Court records in Adams County, Pennsylvania are maintained by the Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and other county offices, and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and in-person visits. AdamsPACourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Adams County. Additional access points include the Adams County Clerk of Courts public records page, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal, and the offices of the Prothonotary and Recorder of Deeds at the Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg.
Adams County Court System Overview
Adams County is part of Pennsylvania's 51st Judicial District, which serves Adams County exclusively. The Court of Common Pleas is the general trial court, presiding over criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court matters. Magisterial district judges handle preliminary hearings, minor criminal offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, and traffic violations at the local level. The county's courts operate from the Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg.
Phone: (717) 337-9846
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas go to the Pennsylvania Superior Court or Commonwealth Court, depending on the case type.
Courts Serving Adams County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County Court of Common Pleas (51st Judicial District) | 117 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 | (717) 337-9846 |
| Magisterial District Courts (multiple locations in Adams County) | Locations vary by district; contact the Court Administrator for specific addresses | (717) 337-9846 |
| U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania | 228 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 | (717) 221-3920 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania | 228 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 | (717) 221-3924 |
Adams County does not have a separate municipal court. All state-level cases are handled through the Court of Common Pleas or the magisterial district courts.
What Types of Cases Adams County Courts Hear
Courts in Adams County handle a broad range of case types across criminal, civil, and specialized divisions:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, summary offenses, DUI
- Civil: Contract disputes, personal injury, landlord-tenant, small claims
- Family: Divorce, custody, child support, protection from abuse orders, paternity, termination of parental rights
- Probate/Orphans' Court: Decedent estates, guardianships, adoptions, trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, dependency cases
- Traffic: Moving violations, parking citations, license suspension appeals
The sections below explain which court handles each category and how cases proceed.
District Court Cases in Adams County
The Adams County Court of Common Pleas hears all major trial-level matters. Felony criminal cases arrive here after a preliminary hearing before a magisterial district judge results in a bindover. Civil cases exceeding the magisterial district court's $12,000 jurisdictional limit are filed directly with the Prothonotary's office. The Court of Common Pleas also handles appeals from magisterial district court decisions, post-conviction relief petitions, and all family law and orphans' court matters. Cases are assigned to judges within the 51st Judicial District. The Clerk of Courts manages criminal case records, while the Prothonotary maintains civil filings.
Magistrate Court Cases in Adams County
Magisterial district courts in Adams County handle the first stage of many cases. These courts hear summary offenses, misdemeanors at the preliminary hearing stage, and all traffic violations, including DUI arraignments. Civil disputes up to $12,000 fall within their jurisdiction, and small claims cases can be filed for amounts up to $12,000 under Pennsylvania law. Landlord-tenant disputes, including eviction actions, are also heard at this level.
Magisterial district judges conduct preliminary hearings for felony charges to determine whether enough evidence exists to send the case to the Court of Common Pleas. If you need to file a small claim or contest a traffic citation, start at the magisterial district court assigned to the location where the incident occurred.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Adams County
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, protection from abuse orders, paternity actions, and termination of parental rights are all handled by the Adams County Court of Common Pleas. Divorce filings go through the Prothonotary's office, and the county provides self-help divorce resources through the Unified Judicial System. Certified copies of divorce decrees can be obtained from the Prothonotary.
Probate and Orphans' Court
Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and trust matters are handled by the Orphans' Court division of the Court of Common Pleas. The Register of Wills manages probate filings and estate records. You can search estate records through the Adams County Register and Recorder eSearch portal.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases are heard by the Court of Common Pleas. Juvenile records are confidential under Pennsylvania law and are not available through public docket search tools. Contact the Clerk of Courts for questions about juvenile proceedings.
How Cases Move Through the Adams County Court System
- Filing/Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint filed by law enforcement or a private citizen at the magisterial district court. Civil cases start with a complaint filed at the Prothonotary's office. Family and orphans' court matters begin with a petition.
- Assignment: Cases at the Court of Common Pleas are assigned to a judge within the 51st Judicial District.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned. Civil cases receive a scheduling conference or case management order. Family cases may have an initial conference or hearing.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in plea negotiations (criminal) or settlement discussions (civil).
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or are resolved through a plea agreement, settlement, consent order, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing and possible appeal. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Post-conviction relief petitions can be filed in criminal matters.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Adams County
The 51st Judicial District is administered by the President Judge of the Adams County Court of Common Pleas, supported by a Trial Court Administrator. For questions about court operations, scheduling, or local procedures, contact the Court Administrator's office at (717) 337-9846.
Local rules of court for the 51st Judicial District govern practice and procedure in Adams County. These rules supplement the statewide Pennsylvania Rules of Court and can typically be found through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System website or by contacting the Court Administrator.
Public Access to Records
- Criminal court records are generally open to the public. The Clerk of Courts provides access to criminal docket information and directs users to the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal for online searches.
- Civil records are available through the Prothonotary's office.
- Certain records — including juvenile cases, some family matters, and sealed or expunged records — are restricted under Pennsylvania law.
- The UJS Web Portal case search allows free public access to docket sheets for common pleas and magisterial district courts statewide.
Attending Hearings
Court hearings in Adams County are generally open to the public unless a judge orders otherwise. Contact the Court Administrator's office to ask about the availability of remote or video hearing options for specific case types.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Adams County
- Court Docket Search: Use the Pennsylvania UJS Web Portal to search docket sheets for Adams County Court of Common Pleas and magisterial district court cases at no cost.
- Criminal Records: The Adams County Clerk of Courts handles criminal record requests. All criminal records are open to the public.
- Statewide Criminal History: Request a background check through Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH), maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police.
- Civil Records: The Prothonotary's office maintains civil court records and provides public access to filings, judgments, and liens.
- Land and Property Records: Search deeds, mortgages, and estate records through the Register and Recorder eSearch portal. The Recorder of Deeds handles real estate document recording.
- Property Tax and Assessment: The Assessment and Appraising office maintains property assessment data. Use the Adams County Tax Parcel Viewer to look up parcel boundaries and property details.
- Inmate Search: Search current inmates at the Adams County Sheriff's Office inmate search. For state prison inmates, use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator or the Commonwealth's inmate/parolee lookup.
- Divorce Resources: Adams County provides divorce self-help materials through the court administration page, including forms from the Unified Judicial System.
- Sheriff's Office: The Adams County Sheriff's Office handles civil process service, sheriff's sales, and courthouse security.
- Correctional Facility: The Adams County Adult Correctional Complex provides pre-trial supervision and secure incarceration services. For visitation and inmate services, see the Sheriff's Office inmate services page.
- Court Self-Help: The Adams County Law Library, located on the 3rd floor of the Courthouse, is available for legal research. Visit AdamsPACourt.us for additional guidance on finding Adams County court records.