Pennsylvania Court Locations and Records
FamilyCourtHelp is an independent educational platform. It is not a court, law firm, government agency, or government partner. We organize and link to publicly available resources published by courts and government agencies. Official requirements may change. Always confirm current requirements with the applicable court or clerk.
Family cases in Pennsylvania are heard in the Court of Common Pleas, usually in the Family Division. Divorce, custody, and support are heard in the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Pennsylvania organizes its Courts of Common Pleas into judicial districts, mostly one per county.
The clerk's office is a different thing from the court itself. The clerk accepts filings, keeps the record, and collects fees, while judges and hearings belong to the court. For a filing question, the clerk is the right first call. The official Pennsylvania directory and case record search are below.
Official Pennsylvania court locators
Official links below open in a new tab. You are leaving FamilyCourtHelp and opening an external government or court website.
PA Courts of Common Pleas by county (Pennsylvania judicial branch): Find the courthouse or clerk that serves your area, with locations and contact details. https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas
Pennsylvania UJS Portal (Pennsylvania courts): Look up existing case records. Access is listed as free and the system is organized statewide. https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch
Pennsylvania state courts website (Pennsylvania judicial branch): The official home of the Pennsylvania court system, with statewide rules, news, and links to every court. https://www.pacourts.us
PACFile plus county e-filing systems (PA Courts): PACFile mainly covers Pennsylvania's appellate courts plus certain filings in some county trial courts. Divorce, custody, and support filings are handled county by county, so check your county court's website or ask the prothonotary's office. https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/
Pennsylvania court self-help resources (Pennsylvania courts self-help): Official self-help information for people handling their own Pennsylvania family case, including instructions and plain-language guides. https://www.palawhelp.org
Pennsylvania UJS Portal: No account needed. Provides docket SHEETS (events, filings list), not full document images for most cases. Family/juvenile and protection-order details are limited. https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch
Open ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch
Search by participant name or docket number
A free PAeDocket app is also available
Official link data for Pennsylvania was last verified June 2026. Report anything outdated through our contact page and we will re-check the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Which court hears family cases in Pennsylvania?
Family cases in Pennsylvania are heard in the Court of Common Pleas, usually in the Family Division. Divorce, custody, and support are heard in the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Pennsylvania organizes its Courts of Common Pleas into judicial districts, mostly one per county.
Can I look up an existing Pennsylvania case online?
Pennsylvania UJS Portal is the official search. No account needed. Provides docket SHEETS (events, filings list), not full document images for most cases. Family/juvenile and protection-order details are limited.
Is the clerk the same as the court?
No. The clerk of court accepts filings, keeps records, and collects fees. Judges and hearings belong to the court itself. For filing questions, start with the clerk's office.