William Penn named Bucks County after Buckinghamshire, England, when he founded it in 1682. With a population of 646,538 as of the 2020 census, it is Pennsylvania's fourth-most populated county. It is home to Doylestown, which serves as the county seat. Bucks County is one of the original counties formed by Penn, and its current land area is 604 square miles.

Courts in Bucks County

Bucks County has two principal courts that serve its people's legal needs: the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Court. The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas is the preeminent trial court, hearing significant civil and criminal cases. It also hears family law matters, such as divorce and child custody, and probate procedures involving estates and guardianships. It has an Orphan’s Court that handles all probate matters, guardianship, and adoption cases.

The Bucks County Magisterial District Courts hear minor civil and criminal proceedings, such as traffic offenses, landlord-tenant conflicts, and small claims. These courts also hold preliminary hearings in felony cases before they proceed to the Court of Common Pleas.

Where to find Public Court Records in Bucks County

In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, public court documents include civil and criminal cases, divorce decrees, probate records, and traffic offenses. Members of the public can access and acquire copies of these records at the Bucks County Courthouse in Doylestown. Civil case records, as well as divorce decisions, can be obtained from the Prothonotary's Office. Criminal records can be obtained from the Clerk of Court’s office, while probate records are available at the Register of Wills and the Clerk of Orphans' Court office. Individuals can obtain records from the courts by visiting their respective court locations. Many records can also be accessed online via the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal, which offers electronic access to some public court documents.

Types of Public Court Records County in Bucks County

In Bucks County, the public has general access to a variety of court records, including the following:

• Criminal Case Records: convictions and court proceedings for felonies and misdemeanors
• Civil Case Records: court proceedings and judgments for civil cases, including personal injury cases, product liabilities, professional malpractices, and breaches of contract
• Family Law Case Records: includes divorce, custody, and support
• Probate Records: documentations of wills, estates, trusts, and guardianship

Confidential Court Records

Court documents in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, are sealed to safeguard sensitive information, ensure privacy, and comply with legal obligations. Confidential court documents differ from public records in that they are not open to the public and may require a court order to be examined. Bucks County confidential records include:

• Juvenile court records
• Adoption records
• Grand jury proceedings and records
• Mental health commitment documents
• Certain family court records, especially those relating to child custody and protection from abuse orders
• Identifying information about confidential informants in criminal prosecutions
• Records sealed by court order for privacy purposes, such as those holding sensitive personal information or confidential company information
• Certain records of victims of domestic violence
• Records of victims of sexual assault
• HIV/AIDS testing and treatment records
• Misdemeanor convictions for offenses like marijuana possession, disorderly conduct, or theft after certain years
• Felony convictions for offenses like drug possession or property crimes after certain years
• Summary offenses after certain years

Some parts of a Bucks County court record may be sealed if it contains sensitive information, such as:

• Personally identifiable information such as Social Security number and driver’s license number
• Financial information
• Psychological evaluation reports
• Tax returns
• References to expunged or sealed records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Bucks, PA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Bucks County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Pennsylvania often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 1143 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Bucks County. Of that total, 69% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 784 court cases. Another 31% were dependency cases that accounted for 359 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Bucks County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Bucks County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Bucks County, PA

https://www.pa.gov/

County Seat:	Doylestown
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1682
Total Square Miles:	622
2019 Population:	628,341
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	55 E Court St County Administration Building Doylestown , PA 18901-4318 http://www.buckscounty.org/

Bucks County, PA Courts