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The Guide to Pennsylvania Courts


The Pennsylvania trial court system consists of Courts of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Courts, Community Courts, Traffic Courts, Philadelphia Municipal Courts, Pittsburgh Municipal Court, and Pittsburgh Magistrates Courts.
 
Courts of Common Pleas have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, but typically only handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts. Magisterial District Courts, Community Courts, Traffic Courts, Philadelphia Municipal Courts and the Pittsburgh Municipal Court have limited jurisdiction over certain types of cases.

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Please select a Pennsylvania county below to view directory of all courts with links to court record resources for each court. Find Pennsylvania court pages by Town or Zip Code. Select a court record or online resource category below to view all resources at both the statewide and county level. Go to the court records pages for another state.
 


 

Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas

Courts of Common Pleas have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, and generally handle cases that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts.

Criminal cases typically heard by Courts of Common Pleas include felonies and lesser-included offenses.

Civil cases heard by Courts of Common Pleas include general civil claims without financial limits. Courts of Common Pleas also handle domestic relations, juvenile matters, adoptions, delayed birth certificates, appeals of some administrative agency decisions and some arbitration reviews.

Courts of Common Pleas may have specialized divisions for certain types of cases, including Orphans' Court and Family Court.

The Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas generally exercises jurisdiction over cases beyond the jurisdiction of municipal courts and traffic courts, but also shares jurisdiction over small claims cases.

Pennsylvania Magisterial District Courts

Magisterial District Courts has jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases.

Criminal cases heard by Magisterial District Courts include most summary offenses, most preliminary hearings, certain DUI cases, certain third-degree misdemeanors and some ordinance violations.

Civil cases heard by Magisterial District Courts include certain landlord/tenant cases and some general civil claims subject to financial limits. Magisterial District Courts do not have jurisdiction over civil cases brought by or against the State.

Judges in Magisterial District Courts are referred to as "District Justices" and "Magisterial District Judges," but the jurisdiction of a judge in a Magisterial District Court is the same regardless of their title.

Pennsylvania Community Courts

Community Courts are not courts of record and are created by voters. The jurisdiction of a Community Court may include the level of jurisdiction exercised by a magisterial district judge, a municipal court or a traffic court, depending on the jurisdiction granted by voters. If a Community Court is created, it will generally assume jurisdiction over the types of cases handled by other local courts.

Community Court are specifically prohibited from supplanting the jurisdiction of Pittsburgh Magistrates Court. The Philadelphia Municipal Courts and the Philadelphia Traffic Courts are not community courts, but may be abolished if a Community Court is created by the City of Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania Traffic Courts

Traffic Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over motor vehicle summary offenses.

Cities of a certain size may establish Traffic Courts that are not courts of record and operate as a division of a Magisterial District Court or Court of Common Pleas.

Traffic Courts share jurisdiction with Magisterial District Courts when Traffic Courts are closed.

The City and County of Philadelphia has a Traffic Court that is not a court of record. Traffic cases for the City of Pittsburgh are handled by the Pittsburgh Municipal Court and Traffic Courts.

Pennsylvania Philadelphia Municipal Courts

Philadelphia Municipal Courts exercise limited jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal cases within the territorial boundaries of the City and County of Philadelphia.

Jurisdiction over criminal cases includes preliminary hearings, most summary offenses, offenses that are punishable by less than five years of incarceration and some motor vehicle offenses.

Philadelphia Municipal Courts do not offer jury trials for criminal cases, but a jury trial may be conducted in the Court of Common Pleas if a request for a new trial is granted on appeal.

Jurisdiction over civil cases includes certain landlord-tenant cases, breach of contract or other agreements, some general civil claims for less than $10,000, certain local tax matters involving less than $15,000 and actions to abate certain nuisances. Financial limits on civil jurisdiction are exclusive of interest and costs.

The limited jurisdiction of the Philadelphia Municipal Courts is generally shared with the Court of Common Pleas, but the Municipal Court may have exclusive jurisdiction over certain criminal offenses. The Philadelphia Traffic Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all motor vehicle summary offenses.

Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Municipal Court

The Pittsburgh Municipal Court handles certain types of criminal, housing and traffic cases.

Criminal cases handled by the Pittsburgh Municipal Court include summary offenses, traffic offenses, violations of most city ordinances and all preliminary hearings for all types of criminal cases that occur in Pittsburgh, including private criminal complaints.

The Pittsburgh Municipal Court may also handle cases for Emergency Protection in its Arraignment Court division.

Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Magistrates Courts

Magistrate Courts in Pittsburgh have similar jurisdiction to Magisterial District Justice Courts, but also handle traffic cases and housing cases for the city. These Pittsburgh courts may also be referred to as "Police Magistrate Courts." The territorial jurisdiction of these courts are limited to the city of Pittsburgh, and are considered to be the only city courts in Pennsylvania.

Cases typically handled by Pittsburgh Magistrate Courts include, but are not limited to summary offenses, traffic offenses, preliminary criminal hearings, certain DUI and third degree misdemeanors, landlord/tenant cases, violations of health or housing ordinances, and some civil claims within financial jurisdictional limits.

Criminal cases typically handled by a Pittsburgh Magistrate Court include, but are not limited to: drunkenness, disorderly conduct, unlawful liquor sales, lewd or indecent behavior, public disturbances, vagrancy, prostitution, theft, domestic abuse, and violations of city laws or ordinances.

A Pittsburgh Magistrates Court has jurisdiction over traffic cases when it sits as a Traffic Court of Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania Court Notes

All appellate courts exercise some original jurisdiction over certain types of trial court cases.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, some administrative agency decisions and any matter of public importance that may be pending in any court.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has original jurisdiction over habeas corpus, mandamus and applications for wiretapping and electronic surveillance.

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court has original jurisdiction over cases that include habeas corpus, mandamus, some civil actions against state government and state officers, some civil actions by state government, certain insurance cases, and certain statewide election matters.

Pennsylvania has a Court of Judicial Discipline that is a court of record for cases related to the conduct of Pennsylvania judges.

Where to find court cases in Pennsylvania

The chart below gives general information on the types of cases heard in each type of court in Pennsylvania.
 

Most Cases = Most or all cases.     Some Cases = Some cases.

Case Type Court Type
CivilCourts of Common PleasMagisterial District CourtsCommunity CourtsTraffic Courts
General Civil - Unlimited
Most or all General Civil - Unlimited cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
General Civil - Limited
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some General Civil - Limited cases can be found in the Community Courts
 
Small Claims
Some Small Claims cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
Most or all Small Claims cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Most or all Small Claims cases can be found in the Community Courts
 
Civil Equity
Most or all Civil Equity cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Complex Commercial
Most or all Complex Commercial cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Foreclosures and Liens
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Foreclosures and Liens cases can be found in the Community Courts
 
Real Estate Title and Boundary
Most or all Real Estate Title and Boundary cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Landlord / Tenant
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Landlord / Tenant cases can be found in the Community Courts
 
Ordinance Violations 
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Community Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Traffic Courts
Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders
Most or all Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Protection, No Contact, and Restraining Orders cases can be found in the Community Courts
 
Administrative Agency Appeals
Most or all Administrative Agency Appeals cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
CriminalCourts of Common PleasMagisterial District CourtsCommunity CourtsTraffic Courts
Felony
Most or all Felony cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Felony Preliminary Hearings
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Felony Preliminary Hearings cases can be found in the Community Courts
 
Misdemeanors
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Misdemeanors cases can be found in the Community Courts
 
Ordinance Violations 
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Community Courts
Some Ordinance Violations cases can be found in the Traffic Courts
Juvenile
Most or all Juvenile cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Traffic and Infractions 
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Community Courts
Most or all Traffic and Infractions cases can be found in the Traffic Courts
Domestic RelationsCourts of Common PleasMagisterial District CourtsCommunity CourtsTraffic Courts
Divorce
Most or all Divorce cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Child Custody and Visitation
Most or all Child Custody and Visitation cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Child Support
Most or all Child Support cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Paternity
Most or all Paternity cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Domestic Violence Protection Order
Most or all Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Magisterial District Courts
Some Domestic Violence Protection Order cases can be found in the Community Courts
 
JuvenileCourts of Common PleasMagisterial District CourtsCommunity CourtsTraffic Courts
Adoptions
Most or all Adoptions cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Juvenile Delinquency
Most or all Juvenile Delinquency cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Child Abuse and Neglect
Most or all Child Abuse and Neglect cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Termination of Parental Rights
Most or all Termination of Parental Rights cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Children in Need of Supervision
Most or all Children in Need of Supervision cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Mental HealthCourts of Common PleasMagisterial District CourtsCommunity CourtsTraffic Courts
Involuntary Commitments
Most or all Involuntary Commitments cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Other Mental Health Cases
Most or all Other Mental Health Cases cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
ProbateCourts of Common PleasMagisterial District CourtsCommunity CourtsTraffic Courts
Wills & Estates
Most or all Wills & Estates cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Name Changes
Most or all Name Changes cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Trusts
Most or all Trusts cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   
Guardianships and Conservatorships
Most or all Guardianships and Conservatorships cases can be found in the Courts of Common Pleas
   

Note: Some courts in Pennsylvania are not included in the chart above. Please use the following links for descriptions and types of cases heard:
 
  Philadelphia Municipal Courts  Pittsburgh Municipal Court  Pittsburgh Magistrates Courts


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