Fayette County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Fayette County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Fayette County may access publicly available case information through several official channels. FayettePARecords.us provides access to publicly available information related to court records and related public data for Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The records accessible through such resources may include information drawn from civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic court proceedings, subject to applicable access restrictions under Pennsylvania law.
Relevant record categories that members of the public may encounter include:
- Criminal case dockets and disposition records
- Civil complaint filings and judgment entries
- Family court orders, including custody and support matters
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic and summary offense records
- Small claims court filings and outcomes
Court records in Fayette County may be searched through five primary methods, each with distinct procedures, access conditions, and potential costs.
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Fayette County Clerk of Courts maintains official records for Court of Common Pleas proceedings. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person to request case files, docket sheets, or certified copies. Providing a case number, party name, or approximate filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently.
Fayette County Clerk of Courts
61 East Main Street
Uniontown, PA 15401
Phone: (724) 430-1272
Fayette County Clerk of Courts
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access terminals are available at the Fayette County Courthouse, allowing members of the public to search docket information without charge during regular business hours. These terminals provide access to case index data and docket entries but do not always include full document images.
3. Online Court Search Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides statewide online access to docket sheets for Court of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Court, and appellate court proceedings. Users may search by party name, docket number, or date range at no cost for basic docket information.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Pennsylvania Courts website offers additional resources for locating court records, including links to individual county court systems, appellate court records, and administrative court data. The statewide system indexes records from all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Clerk of Courts. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a self-addressed stamped envelope or prepayment for copy fees where applicable. Processing times vary based on request volume and record availability.
Are Court Records Public In Fayette County
Court records in Fayette County are public under current Pennsylvania law, subject to specific statutory and judicial exceptions. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq., establishes the general right of public access to government records, including judicial records maintained by court offices. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System governs access to case records across all Pennsylvania courts.
Records that are public under current law and court policy include:
- Docket entries and case index information
- Party names and attorney information
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
- Filed pleadings, motions, and responses (where not sealed)
- Court orders and judgments
- Sentencing entries and disposition records
- Probate filings and estate inventories
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency records
- Adoption proceedings and related filings
- Mental health commitment records
- Expunged criminal records
- Sealed filings ordered by the court
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor children's names in certain case types
- Certain domestic relations records involving protected parties
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While docket information is broadly available through the UJS Web Portal, full document images may not be available online for all case types or older records. In-person inspection at the courthouse may provide access to physical files not yet digitized.
What Are Court Records in Fayette County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and data generated during the course of judicial proceedings before a court of law. In practical terms, a court record encompasses every document submitted to or issued by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
Several important distinctions apply to court records:
- Docket entries vs. full case files: A docket is a chronological index of all actions taken in a case, including filing dates, hearing dates, and orders entered. A full case file includes the actual documents underlying those docket entries, such as complaints, motions, exhibits, and transcripts.
- Civil vs. criminal court records: Civil records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, covering matters such as contract disputes, personal injury claims, and property actions. Criminal records arise from prosecutions brought by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania against individuals charged with offenses under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.
- Filed pleadings vs. final judgments: Pleadings are the initial documents that frame the dispute, such as complaints and answers. Final judgments are the court's ultimate resolution of the matter.
- Public filings vs. sealed or restricted filings: Most filings are public by default, but courts may seal specific documents or entire case files upon motion and order, restricting access to authorized parties.
- Trial court records vs. appellate records: Trial court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the county level. Appellate records, including those from the Pennsylvania Superior Court and Supreme Court, are maintained by the appellate court clerks and are accessible through the Pennsylvania appellate courts portal.
In Fayette County, the Clerk of Courts maintains records for the Court of Common Pleas, while Magisterial District Courts maintain their own records for summary offenses, traffic matters, and preliminary hearings. Records are created at the moment of filing and updated continuously as proceedings advance through scheduling, hearings, motions, and final disposition.
What's Included in a Fayette County Court Record?
A court record in Fayette County may contain a range of information depending on the case type, the stage of proceedings, and applicable public-access rules. The following categories of information are commonly found within court records:
- Case identification: Case number, court name and division, and filing date
- Party information: Names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and their respective attorneys
- Case type and status: Classification of the matter (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic) and current case status
- Docket entries: A chronological log of all filings, hearings, orders, and actions taken in the case
- Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and courtroom assignments
- Filed documents: Complaints, petitions, answers, motions, responses, notices, stipulations, and similar pleadings
- Court orders and judgments: Interlocutory orders, final judgments, decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Outcome information: Dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and post-disposition entries
- Administrative and financial data: Filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly displayed
Records commonly excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged criminal matters, juvenile case files, adoption records, protected personal identifiers, and certain exhibits containing sensitive information. Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, specific categories of information must be redacted from publicly accessible court documents.
Types of Courts in Fayette County
Fayette County is served by a multi-tiered court system under the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. The primary courts operating within or serving Fayette County include:
Court of Common Pleas – Fayette County (33rd Judicial District) The Court of Common Pleas is the general-jurisdiction trial court for Fayette County. It handles felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters exceeding the jurisdictional limits of Magisterial District Courts, family law matters including divorce, custody, and support, orphans' court (probate and estate matters), and juvenile proceedings. The Clerk of Courts maintains official records for all Court of Common Pleas proceedings.
Fayette County Court of Common Pleas
61 East Main Street
Uniontown, PA 15401
Phone: (724) 430-1272
Fayette County Court of Common Pleas
Magisterial District Courts Magisterial District Courts are limited-jurisdiction courts handling summary criminal offenses, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil claims up to $12,000. Preliminary hearings in felony and misdemeanor cases are also conducted at this level before transfer to the Court of Common Pleas. Several Magisterial District Courts serve different geographic areas within Fayette County.
Pennsylvania Superior Court and Supreme Court Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas proceed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court and, in appropriate cases, to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. These appellate courts maintain their own records, accessible through the Pennsylvania appellate courts system.
What Types of Cases Do Fayette County Courts Hear
The Court of Common Pleas, as a general-jurisdiction court, hears felony criminal prosecutions, major civil disputes, family law matters, juvenile delinquency and dependency cases, and probate proceedings. Magisterial District Courts, as limited-jurisdiction courts, handle summary offenses, traffic citations, minor civil claims, and landlord-tenant actions. Small claims matters are filed in Magisterial District Court for claims at or below the $12,000 jurisdictional threshold. Appeals from Magisterial District Court decisions are heard de novo by the Court of Common Pleas.
How to Search Fayette County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for searching Fayette County court records are available at no cost, while others involve fees for copies or certified documents.
Free access methods include:
- In-person inspection: Members of the public may inspect court records at the Fayette County Courthouse during regular business hours without charge. Viewing docket sheets and case files at the clerk's office is free.
- Public access terminals: Courthouse terminals provide free access to docket information and case indexes.
- UJS Web Portal: The Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides free online docket searches for Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court cases statewide.
Fees apply to the following:
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Photocopies of court documents | $0.25–$0.50 per page |
| Certified copies of court records | $5.00–$15.00 per document |
| Exemplified (triple-certified) copies | Higher fee, varies by document |
| Research fees for older or archived records | Varies by request |
Fee schedules are established under Pennsylvania court rules and may be confirmed directly with the Fayette County Clerk of Courts. The Pennsylvania court fee schedule provides general guidance on statewide fee structures.
How Long Does Fayette County Keep Court Records?
Retention periods for court records in Fayette County are governed by the Pennsylvania Judicial Records Retention Schedule established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and administered through the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
General retention guidelines under current Pennsylvania judicial policy include:
- Criminal case files: Felony records are retained permanently or for extended periods following final disposition. Misdemeanor records are retained for varying periods depending on the offense classification.
- Civil case files: General civil records are retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition, with longer retention for matters involving judgments.
- Family court records: Custody, support, and divorce records are retained for extended periods given their ongoing legal significance.
- Probate and orphans' court records: Estate and probate records are retained permanently in many jurisdictions given their evidentiary value for property and inheritance matters.
- Traffic and summary offense records: These records are retained for shorter periods, subject to applicable retention schedules.
- Docket books and minute records: These administrative records are retained permanently as the official index of court proceedings.
Paper files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record content is preserved in an accessible format. Destruction of a physical file does not constitute expungement; expungement is a separate legal process under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 that results in the removal or destruction of criminal history record information upon court order. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Pennsylvania State Archives.
How To Find a Court Docket in Fayette County
A court docket is the official chronological index of all actions, filings, and proceedings in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed. A docket entry notes that a motion was filed; the case file contains the motion itself.
Dockets for Fayette County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court cases are searchable through the Pennsylvania UJS Web Portal. To locate a docket using the portal:
- Navigate to the UJS Web Portal and select the appropriate court type (Court of Common Pleas or Magisterial District Court).
- Enter the search criteria, which may include the party's last name, first name, date of birth, or docket number.
- Select the county as Fayette from the dropdown menu.
- Review the list of matching cases and select the relevant docket.
- The docket sheet will display case identification information, party names, attorney information, all docket entries with dates, and hearing information.
A court docket typically contains hearing dates and times, continuances and rescheduling entries, motion filings and dispositions, minute entries summarizing court proceedings, status updates, and final disposition information. A docket does not include full document images in all cases, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that are not part of the public record.
Motion calendars and hearing rosters for the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas may be available through the court administrator's office. The Pennsylvania Courts public records policies provide authoritative guidance on what docket information is accessible and under what conditions access may be restricted.
Fayette County Court Administrator
61 East Main Street
Uniontown, PA 15401
Phone: (724) 430-1348
Fayette County Court Administration