Dauphin County Court Records Search
PennsylvaniaCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on PennsylvaniaCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.
Dauphin County, home to Pennsylvania’s capital city of Harrisburg, operates a trial court system anchored by the Court of Common Pleas and supported by 17 Magisterial District Courts spread throughout the county. The Court of Common Pleas functions through distinct divisions — the Criminal Division (administered by the Clerk of Courts), the Civil Division (administered by the Prothonotary), and the Orphans’ Court Division (administered by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court). Together, these offices serve as the custodians of virtually all court records generated in Dauphin County, from criminal docket sheets and civil complaints to estate filings and marriage licenses. The Dauphin County Courthouse at 101 Market Street in Harrisburg houses each of these offices and provides public access to records during regular business hours.
Pennsylvania’s court system offers several avenues for researching court records at both the state and county levels. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania maintains a free online portal where members of the public can search docket sheets for criminal, civil, and appellate matters across all counties. Dauphin County’s Prothonotary separately hosts a searchable civil records database on the county website. Locally, public access terminals are available at the Clerk of Courts office for in-person criminal record searches, and the Register of Wills provides an online search platform for estate, marriage, and Orphans’ Court records. Court case information for Pennsylvania may also be found through PennsylvaniaCourts.us, which can help locate publicly available records statewide.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Dauphin County?
Dauphin County provides multiple pathways for locating court cases, with the appropriate method depending on whether the matter is criminal, civil, or estate-related.
Online through the UJS Portal
The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal allows free searches of docket sheets across all Pennsylvania courts. Users can search by participant name, docket number, incident number, citation number, or organization name. Selecting Dauphin County narrows results to local filings. The portal covers criminal Courts of Common Pleas cases, Magisterial District Court matters, and civil docket sheets. A standard copy costs $0.50, and a certified copy is $10.90.
Dauphin County Civil Records Online
The Prothonotary maintains a Searchable Civil Records database with civil case records dating from November 2001. Searches can be conducted by name, case number, participant address, or reference number. Note that the Prothonotary’s office is transitioning to a new case management system, so some records may be temporarily unavailable online; the official records remain at the physical office.
Estate, Marriage, and Orphans’ Court Records Online
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court provides a public records search at the Online Service/Docket portal. Registration is required. A newer OCR Cloud Search tool also allows text-based searching within digitized documents.
In Person at the Courthouse
Each county office accepts walk-in requests during business hours:
- Clerk of Courts (Criminal): 101 Market Street, Room 100 — two public access terminals available
- Prothonotary (Civil): 101 Market Street, Room 101
- Register of Wills / Orphans’ Court: 101 Market Street, Room 103
- General courthouse hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
By Mail
Written requests can be mailed to the appropriate office at 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Include the case number or sufficient identifying information, the type of document requested, and payment by certified check or money order. Personal checks are generally not accepted. The Clerk of Courts also accepts requests at Room 202.
Are Court Records Public in Dauphin County?
Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.) establishes that records held by government agencies — including the courts — are presumed open to the public. Any document created, received, or retained in connection with government activity qualifies as a public record unless specifically exempted. At the Clerk of Courts office, all records are open for public view with the exception of juvenile matters and records sealed by statute or court order.
Categories of records that are closed or restricted in Dauphin County include:
- Records sealed by state or federal law or court order
- Privileged or confidential information within a court file
- Law enforcement records related to active investigations or pending proceedings
- Juvenile court records
- Adoption proceedings
- Trade secret materials
- Sensitive personal identifiers (Social Security numbers, financial account data, tax returns, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, medical and mental health records)
When a record contains both public and exempt information, the exempt portions must be redacted before the document is released. Dauphin County’s Open Records Officer handles formal Right-to-Know requests and can be reached at:
Dauphin County Open Records Officer
P.O. Box 1295, Harrisburg, PA 17108
Phone: (717) 780-6300
Fax: (717) 780-6767
Email: openrecords@dauphincounty.gov
Requests specifically for criminal records or District Attorney files should be directed to the Right to Know Officer at the Office of the District Attorney, 101 Market Street, 2nd Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records provides additional guidance on the Right-to-Know process.
Dauphin County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Dauphin County are prosecuted in the Court of Common Pleas for felonies and misdemeanors, and in the Magisterial District Courts for summary offenses and preliminary hearings. The Clerk of Courts is the official record keeper for the Criminal Division.
Dauphin County Clerk of Courts
Address: 101 Market Street, Room 100, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Mailing: 101 Market Street, Room 202, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6530
Fax: (717) 780-6472
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
How to Search Criminal Records
- In person: Two public access terminals at the Clerk of Courts office allow self-service searches of criminal docket information at no charge.
- Online: The UJS Portal Case Search provides free access to criminal docket sheets statewide. Search by name, docket number, or incident number and select Dauphin County.
- Written request: Submit a letter to the Clerk of Courts with the individual’s full name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. Include all known aliases or prior names. Enclose a certified check or money order. The office will return a sealed letter stating any criminal charges, offense dates, and dispositions — or confirming that no record was found.
Criminal Record Search Fees (Clerk of Courts)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Record check | $12.00 |
| Certified copy | $12.00 |
| Per-page copy | $0.50 |
| Court costs — misdemeanor/felony (disposed before trial) | $180.00 |
| Court costs — misdemeanor/felony (disposed during/after trial) | $240.00 |
| Summary case costs | $35.00 |
| Expungement petition filing | $22.00 (plus postage, automation, and certification fees) |
| Summary conviction appeal filing | $59.00 |
Payment must be in cash (exact change) or certified check/money order. Personal checks are not accepted.
Sheriff’s Department
The Dauphin County Sheriff’s Department maintains warrant records and processes civil and criminal service. The office is located at:
Dauphin County Sheriff
Address: 101 Market Street, 1st Floor, Room 1004, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6590
Fax: (717) 780-6557
Expungements
Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, individuals may petition to remove certain criminal records and non-conviction data. The Clerk of Courts office provides expungement forms and instruction packets ($5.00 for the packet, or available for free download). The filing fee is $34.65. Processing of expungements through all repositories can take up to 12 months.
Paying Fines and Court Costs
Criminal fines, costs, and restitution are paid at the Fines and Costs Office on the ground floor of the courthouse (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.) or electronically through the UJS ePay portal. A satellite payment location operates at 917 Gibson Blvd., Steelton, PA 17113 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., closed 1:00–2:00 p.m.).
Dauphin County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Dauphin County is filed with the Prothonotary’s Office, which serves as the recorder and custodian of all civil court papers. Civil jurisdiction in the Court of Common Pleas covers general civil claims without financial limits, as well as domestic relations matters, arbitration hearings, landlord-tenant disputes, name changes, mechanics’ liens, and land use appeals. The Magisterial District Courts handle small claims, certain landlord-tenant evictions, and contract disputes within their monetary limits.
Dauphin County Prothonotary
Address: 101 Market Street, Room 101, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6520
Fax: (717) 780-6477
Searching Civil Records
The Prothonotary’s Searchable Civil Records database covers cases from November 2001 forward. Users can search by name, case number, participant address, or reference number. For older records or those not yet migrated to the new case management system, contact the Prothonotary’s office directly or visit in person.
Selected Civil Filing Fees (2026)
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Complaint (general civil) | $210.75 |
| Custody complaint | $371.40 |
| Divorce | $345.75 |
| Divorce with custody | $592.15 |
| Appeal from MDJ | $210.75 |
| Writ of execution | $46.25 |
| Writ of summons | $210.75 |
| Small claims (at MDJ level) | Varies by court |
| Certified copy | $10.90 |
| Per-page copy | $0.50 |
The full fee schedule is published on the Prothonotary’s filing fees page. As of January 1, 2026, a $20.00 service fee applies to each returned item.
Property Records
Deeds and property-related documents are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds, located in Room 102 of the courthouse. The office holds deeds and miscellaneous documents from 1785 to the present, and mortgages from 1979 forward. An online search portal is available at deeds.dauphincounty.gov. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Copies cost $0.50 per page, with an additional $1.50 charge for certification.
Recorder of Deeds
Address: 101 Market Street, Room 102, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6560
Dauphin County Family Court Records
Domestic relations and family law matters in Dauphin County are adjudicated through the Court of Common Pleas. The Prothonotary handles filing for divorce, custody, and support actions, while the Clerk of Orphans’ Court processes adoption filings, guardianships of minors, and termination of parental rights petitions. Family court records that are non-confidential can be searched through the Prothonotary’s online civil records database and the UJS Portal.
Certain family case records carry strict confidentiality protections. Adoption records, juvenile proceedings, child custody evaluations, and guardianship files involving minors are generally sealed or restricted from public access. Access to these records typically requires a court order.
Divorce Records
Divorce complaints are filed with the Prothonotary. Filing fees for a divorce action are $345.75 (or $592.15 when combined with a custody complaint). Appointment of a divorce hearing officer carries additional fees ranging from $123.75 to $198.75 depending on the stage of proceedings. Custody modification or contempt filings cost $150.00.
The Clerk of the Orphans’ Court maintains older divorce records and can be reached at (717) 780-6500. Walk-in, phone, fax, and mail requests are accepted at:
Dauphin County Administration Building
Address: 2 South 2nd Street, First Floor Lobby, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6500
Fax: (717) 780-6474
Marriage Records
The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court processes marriage license applications and maintains marriage records from 1885 to the present. All historical marriage records have been digitized and are searchable through the Online Service/Docket platform. Certified copies of marriage records cost $10.00 each and can be ordered by mail using the Request for Certified Copy — Marriage License form. Payment by money order or credit/debit card only (cash is not accepted). Mail requests to:
Marriage License Bureau
Dauphin County Courthouse
101 Market Street, Room 103
Harrisburg, PA 17101
A satellite location at the Northern Dauphin Human Services Center (295 State Drive, Elizabethville, PA 17023) offers services on the first and third Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Birth and Death Records
The Register of Wills maintains Dauphin County birth and death records from 1893 to 1906. To request copies within those dates, complete the Request for Search — Birth Certificate Form or the Request for Search — Death Certificate Form and mail it to the Register of Wills office with a $50.00 fee (money order or credit/debit card).
For birth and death records from 1906 forward, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. Application forms for birth certificates and death certificates are available on the state health department website. Certified copies cost $20.00 each. Acceptable government-issued photo identification must accompany each request. Mail requests to:
Department of Health — Division of Vital Records
105 Nesbit Road, P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Dauphin County Probate Court Records
Estate and probate matters in Dauphin County fall under the jurisdiction of the Register of Wills and the Orphans’ Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Register of Wills acts in a quasi-judicial capacity, probating wills, granting letters testamentary or letters of administration, holding hearings when disputes arise, and serving as agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue for inheritance tax collection.
Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans’ Court
Address: 101 Market Street, Room 103, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6500
Fax: (717) 780-6474
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (payment transactions must be completed by 4:00 p.m.)
Types of Probate Documents on File
The Register of Wills maintains a broad range of estate-related records, including:
- Petitions for grant of letters (testamentary or administration)
- Certifications of notice
- Affidavits and releases of beneficiaries
- Estate inventories
- Notices of claim
- Small estate affidavits
- Renunciations
- Inheritance tax dockets (dating back to 1917)
- Estate dockets dating to the late 1700s
- Orphans’ Court records from the late 1700s to present
Searching Probate Records
All historical and public estate records have been digitally preserved. Two online search options are available:
- Online Service/Docket Search — register for an account to search estate, marriage, and Orphans’ Court records by name or docket number.
- OCR Cloud Search — uses optical character recognition to search within document text; users can download documents into a shopping cart and pay per document or subscribe monthly.
In-person searches and requests are also available at the Register of Wills office during regular business hours.
Filing Fees and Payment
As of Act 45 of 2025 (signed November 13, 2025), the fee for all probate and Orphans’ Court cases except summary traffic is $41.25, effective immediately. The office does not accept cash — payment must be made by check, money order, or credit/debit card. Appointments are required for certain in-person services.
For questions about estate administration, inheritance tax filings, or guardianship proceedings, contact the Register of Wills office at (717) 780-6500 or email First Deputy Jenna Gamble at JGamble@dauphincounty.gov.