Common Questions About Dauphin County Court Records
How do I search Dauphin County civil court records?
Use the Prothonotary's Searchable Civil Records tool. Current civil cases run from November 1, 2001 to the present in the public search. Older cases sit in legacy indexes that reach back to 1785. The official records stay in the Prothonotary's office, so call there for a certified copy. More detail is on the court records and Prothonotary pages.
Who keeps criminal court records in Dauphin County?
The Clerk of Courts keeps criminal and juvenile records for the Court of Common Pleas. The office is at 101 Market Street, Room 100, in Harrisburg, and the phone is (717) 780-6530. It also handles bail, prison commitments, motions, summary appeals, and appellate filings. See the Clerk of Courts page for hours, fees, and forms.
What is the Prothonotary?
The Prothonotary is Pennsylvania's civil clerk for the Court of Common Pleas. Many people search "clerk of court" when they actually need the Prothonotary. In Dauphin County, the office records civil suits, judgments, name changes, divorce certificates, and landlord-tenant matters. The full profile is on the Prothonotary page.
Can I use the UJS portal as a background check?
No. The portal states that a docket sheet should not stand in for a criminal-history background check. Those checks run through the Pennsylvania State Police, not a county docket search. The arrest records page explains the difference between a docket and an official criminal history, and why an arrest is not the same as a conviction.
Why can't I find a case online?
Common reasons include the wrong court, a spelling difference, a recent filing not yet posted, or an older civil case in a legacy index. Juvenile, expunged, sealed, and limited-access cases also do not display. The court dockets page covers how the search works and what can hide a case. Trying a name and a docket-number search both can help when one comes up empty.
Where are probate and estate records?
Dauphin County uses the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, not a probate court. The office handles wills, estates, letters, inheritance tax, guardianships, and adoptions. Public estate records are searchable through its cloud search. See the Orphans' Court page for the process and fees.
Where do I get a marriage license?
The Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court processes marriage licenses. Both people must apply, be 18 or older, and finish by video or in-person appointment. The license must be obtained at least three days before the ceremony. The marriage and divorce page has the full steps.
How much is a Dauphin County marriage license?
The fee bill lists the marriage application and license, including one certified copy, at $80. A certified copy of a marriage application or record is $10. Payment runs through the office's card or e-check processor, and cash is not accepted. See the fee table on the marriage and divorce page.
Where do I file for divorce?
Divorce is a civil Court of Common Pleas matter filed through the Prothonotary, not the Register of Wills. The county Self Help Center publishes divorce forms and instructions for people without a lawyer. The marriage and divorce page outlines the filing steps and the certified divorce record.
How do I find a Dauphin County inmate?
Start at the Dauphin County Prison page and use its inmate lookup link. If the person is state-sentenced, use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections locator instead. Federal inmates are searched through the Bureau of Prisons. The inmate records page walks through each tool and the jail's contact rules.
Does Dauphin County publish a release list?
No separate recently released list was found in the county's official pages. Verify a release through the prison inmate lookup, the jail phone line, the state corrections locator for state inmates, or a VINELink notification. The released inmates page explains how to confirm a release.
How do I put money on an inmate's account?
The prison takes deposits by money order drop box, a lobby kiosk, or online at connectnetwork.com. The kiosk needs the inmate's DCP number or date of birth. Online, you select Pennsylvania and Dauphin County Prison, then enter the DCP number or last name. The inmate records page covers commissary and phone accounts.
How long are inmate visits?
Eligible inmates get one 50-minute visit per week, and general population visits are non-contact. Only two visitors may attend at one time. Staff do not give out visit schedules, so the inmate must tell visitors when to come. Full visitation rules are on the inmate records page.
Where do I make an open records request?
For general county records, contact the Dauphin County Open Records Officer at openrecords@dauphincounty.gov or (717) 780-6300. Criminal-record questions go to the District Attorney's Right-to-Know officer instead. The public records page explains the Right-to-Know process, response times, and appeals.
How do I check a traffic ticket?
Use the UJS case search and select Citation Number, Docket Number, or Participant Name. The citation number includes a dash, such as A5368532-1. Your driver points and license history are separate and come from PennDOT. The traffic court records page covers searching, paying, and contesting a ticket.
Are adoption records public?
No. Adoption is handled by the Orphans' Court, but adoption records are confidential. The form library lists adoption forms, yet public access should not be assumed. Guardianship and mental health records can also be restricted. The Orphans' Court page explains which records are open and which are closed.
Can I see sealed or expunged cases?
No, not through public search. The portal says expunged, juvenile, and limited-access cases may not display even when your search terms are correct. To clear an eligible record, the Clerk of Courts publishes an expungement packet. See the Clerk of Courts and court records pages for the rules.
Where are federal cases from Dauphin County searched?
Federal cases are in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and searched through PACER. Bankruptcy cases use the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the same district, and appeals go to the Third Circuit. The Court of Common Pleas page lists the federal courts that serve the county.
What cases do Magisterial District Courts handle?
Magisterial District Courts handle traffic and non-traffic citations, minor criminal charges, landlord-tenant disputes, and small civil claims up to $12,000. They also set bail, issue warrants, and hold the preliminary hearings that decide whether a criminal case moves up to Common Pleas. The county has fifteen of these courts plus Night Court and Central Court. The Court of Common Pleas page lists every magisterial office with its address and phone.
How do I get a certified copy of a court record?
A certified copy comes from the clerk that holds the file, not from an online docket. Civil certified copies come from the Prothonotary. Criminal copies come from the Clerk of Courts. Estate and marriage copies come from the Register of Wills. Bring the docket number, expect a copy and certification fee, and order more than one copy if several agencies will each need an original. See the court records page for the steps.
Who handles court interpreters in Dauphin County?
The 12th Judicial District provides free foreign-language interpreters for people with limited English in court proceedings and court services. Requests go to the Language Access Coordinator in Court Administration on the third floor of the courthouse. The court arranges interpreters at no charge to the person who needs one. More on court services sits on the court records page.
Where is the Self Help Center?
The Self Help Center is in the Dauphin County Law Library on the fourth floor of the courthouse. It started in 2005 as a joint effort of the court and the Dauphin County Bar Association. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they hand out free forms and instructions for divorce, custody, and fee-waiver filings. Packets can be bought on site for a small fee, and the forms can also be printed free from the county website, as noted on the marriage and divorce page.
Still Have Questions?
For the right office, see the Prothonotary for civil records or the Clerk of Courts for criminal records. For broader access rules, see public records. For records by topic, browse court records, arrest records, inmate records, warrant records, marriage and divorce, or the Orphans' Court.