsylvania, though significant exceptions apply. Juvenile case records — including dependency and delinquency files — are confidential and accessible only to authorized individuals. Adoption records processed through the Orphans Court are likewise sealed from public view. Certain custody evaluations and domestic violence-related filings may also carry restricted access.
Divorce Records
Certified copies of a divorce decree can be obtained from the Department of Court Records at 414 Grant Street, First Floor, for a fee of $20.00. Divorce records can also be searched for free through the county's eFiling and Retrieval System using the case number. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know principles, divorce records are public unless sealed by court order. However, only the divorcing parties and their legal representatives may obtain certified copies.
Marriage Records
Marriage records for licenses issued in Allegheny County from 1885 to the present are maintained by the Wills/Orphans Court Division. All marriage records are open to the public, and you can obtain them in two ways:
- Online — The Marriage License Search portal allows searches and orders for marriage records; an email address and credit or debit card are required. Records from licenses issued on or after January 1, 1996, can be searched and ordered online. For licenses issued before 1996, records can be ordered online but not searched, and a search fee applies even if the record is not found.
- In person — Visit the Marriage Records Department on the first floor of the City-County Building.
| Marriage Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plain (non-certified) copy | $4.00 |
| Search fee (unsuccessful search) | $4.00 |
| Triple Seal-certified copy | $10.00 |
The Marriage License Office is at 414 Grant Street, First Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Phone: (412) 350-4230 Email: dcrml@alleghenycounty.us. Extended hours are available from April through September on Saturdays (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) and from October through March on Wednesdays (8:30 AM – 7:00 PM).
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates are not maintained at the county court level. These vital records are filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. Records from January 1906 forward are available for $20.00 each. Birth certificates may be requested by the registrant (if at least 18 years old), close relatives, or legal representatives using the Birth Certificate Application. Death certificates are restricted to immediate family members and legal representatives. All requests should be submitted to:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103-1528
Phone: (724) 656-3100
Allegheny County Probate Court Records
Probate and estate matters in Allegheny County go through the Orphans Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas, located at 1700 Frick Building, 437 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (Phone: (412) 350-5550; fax: (412) 350-1925). Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with motions heard at 9:00 AM.
The Orphans Court has jurisdiction over decedents' estates, trusts, wills, guardianships of minors and incapacitated adults, powers of attorney, termination of parental rights, adoptions, civil commitments under the Mental Health Procedures Act (50 P.S. 7101 et seq.), nonprofit associations, and inheritance and estate tax matters.
Searching Probate Records
Probate case dockets and filings are accessible through the Department of Court Records eFiling and Retrieval System. Registration with the department is required to search the Wills/Orphans Court division. In-person research is available at the Wills/Orphans Court Division office on the first floor of the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street. The division also offers a Will Search Request Form for locating a will filed with the department. For genealogical research involving older estate records, the division maintains resources to assist with historical searches.
Probate Filing and Account Fees
The Wills/Orphans Court fee schedule includes the following commonly used fees:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adoption Petition (Orphans Court) | $284.75 |
| Adoption Petition (Foreign) | $184.75 |
| Guardianship of Minors | $134.75 |
| Guardianship of Incompetents | $164.75 |
| Power of Attorney | $164.75 |
| Trust | $164.75 |
| Petition for Small Estate | $134.75 |
| Certification | $20.00 |
| Affidavit or Oath | $10.00 |
| PA Inheritance Tax Return (original) | $10.00 |
| Subpoena | $10.00 |
| Family Settlement Agreement | $75.00 |
Account filing fees for trustees and guardians are graduated by the total principal and income of the estate, ranging from $50.00 for estates under $5,000 to $650.00 for estates between $500,001 and $1,000,000, with an additional $325.00 for each additional $1,000,000 or fraction thereof.
No personal checks are accepted. A $35.00 fee applies to NSF checks, and overpayments of $10.00 or less are not refunded.
Guardianship Tracking System
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts offers a Guardianship Tracking System (GTS) that lets court-appointed guardians of adult incapacitated persons file inventory and annual reports online. The Orphans Court also publishes a Guardianship Handbook covering the responsibilities and requirements for appointed guardians.
The Probate section of the Wills/Orphans Court Division now offers video conferencing for the administration of oaths before the Register, expanding access for individuals who cannot appear in person.