Bedford County Court Records Search
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Bedford County, Pennsylvania, sits in the south-central region of the state, with the borough of Bedford serving as the county seat. Court records generated within Bedford County span a range of legal proceedings — from criminal charges and civil disputes to family law matters and probate filings. These documents capture the procedural history of each case, including party names, docket numbers, filing dates, motions, pleadings, testimony summaries, judicial orders, and final judgments. Attorneys, litigants, researchers, and members of the public may need to locate these records for a variety of purposes, from verifying the outcome of litigation to confirming the existence of a court order.
Pennsylvania court records can be researched through multiple channels. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System maintains statewide court resources, and PennsylvaniaCourts.us can help users locate relevant court case information. Records may be accessed at the courthouse during business hours, through the statewide online case search portal, via written request to the appropriate clerk, or at public access terminals. The office that serves as custodian varies by case type, so identifying the right office before making a request will save significant time.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Bedford County?
The primary online tool for searching Bedford County court cases is the UJS Case Search Portal, operated by the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. This free public service allows searches by participant name, docket number, organization name, offense tracking number, or police incident number. Court docket sheets can be viewed and printed directly from the portal.
To conduct a search:
- Navigate to the UJS Case Search Portal and select the appropriate court level — Common Pleas, Magisterial District Court, or Appellate.
- Choose a search method (participant name, docket number, etc.).
- Enter the relevant identifying information and run the search.
- Review docket sheet results, which include case status, hearing dates, charges or claims, and dispositions.
For physical documents not available digitally — such as older filings or court exhibits — contact the Prothonotary Office (for civil and family matters) or the Clerk of Courts (for criminal proceedings), both of which operate from the Bedford County Courthouse:
Bedford County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts
Address: 200 South Juliana Street, Suite 105, Bedford, PA 15522
Phone: (814) 623-4833
Email: pcoc@bedfordcountypa.org
The Prothonotary’s Office processes in-person and mail requests. Mail requests should include full party names, the approximate filing date or docket number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The office charges $0.50 per page for copies. Staff cannot provide legal advice; parties seeking guidance can contact the Pennsylvania Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 692-7375 or consult palawhelp.org for free and low-cost legal assistance.
Bedford County also maintains an online records portal through the county’s official website, providing digital access to tax assessment and Recorder of Deeds records. The Register of Wills separately maintains an online interface for probate and estate records accessible through the county site.
Are Court Records Public in Bedford County?
Court records in Bedford County are presumptively public under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL), which grants any U.S. citizen the right to inspect and copy public records held by state and local agencies, including courts. Upon request, the relevant clerk must release records promptly, subject to payment of applicable fees.
However, the RTKL contains roughly 30 categories of exempt records that may be withheld from public access. In Bedford County, the following types of records are typically restricted or may require proof of legal standing before release:
- Information involving minors under 18 years of age
- DNA and RNA records
- Psychological or medical records
- Medical examiner or coroner autopsy reports
- Law enforcement investigation records deemed confidential by law
- Expunged or sealed criminal records
- Social Security numbers, personal financial data, and other identifying information
- Juror information
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information
- Working papers and drafts not finalized for agency action
Requesters who are denied access may ask the custodian to specify the statutory exemption under which the record is withheld. Records pertaining to sensitive categories — such as juvenile proceedings, adoption files, or Protection from Abuse petitions — carry additional confidentiality restrictions beyond the baseline RTKL exemptions.
Bedford County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Bedford County are filed in the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts, depending on the severity of the offense. Felony and misdemeanor cases are ultimately handled at the Common Pleas level, while summary offenses and preliminary hearings begin in the Magisterial District Courts. The Clerk of Courts, housed in the same office as the Prothonotary, manages criminal case files for the Court of Common Pleas.
Bedford County is served by four Magisterial District Courts:
| Court | Address | Phone | Fax |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDC 57-3-00 (Central) | 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford, PA 15522 | (814) 624-2254 | (814) 624-2255 |
| MDC 57-3-01 | 1563 Market Street, P.O. Box 58, Schellsburg, PA 15559 | (814) 733-4375 | (814) 733-4199 |
| MDC 57-3-02 | 120 West John Street, Bedford, PA 15522 | (814) 623-6918 | (814) 623-8453 |
| MDC 57-3-03 | 2510 Raystown Road, Everett, PA 15537 | (814) 652-2128 | (814) 652-9429 |
| MDC 57-3-04 | 500 State Street, Everett, PA 15537 | (814) 652-2523 | (814) 652-9006 |
Criminal docket sheets for all of these courts are searchable through the UJS Case Search Portal. For arrest records, booking information, and law enforcement-generated documents such as incident reports, contact the arresting agency directly. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, located on the first floor of the courthouse, handles civil processes, court security, and inmate transport:
Bedford County Sheriff’s Office
Address: 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford, PA 15522
Phone: (814) 623-2910
Fax: (814) 623-2940
Email: wemerick@bedfordcountypa.org
For statewide criminal history background checks, the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system, maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police, allows online requests for a fee of $22.00. Individual background checks can also be notarized for an additional $5.00. The Pennsylvania State Police Bedford barracks, located at 171 Arthur L. Hershey Drive, Bedford, PA, can be reached at (814) 623-6133 for inquiries involving state-level criminal record matters.
Bedford County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Bedford County — covering contract disputes, personal injury tort claims, landlord/tenant actions, mechanic’s liens, judgment enforcement, and appeals from Magisterial District Court decisions — are filed with and maintained by the Prothonotary Office. The Prothonotary is the elected civil clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and processes all civil filings from initiation through final judgment. The office also records federal and state tax liens, municipal liens, and Powers of Attorney for bondsmen.
The Civil Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026, establishes the following filing fees for common actions:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New Civil Complaint (Collections, Tort, Quiet Title, etc.) | $151.00 |
| Answer | Filed per case; fees vary |
| Appeal from Magisterial District Court | $151.00 |
| Appeal from Common Pleas to Appellate Court | $166.25 |
| Arbitration Complaint (Limit $25,000) | $675.00 (half day) / $975.00 (full day) |
| Judgment – Entry, Confession, Default, Transcript | $50.00 |
| Miscellaneous Petition (Name Change, Issuance of Title, etc.) | $126.00 |
| Lien Filing (Municipal, Federal, Commonwealth) | $21.00 |
| Certification of any Civil Document | $6.00 + $0.50 per page over 2 pages |
| Copies (per page) | $0.50 |
Civil index records and docket sheets can be searched through the UJS Case Search Portal. The Prothonotary’s office accepts mail requests accompanied by adequate identifying information and the correct fees. Court forms and local rules for the Court of Common Pleas are published on the county’s official website and provide procedural guidance for specific filing types.
Bedford County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Bedford County are handled by the Court of Common Pleas. The Prothonotary Office records and maintains files for divorce, custody, support, Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions, name changes, and related proceedings. The Bedford County Local Rules govern procedural requirements for Common Pleas filings, including those in the domestic relations sphere.
Key filing fees for family law matters under the 2026 Civil Fee Schedule include:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce Complaint | $181.00 |
| Additional Count (Contempt, Alimony, Settlement Agreement, etc.) | $66.00 per count |
| Custody Count added to Divorce | $77.00 |
| Custody – Filing Complaint | $154.00 |
| Petition for Custody Modification, Contempt, or Special Relief | $50.00 |
| Election to Retake Maiden Name | $15.00 |
| Praecipe to Reinstate Divorce | $15.00 |
The Prothonotary’s Office has maintained divorce records since 1804, making it the appropriate point of contact for historical as well as current divorce files. Requesters should provide both parties’ full names, the approximate divorce date, or the case docket number. Sensitive information — particularly details involving minor children — may be redacted from publicly released copies.
Marriage licenses are issued by the Prothonotary’s Office, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with appointments available during the noon hour. Payment must be made by cash, Pennsylvania check, or money order; credit and debit cards are not accepted for marriage licenses. Marriage certificate copies can be requested in person or by mail by providing the parties’ names, wedding date, and location.
Birth and death certificates are not maintained by the courts. The Pennsylvania Vital Records Division holds state birth records from January 1906 forward. Birth certificates cost $20.00 per copy; an additional $10.00 service fee applies to online orders. Death certificates are similarly priced at $20.00 per copy. Requests can be submitted in person at an authorized public vital records office, online, or by mailing a signed application with fees and identification to the Division of Vital Records, Birth Certificate Processing Unit, P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. Under Pennsylvania law, birth records are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth, and death records are confidential for 50 years from the date of death. Only registrants, immediate family members, authorized legal representatives, and other specifically enumerated individuals may obtain copies of records still within the confidentiality period.
Bedford County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Bedford County proceed through the Orphans’ Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Two offices share custody of probate-related records: the Register of Wills, which probates wills and issues letters of administration or letters testamentary, and the Prothonotary Office, which maintains Orphans’ Court case files.
Bedford County Register of Wills
Address: 200 South Juliana Street, Room 106, Bedford, PA 15522
Phone: (814) 623-4836
Fax: (814) 624-0488
Email: randr@bedfordcountypa.org
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (same-day probate service stops at 4:00 p.m.)
Probate fees at the Register of Wills are calculated on a sliding scale based on the gross estate value, pursuant to Act 82 of 1990:
| Estate Value | Probate Fee |
|---|---|
| Not exceeding $1,000 | $15.00 |
| Over $1,000 – $5,000 | $25.00 |
| Over $5,000 – $10,000 | $37.50 |
| Over $10,000 – $20,000 | $45.00 |
| Over $20,000 – $30,000 | $52.50 |
| Over $30,000 – $40,000 | $60.00 |
| Over $40,000 – $50,000 | $67.50 |
| Over $50,000 – $75,000 | $75.00 |
| Over $75,000 – $100,000 | $82.50 |
| Each additional $100,000 or fraction thereof | $30.00 |
Additional probate costs include a Judicial Computer Project (JCP) fee of $40.25 per estate, a $7.50 bond filing fee, a $12.00 fee for filing a codicil (first page), a $15.00 inheritance tax return fee, and a $7.50 inventory filing fee for estates with 75 items or fewer. Photocopies of probate documents cost $0.25 per page, and certified copies cost $1.00 plus $0.25 for each page. Mail requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of documents.
Wills filed without letters — for safekeeping without initiating a full probate proceeding — carry a $12.00 fee for the first page and $3.00 for each additional page. Probate records including estate files and succession documents can be searched online through the Register of Wills online records system, accessible through the county website. All fees and inheritance taxes are payable in advance, and the office accepts checks, money orders, and debit or credit card payments. Checks and money orders should be made payable to “Alyssa N. Miller, Acting Register of Wills”, while inheritance tax payments must be directed to the “Register of Wills Agent”.