Delaware County, colloquially referred to as Delco, is a County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the fifth-most populous county in Pennsylvania, and its population estimate as of the 2020 census was 576,830. The county is named after the Delaware River, which was created in 1789 from part of Chester County.

Courts in Delaware County

The Delaware County court system comprises Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts.

Courts of Common Pleas in Delaware County have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. These courts are divided into several divisions that handle cases ranging from felonies to breach of contract claims. Civil cases heard by these Courts include general civil claims, breach of contract cases, arbitration reviews, etc. There is no financial limit to the civil cases heard by the court. Apart from civil cases, the courts also hear criminal cases that bother on felonies and lesser-included offenses.

Magisterial District Courts in the county have jurisdiction that covers many types of criminal and civil cases. Many of these criminal cases examined by Magisterial District Courts are summary offenses, preliminary hearings, DUI cases, certain third-degree misdemeanors, and ordinance violations. Civil cases examined by Magisterial District Courts are some general civil claims, as well as many landlord or tenant cases. Magisterial District Courts do not have jurisdiction over civil cases brought by or against the State.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Delaware County

The Delaware County Clerk is responsible for keeping records emanating from courts in the County. To access public court records, interested individuals can send a mail request to the Clerk’s Office or access the records online. Alternatively, interested persons can visit the physical location of the court where the case was heard to obtain physical copies of the record. 

Types of Public Court Records in Delaware  County

The following types of court records are available to the public in Delaware County:

• Civil Court Records
• Family Court Records
• Probate Court Records
• Criminal Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Delaware County

In Delaware County, except as ordered by a court, confidential court records are not accessible to the public. Court records considered confidential in Delaware County include:

• Minors’ Educational Records
• Medical/Psychological Records
• Children and Youth Services Records
• Marital Property Inventory
• Pre-Trial Statement

Juvenile Delinquency in Delaware, PA

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

In 2017, a total of 578 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Delaware County. Of that total, 46% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 268 court cases. Another 54% were dependency cases that accounted for 310 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Delaware County, PA

https://www.pa.gov/

County Seat:	Media
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1789
Total Square Miles:	191
2019 Population:	564,696
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	201 W Front St County Government Center Media , PA 19063-2708 http://www.co.delaware.pa.us

Delaware County, PA Courts