Court records in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, are maintained by the Department of Court Records and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. AlleghenyPACourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Allegheny County. Additional access points include the county's official Department of Court Records portals, the Allegheny County courthouse, and state and federal court websites serving the region.
Allegheny Court System Overview
Allegheny County is part of Pennsylvania's Fifth Judicial District, which encompasses only Allegheny County — making it one of the largest single-county judicial districts in the state. The Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County is the trial court of general jurisdiction and includes several divisions: Civil, Criminal, Family, and Orphans' Court. Magisterial District Courts handle preliminary hearings, minor criminal offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, and small civil claims throughout the county. The Allegheny County Courthouse serves as the primary seat of the court system.
Courts Serving Allegheny
Several state and federal courts serve Allegheny County residents. Below are the primary courts with contact details.
Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
Allegheny County Magisterial District Courts
There are numerous Magisterial District Courts located throughout the county. Each covers a specific geographic area. You can locate the correct magisterial district court for your address through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System directory.
Pittsburgh Municipal Court
Pittsburgh Municipal Court handles cases arising within the City of Pittsburgh, including preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and landlord-tenant matters.
U.S. District Court — Western District of Pennsylvania
The Western District of Pennsylvania handles federal civil and criminal cases originating in Allegheny County and surrounding counties.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Western District of Pennsylvania
What Types of Cases Allegheny Courts Hear
Courts in Allegheny County handle a broad range of case types across multiple divisions:
- Felony criminal cases
- Misdemeanors and summary offenses
- Civil litigation (contract disputes, personal injury, real estate)
- Small claims (up to $12,000)
- Landlord-tenant disputes
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, protection from abuse orders
- Probate and estate administration (Orphans' Court)
- Guardianship and trust matters
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency proceedings
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
- Traffic violations
- Mortgage foreclosure proceedings
The sections below explain which court or division handles each category.
District Court Cases in Allegheny
The Court of Common Pleas is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Allegheny County. Its Criminal Division handles all felony cases after they are bound over from a preliminary hearing at a Magisterial District Court or Pittsburgh Municipal Court. The Civil Division hears cases involving amounts exceeding $12,000, equity matters, and appeals from magisterial district judges. Cases are assigned to individual judges through the court's case management system. The court also handles post-conviction relief petitions and appeals from lower courts. The Department of Court Records online portal provides access to civil, family, and Orphans' Court case information.
Magistrate Court Cases in Allegheny
Magisterial District Courts in Allegheny County handle:
- Summary offenses (minor criminal matters and most traffic violations)
- Preliminary hearings for misdemeanor and felony charges
- Civil claims up to $12,000
- Small claims up to $12,000
- Landlord-tenant disputes, including eviction proceedings
- DUI arraignments and preliminary hearings
Under Pennsylvania law, the jurisdictional limit for civil cases in magisterial district courts is $12,000. Cases exceeding that amount must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas. Given Allegheny County's large population, Pittsburgh Municipal Court functions similarly to a magisterial district court but serves the city exclusively. You can search for magisterial district court records through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Allegheny
Family Law
The Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protection from abuse (PFA) orders, and termination of parental rights. Support matters are managed through the Allegheny County Family Division support office. If you need a PFA order, you can file at the courthouse during business hours or through an after-hours process handled by Pittsburgh Municipal Court.
Probate and Orphans' Court
Orphans' Court Division handles decedent estates, guardianships of incapacitated persons, trust disputes, and adoptions. Wills are filed with and maintained by the Department of Court Records — Wills/Orphans' Court Division. You can search Orphans' Court records through the Department of Court Records online system.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases are heard in the Juvenile Section of the Family Division. Juvenile records are confidential under Pennsylvania law and are not available to the general public. The Allegheny County Juvenile Probation Office can be reached at (412) 350-0523.
How Cases Move Through the Allegheny Court System
- Filing or initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint filed by law enforcement or a private citizen. Civil cases start with a complaint filed in the appropriate division. Family matters begin with a petition.
- Preliminary proceedings: Criminal defendants appear for a preliminary hearing at a Magisterial District Court. Civil cases receive a scheduling order. Family cases may involve an initial conference.
- Assignment to a judge: Cases in the Court of Common Pleas are assigned to a specific judge through the court's automated assignment system.
- Pre-trial phase: Criminal cases may involve motions, discovery, and plea negotiations. Civil cases proceed through discovery, depositions, and pre-trial motions.
- Trial or resolution: Cases may resolve by plea agreement, jury or bench trial verdict, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing and appeals. Civil cases may involve enforcement of judgments. Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas go to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania or, in Orphans' Court matters, sometimes to the Commonwealth Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Allegheny
The Fifth Judicial District is overseen by the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. A District Court Administrator manages day-to-day operations.
- Local rules: The local rules of the Fifth Judicial District are published on the Allegheny County courts website and through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System.
- Public access: Most court records in Pennsylvania are generally public under the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. Certain records — including juvenile cases, some family matters, and sealed records — are restricted. Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, administrative records held by county offices may also be requested.
- Attending hearings: Hearings at the Allegheny County Courthouse are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be conducted via videoconference — check with the assigned judge's chambers or the court administrator's office for details.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Allegheny
- Court docket search: Search civil, criminal, and Orphans' Court dockets through the Allegheny County Department of Court Records portal. Statewide searches are available through the UJS Portal.
- Court calendar: Hearing schedules and court calendars are available through the court administrator's office and individual judge chambers.
- Court forms and self-help: Pennsylvania courts provide self-help forms through the UJS forms page. The Allegheny County Bar Association also offers a Lawyer Referral Service.
- Clerk of court / Department of Court Records: Certified copies, record searches, and public records requests are handled by the Department of Court Records at 436 Grant Street. A state audit of the Department of Court Records provides additional background on its operations.
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate search: Locate inmates in state custody through the PA DOC Inmate Locator.
- Pennsylvania sex offender registry: Search the Megan's Law registry maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police.
- Property records: Allegheny County property assessment data is publicly available for research purposes.
- Federal court records: Search federal case filings through the Western District of Pennsylvania website or via PACER.