| Prothonotary (civil records) | Bucks County Prothonotary |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts (criminal records) | Bucks County Clerk of Courts |
| Clerk address | Bucks County Justice Center, 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 (Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts). Register of Wills: 55 E. Court Street, 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901. |
| Phone | Prothonotary (215) 348-6191; Clerk of Courts (215) 348-6389; Register of Wills (215) 348-6265 |
| 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 |
Bucks County keeps civil case records with the elected Prothonotary and criminal case records with a separate elected Clerk of Courts, both at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown. A third office, the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, is a few blocks away and keeps probate, estate, and adoption records.
Bucks County runs its own online docket search (through a Tyler public-access site) that covers both civil and criminal case information, in addition to the statewide UJS Web Portal. Both tools show the same underlying court data, so either can be used to check a case, but document images and e-filing are handled through the county's own system.
A common mix-up is calling the Prothonotary about a criminal case, or the Clerk of Courts about a civil lawsuit — they are separate offices with separate phone numbers, even though both sit in the same building.
Search Bucks County court records online
Prothonotary (civil records)
Bucks County Prothonotary
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Civil, custody, and divorce case filings for the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas
- Records
- Civil, Family
Located at the Bucks County Justice Center; the office's page links to the county's docket lookup and e-filing tools.
Clerk of Courts (criminal records)
Bucks County Clerk of Courts
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Criminal and traffic case filings for the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic
Located at the Bucks County Justice Center, separate from the Prothonotary.
Other courts
Bucks County Docket Lookup (public-access portal)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Civil and criminal docket entries and calendars for Bucks County Court of Common Pleas cases
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
County-run alternative to the statewide UJS Portal; covers the same underlying dockets.
Other courts
Bucks County Register of Wills & Clerk of the Orphans' Court
- Cost
- Free to search in person; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, and Orphans' Court dockets, including adoptions
- Records
- Probate
Located at 55 E. Court Street, 6th Floor, Doylestown.
What is available online
The county's docket lookup portal and the statewide UJS Portal both show civil and criminal docket entries; the county's own e-filing/document system provides images for cases filed electronically. Probate records are primarily searched at the Register of Wills counter.
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
Bucks County clerk offices
Bucks County Justice Center, 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 (Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts). Register of Wills: 55 E. Court Street, 6th Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901.
Phone: Prothonotary (215) 348-6191; Clerk of Courts (215) 348-6389; Register of Wills (215) 348-6265
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Civil records. Search online through the county's docket lookup tool or the Prothonotary's e-filing system, or visit the Justice Center at 100 North Main Street. Certified copies require the case number and payment.
Criminal records. Search online the same way, or contact the Clerk of Courts at the Justice Center for certified copies or documents not available online.
Probate and estate records. Contact or visit the Register of Wills & Clerk of the Orphans' Court at 55 E. Court Street. Ask for the will, letters testamentary or of administration, or the estate document you need.
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
How do I search Bucks County court records online?
Use the county's docket lookup portal, which covers both civil and criminal cases, or the statewide UJS Web Portal. Both draw on the same underlying court data.
What does the Bucks County Prothonotary handle?
Civil filings: lawsuits, custody, divorce, and judgments. Criminal cases are handled by the separate Clerk of Courts office.
Where do I get a Bucks County probate record?
From the Register of Wills & Clerk of the Orphans' Court at 55 E. Court Street, Doylestown, a separate elected office from the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts.
Are Bucks County court records free to search?
Yes, both the county's own docket lookup portal and the statewide UJS Portal are free to search. Certified copies and some document images carry a fee.
Sources
- Bucks County — Prothonotary — https://www.buckscounty.gov/361/Prothonotary
- Bucks County — Court Records — https://www.buckscounty.gov/1504/Court-Records
- Bucks County — Docket Lookup Information — https://www.buckscounty.gov/1215/Docket-Lookup-Information
- Bucks County — Register of Wills staff directory — https://www.buckscounty.gov/directory.aspx?did=112
- Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — Courts — https://www.pacourts.us/courts
- UJS Web Portal — https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/
- 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.