Fayette County Court Records Lookup

Fayette County Courts, PA *

Fayette County is located in southwestern Pennsylvania and has a rich history. It was the first county in Pennsylvania to be named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer and hero of the American Revolution. The county also boasts several scenic natural attractions and has played an important role in the region's industrial and agricultural development. Uniontown is the county seat.

Fayette County Courts handle a wide range of civil disputes, criminal matters, family law cases, probate administration, housing and landlord-tenant matters, juvenile cases, and traffic violations. They also serve residents of Fayette County by assisting with filings, hearings, court records, and other judicial processes that attorneys and individuals may need access to.

Overview of the Fayette County Court System

The Fayette County Courts are governed by Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System and include the Court of Common Pleas as well as numerous Magisterial District Courts located throughout the county. The Court of Common Pleas is located at the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown, and it handles major criminal, civil, family law, and probate matters, as well as the specialty treatment courts. The various Magisterial District Courts throughout Fayette County are responsible for handling preliminary criminal proceedings, landlord and tenant disputes, traffic offenses, and civil matters below a certain threshold.

Types of Courts in Fayette County, Pennsylvania

The courts in Fayette County each have specific types of legal proceedings they handle under the authority of Pennsylvania's court system. Knowing which court has the appropriate jurisdiction is important when looking for court records, and because filing in the incorrect court can lead to additional costs, time, and complications.

Court of Common Pleas

The Court of Common Pleas is Fayette County's primary trial court under Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System and also serves as the primary judicial authority for the county.

Primary location: Fayette County Courthouse

Jurisdiction includes:

• Civil disputes
• Criminal cases
• Family law matters
• Probate and estate proceedings
• Juvenile cases
• Specialty treatment courts

The Court of Common Pleas provides administration and proceedings for all of the major legal actions occurring within Fayette County, as well as specialty court programs.

Specialty Courts

Specialty Courts are problem-solving court programs that exist within the Court of Common Pleas in Fayette County. These courts are set up to deal with issues underlying the criminal behavior of defendants.

Primary location: Fayette County Courthouse

Programs include:

• Drug Treatment Court
• Veterans Treatment Court
• Behavioral Treatment Court

These specialty courts provide court supervision, treatment services, and court monitoring in an effort to prevent criminal recidivism.

Magisterial District Courts

Magisterial District Courts in Fayette County are courts of limited jurisdiction in the county's judicial system.

Primary location: Various Magisterial District Courthouses throughout Fayette County

Jurisdiction includes:

• Preliminary arraignments
• Preliminary criminal hearings
• Traffic offenses
• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Small claims up to $12,000

These are the first steps in the processing of many minor civil and criminal cases in Fayette County, and the judicial resource for people representing themselves.

How to Access Fayette County Court Records

The vast majority of court records in Fayette County are public records according to the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. There are, of course, some exceptions, such as juvenile records, adoptions, and records with sensitive personal identifying information that are sealed or made confidential. Looking up records online can often be the most expedient process; some online viewing and printed copy fees may apply.

Online Access

The primary portal for Fayette County court records is through the UJS Web Portal. This site contains the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's centralized database for retrieving docket information for all courts of common pleas and magisterial district courts. This search is generally by party name, case name, or case number. Some civil court records from the Fayette County Prothonotary are available on the Civil Court Case Search page.

Alternative Online Options

Sometimes county and state websites are hard to use. Other sites exist that aggregate access to records in more than one jurisdiction. CourtCaseFinder is one example of this kind of service, providing a variety of information about criminal records, civil court records, and divorces across multiple jurisdictions. These other sources of online access to records may be helpful for many people who have difficulty with the state systems, or aren't sure where the record they are looking for is located.

In-Person Requests

Visitors can request copies of records from the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown. Different departments handle different types of records. Filers can call the Courthouse, and they can direct one on where to go or whom to call. The Prothonotary's office handles civil, family, and probate cases; the Clerk of Courts' office handles criminal records. Be ready with case numbers, if possible, to help them look up the files more quickly. There is a fee for copies.

Archived Records

Access to archived court records can be done through the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal if one simply wishes to access the docket for the case. Criminal records should be requested in writing from the Clerk of Courts with the docket number. Civil and Family Court records should be requested in writing from the Prothonotary with docket numbers and should include a written request specifying whether the records sought are divorces, child custody issues, or lawsuits. Requests for deeply archived and historic records should be directed to the Records Archivist who handles these files. This will be a written request of a certain docket, and retrieval may take a day or two, depending on how old the record is.

For Attorneys and Legal Professionals

Fayette County court records can be accessed by attorneys and legal professionals via the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal and also in person at individual offices located at the Fayette County Courthouse. The UJS Portal offers free dockets, hearings, and statewide searches, and also eServices for secure attorney access to dockets and filings. Cases can also be searched with the mobile PAeDocket mobile application when on the go.

Individual offices within the Fayette County Courthouse offer access to county dockets, filings, and physical case files. The Prothonotary is the primary record keeper for civil cases, including divorces, custody cases, liens, and also civil filings for all cases. The Clerk of Courts is the record keeper for criminal cases and criminal filings in Fayette County. The Register of Wills is the office responsible for estates and wills, while property records are maintained within county databases.

How to File a Case in Fayette County

To file a case in Fayette County, filers will need to know the correct court, complete the appropriate forms, and file them according to court rules in the specific case. Failure to file with the correct court or complete the proper forms will delay the case.

Step 1: Choose the Correct Court

Selecting the proper court is dependent upon the nature and scope of the case. Fayette County's Court of Common Pleas in Uniontown handles all major criminal, civil, family, and probate actions, as well as the specialty treatment courts. Magisterial District Courts hear lesser civil matters such as those between $10,000 and $20,000, traffic citations, landlord/tenant actions, and preliminary criminal matters. Selecting the right court ensures that the matter is heard by a court of proper jurisdiction within the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.

Step 2: Complete Required Forms

Required documents can be downloaded online at the courthouse law library as Instructional Packets if the filings are for a common situation, such as custody filings or civil filings, or they can be procured from the court clerk. All forms need to be filled out using black ink, include complete case information, and be notarized before submission at the appropriate office within the county courthouses.

Step 3: File the Case

For in-person filing, all documents need to be submitted in paper form to the appropriate office within the Fayette County courthouse to file a case, with at least one copy being provided per filed document. Fayette County uses PACFile and File & ServeXpress for electronic filing of civil, criminal, and appellate court documents online. Prothonotary offices file civil cases, including divorce and child custody. Clerk of Courts offices file criminal matters and their respective criminal filings. Register of Wills offices file estates and wills. Magisterial District Courts file any applicable matters at the county's specific local Magisterial District Court location. It is important to receive a filed stamped copy of the filed documents, along with a filed stamped copy of the court case docket sheet, so one can be sure of how to reference future correspondence to the court.

Step 4: Pay Filing Fees

Fayette County filing fees vary per case type, per court level, and should always be confirmed with the Clerk's office before filing. Common Pleas filing fees are determined by the State Legislature, depending on the subject matter of the case. Inaccurate or insufficient payment of filing fees will delay the process. If one cannot afford to pay the fees associated with their court filings, they can fill out an In Forma Pauperis form and file that with the court.

Step 5: Serve the Other Party

Once the case is filed, the plaintiff needs to notify the defendant of the filing. This must be done through formal service of process, which can be completed via certified mail, in person by a Sheriff, or other authorized individual, depending on the circumstances of the case and court rules. Proof of Service needs to be filed with the appropriate office of the Fayette County courthouse, confirming that the opposing party was properly served with legal notice.

Step 6: Monitor the Case

After the service process, the plaintiff will need to check on the progress of their case frequently. Progress can be monitored via the Pennsylvania Judiciary UJS Portal by searching with a name, docket number, OTN, or citation, or by using the PAeDocket mobile app. The case may also be checked in person by visiting the Prothonotary's office and/or the Clerk of Court's offices at the Fayette County courthouse.

Fayette County Courthouse Directory

Legal Help and Self-Help Resources

Here are some resources for legal assistance and self-help, whether one can afford a lawyer or not.

Free Legal Assistance

Low-income residents of Fayette County who are having trouble navigating the legal system may be eligible for free assistance. Various nonprofit organizations serve a range of populations and needs. Some nonprofits have specific criteria for who they assist. For example, some may prioritize low-income residents or only offer services to disabled individuals or veterans.

Summit Legal Aid offers free civil legal services and assistance to those who qualify for legal help in housing, family law, economic hardship cases, and protection from abuse. The Pennsylvania Bar Association has a referral system where eligible individuals can connect with attorneys offering pro bono legal assistance and has a list of free legal clinics where individuals can receive guidance. The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program can assist with appeals, discharge upgrades, and other claims on behalf of those who have served our country. Finally, for assistance in the legal system, a good online starting point is PALawHelp or PA Free Legal Answers, which provide both general information and referrals and virtual legal assistance by lawyers.

Local Legal Support

Fayette County local legal aid can provide free civil legal help for eligible low-income people. Some areas covered include housing, consumer matters, domestic law, and protection from abuse matters. Referrals to attorneys can be arranged through the Fayette County Bar Association with a limited initial consultation, or citizens can find support for protection from abuse through the Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA.

FAQs

Other Counties in Pennsylvania

• Adams
• Allegheny
• Armstrong
• Beaver
• Bedford
• Berks
• Blair
• Bradford
• Bucks
• Butler
• Cambria
• Cameron
• Carbon
• Centre
• Chester
• Clarion
• Clearfield
• Clinton
• Columbia
• Crawford
• Cumberland
• Dauphin
• Delaware
• Elk
• Erie
• Forest
• Franklin
• Fulton
• Greene
• Huntingdon
• Indiana
• Jefferson
• Juniata
• Lackawanna
• Lancaster
• Lawrence
• Lebanon
• Lehigh
• Luzerne
• Lycoming
• Mckean
• Mercer
• Mifflin
• Monroe
• Montgomery
• Montour
• Northampton
• Northumberland
• Perry
• Philadelphia
• Pike
• Potter
• Schuylkill
• Snyder
• Somerset
• Sullivan
• Susquehanna
• Tioga
• Union
• Venango
• Warren
• Washington
• Wayne
• Westmoreland
• Wyoming
• York