| Prothonotary (civil records) | Chester County Prothonotary — ChescoPIN |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts (criminal records) | UJS Web Portal (used for Chester County criminal dockets) |
| Clerk address | Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, PA 19380 (Prothonotary Suite 1425; Register of Wills Suite 2200) |
| Phone | Prothonotary (610) 344-6300; Register of Wills (610) 344-6335 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| 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 |
Chester County keeps civil case records with the elected Prothonotary and criminal case records with a separate elected Clerk of Courts, both at the Chester County Justice Center in West Chester. A third office, the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, is in the same complex and keeps probate and estate records.
Civil case searching runs through ChescoPIN, the Prothonotary's public-index system, which is free both online and on terminals at the office and county libraries. Criminal case searching is done through the statewide UJS Web Portal. The county's website also has a general "Public Portal" landing page that links to both.
The most common mix-up is looking for criminal records in ChescoPIN, which only covers civil filings; criminal searches need the UJS Portal instead.
Search Chester County court records online
Prothonotary (civil records)
Chester County Prothonotary — ChescoPIN
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Civil, custody, divorce, and judgment case filings for the Chester County Court of Common Pleas
- Records
- Civil, Family
Also accessible free on terminals at the Prothonotary's office and Chester County libraries.
Clerk of Courts (criminal records)
UJS Web Portal (used for Chester County criminal dockets)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Criminal case dockets for the Chester County Court of Common Pleas
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic
Chester County directs criminal case searches to the statewide UJS Portal. Contact the Clerk of Courts directly for certified copies of criminal filings.
Other courts
Chester County Public Portal
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Landing page linking to ChescoPIN (civil), the UJS Portal (criminal), and other county record searches
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Probate
Not a search tool itself; a directory of the county's online record systems.
Other courts
Chester County Register of Wills / Orphans' Court
- Cost
- Free to search in person; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, and Orphans' Court dockets
- Records
- Probate
What is available online
ChescoPIN covers civil docket information for the Prothonotary's office; it does not include document images for every filing. Criminal case information is on the statewide UJS Portal. Register of Wills records are primarily searched at the office counter, with some estate forms available online.
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
Chester County clerk offices
Chester County Justice Center, 201 West Market Street, West Chester, PA 19380 (Prothonotary Suite 1425; Register of Wills Suite 2200)
Phone: Prothonotary (610) 344-6300; Register of Wills (610) 344-6335
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Civil records. Search ChescoPIN online or on a free terminal at the Prothonotary's office or a county library, or visit 201 West Market Street, Suite 1425. Certified copies require the case number and payment.
Criminal records. Search the UJS Web Portal by name or docket number. Contact the Chester County Clerk of Courts for certified copies or documents not shown online.
Probate and estate records. Contact or visit the Register of Wills at (610) 344-6335, Suite 2200. 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
What is ChescoPIN?
Chester County's free online index of civil, custody, divorce, and judgment filings maintained by the Prothonotary. It does not cover criminal cases.
How do I search Chester County criminal court records?
Use the statewide UJS Web Portal; ChescoPIN covers civil filings only.
Where do I get a Chester County probate record?
From the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court at the Chester County Justice Center, Suite 2200.
Can I search Chester County records for free at a library?
Yes. ChescoPIN, the civil case index, is available at no charge at the Prothonotary's office and at Chester County libraries in addition to online.
Sources
- Chester County — Prothonotary — https://www.chesco.org/173/Prothonotary
- Chester County — Register of Wills / Orphans' Court — https://www.chesco.org/168/Register-of-Wills-Orphans-Court
- Chester County — Public Portal — https://www.chesco.org/5730/Public-Portal
- UJS Web Portal (statewide, used for Chester County 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.