Washington County Court Records

Washington County, in southwestern Pennsylvania, has a court system that handles thousands of cases each year across criminal, civil, family, and probate matters. The county seat in Washington, PA, is home to the main courthouse where the Court of Common Pleas — the trial-level court of general jurisdiction — processes filings and keeps records for the public. Knowing how the courts are organized and where different records are held will save you a lot of time, whether you need to look up a pending case, get copies of documents, or confirm the status of a legal proceeding.

Pennsylvania residents and legal professionals can draw on several resources: clerks of courts offices, the prothonotary, public access terminals at the courthouse, and online search tools. PennsylvaniaCourts.us can help you locate case information across the state's unified judicial system and direct you to publicly available docket sheets, court records, and local court rules specific to Washington County.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Washington County?

You have several options for searching Washington County court cases, and the best starting point depends on the case type and whether you prefer to search online or visit the courthouse in person.

Online Case Search Options

Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System provides a free, statewide web-based search tool. The UJS Web Portal lets you pull up docket sheets for cases filed in Courts of Common Pleas across the state, including Washington County. You can search by:

Participant name
Case number
Date of birth (for criminal cases)
Filing date range

Results include docket entries, case status, scheduled hearings, and the names of participating attorneys. The portal covers criminal, civil, and some family court matters.

If you need to search across multiple jurisdictions — or look up a Magisterial District Court case alongside Court of Common Pleas and appellate filings — use the Pennsylvania Judiciary Court Case Search page, which covers all three levels.

In-Person Search Options

At the Washington County Courthouse, different offices handle different types of records. Here's where to go:

Record Type	Office	Location
Criminal cases	Clerk of Courts	Washington County Courthouse
Civil cases	Prothonotary	Washington County Courthouse
Family court cases	Family Court Division	Washington County Courthouse
Probate/estate cases	Register of Wills / Orphans Court	Washington County Courthouse

Washington County Courthouse
Address: 1 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6700

The Washington County government website has departmental contact details and current office hours for each of these offices.

Mail Requests

You can request certified copies of court records by mail. Direct your written request to the appropriate office and include:

Full name(s) of the parties involved
Case number (if known)
Type of record requested
Date range or approximate filing date
A check or money order for applicable fees
A self-addressed stamped envelope

Are Court Records Public in Washington County?

Under Pennsylvania law, most court records are generally open to the public. The Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — adopted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and applicable to all courts statewide, including Washington County — sets out what case information is available for inspection and what must be restricted.

Records Generally Open to the Public

Court filings, docket sheets, orders, and opinions in civil and criminal cases are typically available for public review. Docket sheets, which summarize everything that happens in a case from filing through final disposition, are among the most commonly requested records and can be accessed both online and in person.

Records That Are Restricted or Sealed

Some categories of records are confidential under Pennsylvania law or court rules:

Juvenile delinquency records — Protected under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6307 and generally not accessible to the public
Adoption records — Sealed under 23 Pa.C.S. § 2905 and only accessible by court order
Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders — While PFA filings may appear on dockets, certain details are restricted
Mental health proceedings — Records from involuntary commitment hearings under the Mental Health Procedures Act (50 P.S. § 7111) are confidential
Grand jury proceedings — Sealed unless a court orders otherwise
Cases involving minors in dependency matters — Protected under the Juvenile Act

Redaction Requirements

Pennsylvania's public access policy requires that certain personal identifiers be removed from publicly available documents before filing. These include Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in specific case types. The responsibility for making those redactions falls on the party submitting the documents.

If you believe your records have been improperly disclosed, or if you want to request sealing or expungement, you can file a motion with the Washington County Court of Common Pleas.

Washington County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Washington County are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Courts, which handles case filings, docket maintenance, and the issuance of certified copies for the Court of Common Pleas criminal division.

Washington County Clerk of Courts
Address: 1 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6770

Types of Criminal Records Available

The Clerk of Courts keeps records for:

Felony and misdemeanor cases
Criminal docket sheets
Bail and bond records
Sentencing records
Disposition records
Appeals from Magisterial District Courts

Searching Criminal Records Online

Criminal case dockets for Washington County are searchable through the UJS Web Portal's Court of Common Pleas Criminal Case Search. Enter a defendant's name, date of birth, or case number to find cases. Search results display:

Charges filed
Case status
Hearing dates
Bail information
Sentencing details

For cases that started at the magisterial district court level — including preliminary hearings and summary offenses — the Magisterial District Court docket search is the right tool.

Criminal History Background Checks

If you need a formal criminal background check, go through the Pennsylvania State Police Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system rather than the county clerk's office. PATCH pulls statewide criminal history information and is the standard tool for employment, licensing, and volunteer background screening.

Arrest Records and Sheriff's Office

The Washington County Sheriff's Office handles warrant service, courthouse security, and prisoner transport. Arrest records and active warrant information may be available through that office.

For information about current inmates, contact the Washington County Correctional Facility, which maintains inmate records and can respond to inquiries upon request.

Expungement

To expunge a criminal record in Washington County, you must file a petition with the Court of Common Pleas under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122. Eligibility depends on the offense type, the outcome of the case, and how much time has passed since the arrest. Cases ending in acquittal or dismissal are generally eligible, as are certain summary offenses after a five-year arrest-free period. The Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network offers resources for people working through the expungement process.

Washington County Civil Court Records

Civil cases in Washington County are handled by the Prothonotary's Office, which files, dockets, and stores all civil court records for the Court of Common Pleas.

Washington County Prothonotary
Address: 1 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6750

Types of Civil Records Maintained

The Prothonotary's Office keeps records related to:

Personal injury lawsuits
Contract disputes
Property disputes and quiet title actions
Landlord-tenant matters
Mortgage foreclosures
Judgment liens and satisfaction of judgments
Appeals from Magisterial District Courts in civil matters

Searching Civil Records

Civil case docket sheets are available through the UJS Web Portal's Civil Case Search. Enter a party name or case number to find filings, docket entries, and case status information.

If you prefer to search in person, staff at the Prothonotary's Office can help you locate civil filings. Public access terminals may also be available at the courthouse for reviewing docket information.

Fees for Civil Records

The Prothonotary's Office charges fees for various services, including:

Filing a civil complaint
Obtaining certified copies of documents
Judgment searches
Filing liens or satisfactions of judgment

Fee schedules are set by statute and local rule. For current amounts, contact the Prothonotary's Office directly or check the Washington County website.

Small Claims and Minor Civil Matters

Small claims cases, landlord-tenant disputes below a certain dollar threshold, and other minor civil matters are typically filed before a Magisterial District Judge rather than the Court of Common Pleas. Washington County has several Magisterial District Courts covering different parts of the county. These courts handle civil claims up to $12,000, and their dockets are searchable online through the UJS Web Portal.

Washington County Family Court Records

The Family Court Division of Washington County's Court of Common Pleas handles domestic relations, custody, support, and protective order matters. Because these cases often involve children or other sensitive circumstances, many family court records carry heightened confidentiality protections.

Types of Family Court Cases

Divorce — Filings for no-fault and fault-based divorce under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301
Child custody — Legal and physical custody determinations and modifications
Child support — Establishment, modification, and enforcement of support orders, administered through the Washington County Domestic Relations Office
Protection from Abuse (PFA) — Emergency and final PFA orders under the Protection From Abuse Act (23 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61)
Adoption — Voluntary and involuntary termination of parental rights and adoption proceedings
Guardianship of minors — Appointment of guardians for minor children when parents are unable to care for them

Accessing Family Court Records

Divorce and custody case docket sheets may be searchable through the UJS Web Portal. However, many family court documents — particularly those involving children — are not available online and must be requested in person at the courthouse.

Support cases are tracked through the Pennsylvania Child Support Program, which offers an online portal for parties in active support cases to view payment information and case details.

Confidentiality Restrictions

Family court records carry significant privacy protections:

Adoption records are sealed and may only be accessed by court order (23 Pa.C.S. § 2905)
Juvenile dependency cases are confidential under the Juvenile Act (42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 63)
PFA petition details may be restricted from public view, even though the existence of the case may appear on dockets
Child custody evaluations and home study reports are not part of the public record

Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage licenses in Washington County are issued by the Register of Wills, not the family court, so contact that office if you need a copy of a marriage certificate. Divorce decrees, on the other hand, are filed with the Prothonotary as part of the civil court record and are obtained from that office.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records also maintains statewide marriage and divorce records and can issue certified copies.

Washington County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Washington County go through the Orphans Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Register of Wills acts as clerk of the Orphans Court and is the main contact for filing and retrieving probate records.

Washington County Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans Court
Address: 1 South Main Street, Washington, PA 15301
Phone: (724) 228-6755

Types of Probate Records

The Register of Wills and Orphans Court maintain records for:

Probate of wills — Filing and proving the validity of a decedent's will
Letters testamentary and letters of administration — Authority granted to executors and administrators to manage estates
Estate inventories and accountings — Detailed records of estate assets and distributions
Intestate estates — Administration when someone dies without a will, under 20 Pa.C.S. § 2101 et seq.
Guardianships of incapacitated persons — Petitions and orders appointing guardians for adults who cannot manage their own affairs, under 20 Pa.C.S. Chapter 55
Conservatorships — Management of property for protected persons
Trust matters — Certain trust-related proceedings heard by the Orphans Court

Searching Probate Records

Orphans Court records may be searchable through the UJS Web Portal by selecting the appropriate case type. That said, not all probate records are fully digitized — older records may require an in-person visit to the Register of Wills office.

To request copies of a will, an estate filing, or a guardianship petition, contact the Register of Wills directly. Certified copies are available for a fee, and office staff can help locate specific filings by decedent name or estate number.

Probate Filing Fees

Probate fees in Pennsylvania are set by statute. Common fee categories include:

Probate of a will
Granting letters testamentary or letters of administration
Filing an estate inventory
Certified copies of probate documents

Pennsylvania also imposes an inheritance tax on estates, which is administered at the state level by the Department of Revenue but typically involves coordination with the Register of Wills at the county level.

Starting the Probate Process

To open an estate in Washington County, the executor or proposed administrator must bring the original will (if one exists), the death certificate, and a valid ID to the Register of Wills. The office will administer the oath, issue letters of authority, and assign a file number. Pennsylvania law requires that a will be probated within a reasonable time after the decedent's death, and the Register of Wills office can walk you through the initial requirements and documentation.

If you need legal help with probate matters, the Washington County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service that can connect you with local attorneys experienced in estate and probate law.