| Prothonotary (civil records) | Delaware County Public Access — Civil Case Dockets and Judgment Index |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts (criminal records) | UJS Web Portal (used for Delaware County criminal dockets) |
| Clerk address | Delaware County Courthouse / Government Center, 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063 |
| Phone | Courthouse main line (610) 891-4000; Register of Wills (610) 891-4400 |
| 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 |
Delaware County's civil and criminal court functions are organized under the county's Office of Judicial Support / Court of Common Pleas rather than separately branded Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts websites, though the underlying record types are the same: civil case dockets and judgment index on one side, and criminal dockets on the other. The county courthouse (Government Center, 201 West Front Street, Media) hosts all of these functions along with the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, a separate elected office for probate and estate matters.
Delaware County runs its own online portal for civil case dockets and the judgment index, while criminal case information is searched through the statewide UJS Web Portal. The Register of Wills has a separate set of online systems for estate and marriage records.
A common mistake is assuming the county's civil portal also covers criminal cases; it does not, and criminal case searches need to go through the UJS Portal instead.
Search Delaware County court records online
Prothonotary (civil records)
Delaware County Public Access — Civil Case Dockets and Judgment Index
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Court of Common Pleas civil case dockets and the judgment index for Delaware County
- Records
- Civil
Performs the traditional Prothonotary function. E-filing for civil cases is handled by the Office of Judicial Support, Civil Division, at a separate e-filing site.
Clerk of Courts (criminal records)
UJS Web Portal (used for Delaware County criminal dockets)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Court of Common Pleas criminal and traffic case dockets for Delaware County
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic
Delaware County's public access page directs criminal case searches to the statewide UJS Portal rather than a separate county criminal database.
Other courts
Delaware 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
The office also offers online systems for estate and marriage-license information.
What is available online
The county's public-access portal covers civil case dockets and the judgment index; document images depend on whether the case was e-filed. Criminal case information is on the statewide UJS Portal. The Register of Wills maintains its own online systems for estate index and marriage-license records, separate from the civil and criminal portals.
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
Delaware County clerk offices
Delaware County Courthouse / Government Center, 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063
Phone: Courthouse main line (610) 891-4000; Register of Wills (610) 891-4400
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 online through the county's public-access portal, or visit the Government Center at 201 West Front Street, Media. Certified copies require the case number and payment.
Criminal records. Search the UJS Web Portal by name or docket number. Contact the Office of Judicial Support at the courthouse for certified copies or documents not available online.
Probate and estate records. Contact or visit the Register of Wills at (610) 891-4400. Ask for the will, letters testamentary or of administration, or the specific 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 Delaware County, PA civil court records?
Use the county's public-access portal, which covers Court of Common Pleas civil dockets and the judgment index.
How do I search Delaware County, PA criminal court records?
Use the statewide UJS Web Portal; Delaware County's own portal covers civil records only.
Does Delaware County have a Prothonotary?
The civil-filing function is handled through the Office of Judicial Support / Court of Common Pleas rather than a separately branded Prothonotary's office, but it performs the same role.
Where do I get a Delaware County probate record?
From the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court at the Government Center in Media, a separate elected office.
Sources
- Delaware County — Public Access — https://www.delcopa.gov/publicaccess
- Delaware County Public Access — Civil Case Dockets — https://delcopublicaccess.co.delaware.pa.us/
- Delaware County — Register of Wills — https://www.delcopa.gov/row
- UJS Web Portal (statewide, used for Delaware County criminal dockets) — https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch
- Unified Judicial System — Delaware County (Individual County Courts) — https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/individual-county-courts/delaware-county
- 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.