| Prothonotary (civil records) | Montgomery County Prothonotary — Case Search |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts (criminal records) | UJS Web Portal (used for Montgomery County criminal dockets) |
| Clerk address | Prothonotary: One Montgomery Plaza, Norristown, PA 19404 (mail: P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311). Register of Wills: One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede Street, 4th Floor, Norristown, PA 19401. |
| Phone | County main line (610) 278-3000; Register of Wills (610) 278-3400 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 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 |
Montgomery County keeps civil court records with the elected Prothonotary, who runs an online case search and e-filing system out of the county courthouse complex, One Montgomery Plaza, in Norristown. Criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas are searched through the statewide UJS Web Portal rather than a dedicated county criminal database.
A separate elected office, the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, keeps wills, estates, guardianships, and adoption records, and issues marriage licenses. All three offices are within a few blocks of each other in Norristown, but each keeps its own file and takes requests separately.
Because Montgomery County's criminal search runs through the state portal, searchers sometimes assume the Prothonotary's online system covers criminal cases too — it does not; it is civil-only.
Search Montgomery County court records online
Prothonotary (civil records)
Montgomery County Prothonotary — Case Search
- Cost
- Free to search; fees for certified copies and e-filing
- Coverage
- Court of Common Pleas civil, custody, divorce, and judgment case records
- Records
- Civil, Family
The Prothonotary also offers a separate e-filing portal for attorneys and self-represented parties.
Clerk of Courts (criminal records)
UJS Web Portal (used for Montgomery County criminal dockets)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Court of Common Pleas criminal and traffic case dockets for Montgomery County
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic
Montgomery County does not operate a separate public criminal case search; criminal dockets are published on the statewide UJS Portal. Contact the Montgomery County Court Administration for certified copies of criminal filings.
Other courts
Montgomery County Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court
- Cost
- Free to search in person; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and Orphans' Court dockets
- Records
- Probate
Also collects Pennsylvania inheritance tax and issues marriage licenses.
What is available online
The Prothonotary's case search covers civil, custody, and divorce filings with e-filing document access for registered users on cases filed electronically. Criminal case information is on the statewide UJS Portal, which shows docket entries but not always document images. Estate and 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
Montgomery County clerk offices
Prothonotary: One Montgomery Plaza, Norristown, PA 19404 (mail: P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311). Register of Wills: One Montgomery Plaza, 425 Swede Street, 4th Floor, Norristown, PA 19401.
Phone: County main line (610) 278-3000; Register of Wills (610) 278-3400
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 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 Prothonotary's case search tool, or visit the office at One Montgomery Plaza. Certified copies require a request with the case number and payment; mail requests go to P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311.
Criminal records. Search the UJS Web Portal by name or docket number. Contact Montgomery County Court Administration for certified copies or documents not shown online.
Probate and estate records. Contact or visit the Register of Wills at (610) 278-3400. 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 Montgomery County, PA civil court records?
Use the Prothonotary's online case search, which covers Court of Common Pleas civil, custody, and divorce filings.
How do I search Montgomery County, PA criminal court records?
Use the statewide UJS Web Portal. Montgomery County does not run a separate public criminal case search.
Who keeps Montgomery County probate records?
The Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, a separate elected office at One Montgomery Plaza in Norristown.
Can I e-file in Montgomery County?
Yes for civil cases, through the Prothonotary's e-filing system for attorneys and self-represented parties. Criminal filings go through the court system rather than this portal.
Sources
- Montgomery County — Court Records / E-Filing (Civil & Criminal) — https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/departments/county-courts/court-legal-services/court-records-e-filing-civil-criminal
- Montgomery County — Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court — https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/departments/register-wills-clerk-orphans-court
- UJS Web Portal (statewide, used for Montgomery County criminal dockets) — https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch
- 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.