| Prothonotary (civil records) | Allegheny County Department of Court Records — Civil/Family Division |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts (criminal records) | Allegheny County Department of Court Records — Criminal Division |
| Clerk address | Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 |
| Phone | Register of Wills / Wills-Orphans' Court Division: (412) 350-4180 |
| Hours | Confirm current hours with the clerk before visiting |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) replaced its separate elected Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts with a single Department of Court Records, organized into a Civil/Family Division, a Criminal Division, and a Wills/Orphans' Court Division. All three sit at the Allegheny County Courthouse, but each division files and searches records separately.
The Civil/Family Division runs its own online search and e-filing system (DCR E-Filing and Retrieval). Criminal case information is searched through the statewide UJS Web Portal rather than a county-run criminal database. The Wills/Orphans' Court Division, headed by the Register of Wills, keeps probate, estate, and adoption records and issues marriage licenses.
A common point of confusion is that Allegheny's Register of Wills and its Clerk of Courts have historically been combined under one elected official who also serves as head of the Wills/Orphans' Court Division; the civil and criminal filing functions are separate divisions of the Department of Court Records rather than separate elected clerks.
Search Allegheny County court records online
Prothonotary (civil records)
Allegheny County Department of Court Records — Civil/Family Division
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for certified copies and e-filing
- Coverage
- Civil and family division case dockets for the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
- Records
- Civil, Family
Performs the traditional Prothonotary function. Contact civil@alleghenycounty.us for technical issues with the search tool.
Clerk of Courts (criminal records)
Allegheny County Department of Court Records — Criminal Division
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Criminal case dockets for the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic
Performs the traditional Clerk of Courts function. Criminal dockets are searched on the statewide UJS Web Portal; the Criminal Division at the courthouse handles certified copies and in-person requests.
Other courts
Allegheny County Register of Wills / Wills-Orphans' Court Division
- Cost
- Free to search in person; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and Orphans' Court dockets
- Records
- Probate
This alleghenycounty.us page returned a bot-blocking response (HTTP 403) to an automated check but is confirmed as the official page through Allegheny County's own department listing; verify before relying on it for a specific document.
What is available online
The Civil/Family Division's e-filing and retrieval system covers civil and family dockets and, for registered users, document images for cases filed electronically. Criminal case information is on the statewide UJS Portal, which shows docket entries but not always document images. Probate records are primarily searched at the Wills/Orphans' Court Division counter; the county's public-facing index for estates is limited.
Which clerk has your record
In Pennsylvania, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Pennsylvania page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court of Pennsylvania | Appeals in most civil and criminal cases from the Courts of Common Pleas; Family law and custody appeals | Prothonotary of the Superior Court (docket sheets on the UJS Web Portal) |
| Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania | Civil actions by and against the Commonwealth and its agencies; Appeals from state agencies and licensing boards; Some local government and election matters | Prothonotary of the Commonwealth Court (docket sheets on the UJS Web Portal) |
| Courts of Common Pleas (60 judicial districts) | Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; Civil lawsuits, contracts, and personal injury; Divorce, custody, and support | Prothonotary (civil) and Clerk of Courts (criminal) of the county; Register of Wills (Orphans' Court) for probate |
| Magisterial District Courts | Summary offenses and traffic citations; Landlord-tenant and small claims up to the statutory limit; Preliminary arraignments and hearings in criminal cases | Magisterial District Judge's office for that magisterial district |
| Philadelphia Municipal Court and Pittsburgh Municipal Court divisions | Misdemeanors and summary offenses within city limits; Landlord-tenant and small civil claims; Traffic within the city | Clerk of the Municipal Court division (Philadelphia); handled within the Court of Common Pleas structure in Allegheny County |
Request records in person or by mail
Allegheny County clerk offices
Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: Register of Wills / Wills-Orphans' Court Division: (412) 350-4180
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Civil and family records. Search online through the Department of Court Records' Civil/Family portal, or visit the Allegheny County Courthouse. Certified copies require a request with the case number and payment.
Criminal records. Search the UJS Web Portal by name or docket number. Contact the Department of Court Records' Criminal Division at the courthouse for certified copies or documents not available online.
Probate and estate records. Visit or write to the Wills/Orphans' Court Division at the courthouse. Ask for the will, letters testamentary or of administration, or the specific Orphans' Court order.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Copy fees are set locally by each Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, and Register of Wills under fee schedules authorized by the Judicial Code (42 Pa.C.S.) and county fee ordinances, so the per-page and certification charges differ by county and change periodically. Confirm the current fee with the specific office before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Pennsylvania court records are presumed open under the Unified Judicial System's public access policy, but the policy itself carves out categories that are not published even though a file exists:
The Pennsylvania guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
Does Allegheny County have a Prothonotary and a Clerk of Courts?
Not as separate elected offices. The Department of Court Records performs both functions through its Civil/Family Division (the traditional Prothonotary role) and its Criminal Division (the traditional Clerk of Courts role).
How do I search Allegheny County criminal records?
Use the statewide UJS Web Portal. Allegheny County does not run a separate public criminal case search; the Criminal Division handles certified copies and documents not shown online.
How do I search Allegheny County civil records?
Use the Department of Court Records' Civil/Family Division online search and e-filing system, which covers Court of Common Pleas civil and family cases.
Where are Allegheny County probate records?
With the Wills/Orphans' Court Division, headed by the Register of Wills, at the Allegheny County Courthouse.
Sources
- Allegheny County Department of Court Records — https://dcr.alleghenycounty.us/
- Allegheny County — Court Records — https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/Court-Related/Court-Records
- Allegheny County — Wills and Orphans' Court resources — https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/Court-Related/Wills-and-Orphans/Resources
- UJS Web Portal (statewide, used for Allegheny criminal dockets) — https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/
- Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — Courts — https://www.pacourts.us/courts
- Unified Judicial System — Public Records — https://www.pacourts.us/public-records
- Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210524/020901-publicaccesspolicy_2010-000836.pdf
- PATCH — Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Search — https://www.pa.gov/agencies/psp/programs/records-request/overview-of-patch
- 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 — Criminal History Record Information (expungement, Clean Slate) — https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.091..HTM
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania — https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania — https://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania — https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/
- PACER — Federal court records — https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Pennsylvania counties.