Within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County is the most populous county despite having the second-smallest landmass among the state's 67 counties. The City of Philadelphia serves as the county seat and is merged with Philadelphia County, making it the only city in the county.

Courts in Philadelphia County

Philadelphia County falls under the First Judicial District (FJD) of Pennsylvania. The county’s court system comprises the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court. The Court of Common Pleas is a general trial jurisdiction court and consists of the Trial Division, the Family Division, and the Orphan’s Division. The Trial Division has a civil section with jurisdiction over civil actions and a criminal section that hears felony cases. Appeals from the Municipal Court are also brought before the Trial Division.

Under the Family Division, the Domestic Relations Branch hears cases concerning paternity, child support, child custody, visitation rights, and divorce, while the Juvenile Branch hears juvenile delinquency cases.

The Orphan’s Court's jurisdiction extends to guardianship cases, inheritance disputes, estate administration, and matters concerning the protection of the personal and property rights of minors and incapacitated persons.

The Municipal Court in Philadelphia County also has three divisions: Civil, Criminal, and Traffic. Civil cases in the Civil Division courthouse include landlord and tenant disputes, code enforcement cases, and small claims cases in which the monetary claims do not exceed  $12,000. The Criminal Division handles adult misdemeanor and felony charges that are punishable by a 5-year incarceration sentence or less. In addition, the court also hears non-traffic summary charges for adults and minors. Lastly, the Traffic Division hears cases involving the violation of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code within the county.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Philadelphia County

Public Court Records in Philadelphia County can be found online and upon request from the Clerk of Court. The Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court Clerks are responsible for maintaining records generated from cases heard in their respective courthouses. Members of the public can request a copy of a court record at the Clerk’s office in person or send a mail.

Types of Public Court Records in Philadelphia County

Unless considered confidential by state law, the following court records in Philadelphia County are open to public inspection:

• Court Dockets - schedules and summaries of cases to be heard by the court
• Traffic Court Records - records of cases involving traffic violations and infractions
• Civil Cases Records - non-criminal case proceedings, such as personal injury claims, property damage disputes, and breach of contract disputes
• Criminal Records - criminal case information, including charges, pre-trial hearings, and court decisions

Confidential Court Records in Philadelphia County

Confidential court records in Philadelphia County are not open to public inspection or duplication. Pennsylvania laws prevent the disclosure of such records to anyone except the parties involved in the cases or individuals with valid court orders to access such records.

The following court records and information are confidential in Philadelphia County:

• Juvenile records
• Addresses or contact details of abuse victims
• Social Security numbers
• Financial account numbers
• Medical records
• Psychological reports of minors
• Child services records

Juvenile Delinquency in Philadelphia, PA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Philadelphia 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 313 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Philadelphia County. Of that total, 96% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 299 court cases. Another 1% were dependency cases that accounted for 3 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Philadelphia County, PA

https://www.pa.gov/

County Seat:	Philadelphia
Government Type:	City-County Consolidation
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1682
Total Square Miles:	143
2019 Population:	1,580,863
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1 Penn Square East City Hall Philadelphia , PA 19107-2724 http://www.phila.gov/

Philadelphia County, PA Courts