* **Trial Division:** Handles major civil cases (claims exceeding $10,000) and criminal cases involving felony charges. * **Family Court Division:** Oversees domestic relations (divorce, child custody, support) and juvenile matters. * **Orphans' Court Division:** Manages cases involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, and adoptions. Most public docket searches target the Trial Division's civil and criminal cases, as these records are the most widely accessible to the public. ## How to Search Dockets Online There are two primary online portals used to search Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas records: the statewide Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Portal and the local First Judicial District (FJD) website.
### Searching via the Pennsylvania UJS Portal The UJS Portal is the most comprehensive tool for searching criminal dockets and general court summaries across Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia County. 1. **Access the Portal:** Navigate to the official Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal and locate the "Docket Sheets" section. 2. **Select Search Criteria:** You can search by docket number, participant name, organization, OTN (Offense Tracking Number), or state ID. Searching by "Participant Name" is the most common method for finding individuals. 3. **Set the Filters:** * Set the **Court Type** to "Common Pleas." * Select **Philadelphia** from the "County" dropdown menu. * Choose the appropriate **Docket Type** (e.g., Criminal or Civil) if prompted. 4. **Enter Search Details:** Input the first and last name of the individual. You can narrow the search by adding a date of birth or a date range for when the case was filed. 5. **View the Results:** The system will generate a list of matching cases. You can view or download the "Docket Sheet" (a chronological log of the case) or the "Court Summary" (an overview of the defendant's history in the PA court system). ### Searching via the First Judicial District (FJD) Portal
For local civil cases, landlord-tenant disputes, and detailed civil filings specific to Philadelphia, the FJD website is the preferred tool. 1. **Visit the FJD Website:** Go to the official First Judicial District of Pennsylvania website (courts.phila.gov). 2. **Navigate to Online Services:** Click on the "Search Dockets" or "Civil Electronic Filing System" link. 3. **Choose the Search Type:** You can search the civil database by case number, party name, attorney name, or filing date. 4. **Enter the Information:** For name searches, enter the last name and first name of the plaintiff or defendant. 5. **Review the Case File:** The FJD portal allows you to view active and historical civil listings, including motion dockets and scheduled hearing dates. ## Information Contained in Court Dockets Once you locate the correct docket sheet, you will find a wealth of legal information. A standard docket sheet contains:
* **Case Header:** The docket number, filing date, case status (active, closed, or inactive), and the name of the presiding judge. * **Party Information:** The names of the plaintiffs, defendants, and their respective legal counsel. * **Charges and Dispositions:** In criminal cases, this section lists the specific offenses charged, the grading of the offenses (e.g., Felony 1, Misdemeanor 2), and the final disposition (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed). * **Chronological Event Log:** A detailed list of every action taken in the case, including filed motions, issued court orders, bail information, and hearing outcomes. * **Sentencing Information:** For closed criminal cases, the docket details the penalties imposed, such as probation terms, confinement periods, and court fees. ## Tips for an Effective Search If you are having trouble finding a specific record, keep the following search strategies in mind: * **Understand Docket Number Formats:** Philadelphia Common Pleas docket numbers follow a specific structure. For example, a criminal docket number like `CP-51-CR-0001234-2023` indicates: * **CP:** Court of Common Pleas * **51:** Philadelphia County code * **CR:** Criminal case (Civil cases use `CV`, Family cases use `FD`) * **0001234-2023:** The sequence number and the year the case was filed. * **Use Wildcards and Partial Names:** If you are unsure of the exact spelling of a name, enter the first few letters followed by an asterisk (*) as a wildcard. This will return all names beginning with those letters. * **Filter by Date of Birth:** In criminal searches, common names can return hundreds of results. Adding a date of birth is the fastest way to isolate the correct record.
## Limitations and In-Person Access While online databases are highly convenient, they do have limitations. Certain records are confidential by law and will not appear in public online searches. These include juvenile delinquency records, adoption files, termination of parental rights cases, and any records sealed by a judge's order. Additionally, very old historical records may not be digitized or available on the UJS or FJD portals. If you cannot find a record online, or if you need a certified copy of a document for official use, you must request it in person or by mail from the appropriate court office:
* **For Civil and Orphans' Court Records:** Visit the Office of Judicial Records located at Philadelphia City Hall. * **For Criminal Records:** Visit the Office of Judicial Records (Criminal Division) at the Criminal Justice Center (CJC) on Filbert Street.
