| Prothonotary (civil records) | York County Prothonotary |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts (criminal records) | York County Clerk of Courts |
| Clerk address | York County Judicial Center, 45 North George Street, York, PA 17401 |
| Phone | Prothonotary (717) 771-9611; Register of Wills (717) 771-9607 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m. (Prothonotary filing hours end at 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 |
York County keeps civil case records with the elected Prothonotary and criminal case records with a separate elected Clerk of Courts, both at the York County Judicial Center. A third office, the Register of Wills, keeps probate, estate, and marriage-license records at the same address.
All civil litigation — mortgage foreclosures, personal injury, license-suspension appeals, divorce, custody, and protection-from-abuse cases — is filed with the Prothonotary. Case searching for both civil and criminal matters is done through the statewide UJS Web Portal; York County's own court-records page is primarily a directory of forms and office contacts rather than a separate search tool.
A common mistake is contacting the Prothonotary about a criminal charge, or the Clerk of Courts about a civil lawsuit; each office only has the records for its own case type.
Search York County court records online
Prothonotary (civil records)
York County Prothonotary
- Cost
- Fees for certified copies; case searches are through the UJS Web Portal
- Coverage
- Civil, custody, divorce, protection-from-abuse, and judgment filings for the York County Court of Common Pleas
- Records
- Civil, Family
Located at 45 N George Street, York. Filing hours Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Clerk of Courts (criminal records)
York County Clerk of Courts
- Cost
- Fees for certified copies; case searches are through the UJS Web Portal
- Coverage
- Criminal and traffic filings for the York County Court of Common Pleas
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic
A separate elected office from the Prothonotary, also based in York.
Other courts
York County Register of Wills
- Cost
- Free to search in person; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, and Orphans' Court dockets, including marriage licenses
- Records
- Probate
Other courts
UJS Web Portal (used for York County civil and criminal dockets)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Court of Common Pleas civil and criminal docket sheets for York County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
York County's own website does not run a separate public case search; use the statewide portal.
What is available online
York County directs case searches to the statewide UJS Web Portal for both civil and criminal dockets. The county's own website hosts forms and office contact information rather than a separate search system. 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
York County clerk offices
York County Judicial Center, 45 North George Street, York, PA 17401
Phone: Prothonotary (717) 771-9611; Register of Wills (717) 771-9607
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:15 p.m. (Prothonotary filing hours end at 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 the UJS Web Portal, or visit the Prothonotary at 45 North George Street. Certified copies require the case number and payment.
Criminal records. Search the UJS Web Portal, or contact the Clerk of Courts at the same address for certified copies or documents not shown online.
Probate and estate records. Contact or visit the Register of Wills at (717) 771-9607. 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 York County, PA court records?
Use the statewide UJS Web Portal for both civil and criminal dockets; York County does not run a separate online case search.
What does the York County Prothonotary handle?
Civil litigation including mortgage foreclosures, personal injury, license-suspension appeals, divorce, custody, and protection-from-abuse cases.
Where do I get a York County probate record?
From the Register of Wills at the York County Judicial Center, 45 North George Street, York.
Is there a fee to search York County court records online?
No, the UJS Web Portal is free to search. Certified copies from the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts carry a per-page fee.
Sources
- York County — Prothonotary — https://yorkcountypa.gov/329/Prothonotary
- York County — Clerk of Courts — https://yorkcountypa.gov/558/Clerk-of-Courts
- York County — Register of Wills — https://yorkcountypa.gov/583/Register-of-Wills
- UJS Web Portal (statewide, used for York County 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.