Chester County Court Records
According to Section 1.0 of the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, court records refer to documents maintained by a court or custodian, encompassing dockets, indices, and various case-related documents like orders, opinions, judgments, and decrees. These records are preserved by the Clerk of Courts in Chester County. The Chester County Rules of Court provides guidance on court records maintenance. Generally, court records exclude notes, memoranda, correspondence, drafts, worksheets, and work products of judges and court personnel, whether in paper or electronic form.
Court records in Chester County are of utmost importance as they document legal proceedings, preserving the county's legal history and ensuring transparency. These records offer citizens access to justice, enabling them to track their cases and protect their rights. They also foster accountability by allowing public scrutiny of the legal process. Court records support legal research and education, aid in property transactions, and are used for background checks and public safety.
Are Court Records Public in Chester County?
Yes. In compliance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, court records are generally considered public records in Chester County. This means that members of the public have the right to access and review court records in Chester County.
However, it's essential to be aware that while court records are generally accessible to the public, there may be exceptions and restrictions. Below are examples of court records that are not available to the public:
- Social security numbers
- Driver license numbers
- State identification (SID) numbers
- Financial source documents
- Minors’ educational records
- Medical/psychological records
- Children and youth services records
- Income and expense statement
- Financial account numbers (with exceptions)
- Agreements between parties in legal cases
- Marital property inventory and pre-trial statement
- Minors’ names and dates of birth (exceptions for criminal matters)
- Abuse victim’s address and contact information (in family court actions)
What Do Chester County Court Records Contain?
Court Records in Chester County serves as an extensive repository containing a wide array of information crucial to understanding individual cases conducted within its jurisdiction. The following offers an overview of the types of information typically encompassed within Chester County's court records:
- Case information (Judge assigned, OTN, arresting agency, complaint number, disposition, county, case status, issue date, file date, arrest date, incident number, disposition date, township)
- Status information (case status, status date, processing status)
- Case Calendar (event type, schedule; start date, start time, room, Judge name )
- Defendant information (Name, date of birth, address, sex, race)
- Case participants (participant type, participant name)
- Bail (bail action type, bail action date, bail type, court, surety type, surety name, posting status, posting date, security type, security amount)
- Charges (charge, grade, description, offense date, disposition)
- Disposition/sentencing details (case disposition, disposition date, offense seq./description, offense disposition)
- Attorney information (Name, representing, counsel status, supreme court number, phone number, address)
- Docket entry information (file date, entry, filer, applies to)
Where to Conduct a Chester County Case Lookup
Individuals can conduct a Chester County case lookup at the following locations:
How to Conduct a Chester County Case Records Search
The Chester County Clerk of Courts maintains custody of court records covering both civil and criminal cases. These records are generally open for public examination at the Clerk’s Office. The office operates from Monday to Friday, with business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is advisable to provide the clerk with the corresponding case number to expedite the retrieval of specific court records. In cases where the case number is not readily accessible, the clerk can assist in locating the desired file by utilizing the names of the individuals involved.
Alternatively, individuals seeking court case records can access them online through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal. This tool allows users to search by an attorney name, citation number, complaint number, date filed, docket number, incident number, or participant name. Users can access case records to locate the required details upon providing any of these details.
Chester County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court records are official documents associated with legal cases involving disputes between individuals or entities seeking legal remedies or compensation. In Chester County, civil cases are typically handled by the Clerk of Courts. The Chester County District Courts handle civil cases not exceeding $12,000. At the same time, the Court of Common Pleas hears civil cases involving money or property, adoptions, divorce, child support issues, custody disputes, and estates. Use any of the following options to retrieve civil case information/documents in Chester County:
- Email: Send civil case record requests to arosatihanley@chesco.org
- Phone: Call (610) 344-4283 for civil record searches.
- Online: Requesters can use the ChescoPIN the Chester County Prothonotary Office provides. This tool is a paid subscription service that provides access to civil case records. This service is free in the Prothonotary's Office or Chester County libraries.
- In-person: Inquirers can visit the court where a civil case was filed to request copies of civil court records. Most courts are open from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The requester must be able to provide sufficient information about the desired record to facilitate the search.
Chester County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court records are official documents related to legal cases involving alleged criminal offenses. The Clerk of Courts is the custodian of criminal records in Chester County. These records can be retrieved online through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web portal. The search parameters are attorney name, citation number, complaint number, date filed, docket number, incident number, or participant name. Alternatively, a criminal record search can be conducted by phone, email, or in person at the Clerk’s Office.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Record seekers can get court records online for free via The Unified Judicial System Of Pennsylvania Web Portal. Here is a step-by-step process for using this search tool:
- Go to the Clerk of Courts' official website
- Click “Public Access” at the left navigation plane
- Click the “PAeDocket - AOPC UJS Web Portal” option
- Click “Case Information” at the top bar and select Case Search from the dropdown
- Conduct a search by:
- Attorney
- Citation number
- Complaint number
- Date filed
- Docket number
- Incident number
- Participant name
Courts in Chester County
Below are the addresses of the courts in Chester County:
Chester County Courthouse
201 W. Market Street
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 344-6000
Chester County District Courts
District Court 15-1-01, Justice Center
201 West Market Street, Suite 1307
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 431-4814
District Court 15-1-02
1572 Paoli Pike
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 455-1100
District Court 15-1-03
One City Hall Place, Suite 200
Coatesville, PA 19320-3446
Phone: (610) 455-1155
District Court 15-1-04
Judge Marian T. Vito
21 West Market Street, Suite 100
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: (610) 344-6622
District Court 15-2-01
347 Bridge Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone: (610) 455-1125
District Court 15-2-03
Government Services Center
601 Westtown Road, Suite 110
West Chester, PA 19382
Phone: (610) 436-5757
District Court 15-2-07
75 East Uwchlan Avenue, Suite 110
Exton, PA 19341
Phone: (610) 455-1140
District Court 15-3-01
1101 Ridge Road, Suite B
Pottstown, PA 19465
Phone: (610) 455-1120
District Court 15-3-04
916 West Cypress Street
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Phone: (610) 455-1170
District Court 15-3-05
305 South Third Street
Oxford, PA 19363
Phone: (610) 455-1160
District Court 15-3-06
4824 Horseshoe Pike
Honey Brook, PA 19344
Phone: (610) 455-1110
District Court 15-3-07
315 First Avenue, Building 3
Parkesburg, PA 19365
Phone: (610) 455-1115
District Court 15-4-01
950 West Valley Road, Suite 3100
Wayne, PA 19087
Phone: (610) 455-1130
District Court 15-4-02
231 Boot Road
Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone: (610) 455-1145
District Court 15-4-03
Whiteland Business Park
748 Springdale Drive, Suite 110
Exton, PA 19341
Phone: (610) 455-1150
District Court 15-4-04
914 West Cypress Street
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Phone: (610) 455-1175
District Justice Administration
201 West Market Street, Suite 4100
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: (610) 344-6173
