Beaver County Court Records
What Is Beaver County Court Records
Court records in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, are official documents generated by the judicial system in the course of legal proceedings. These records encompass a broad range of materials, including case files, docket sheets, pleadings, motions, court orders, judgments, transcripts of proceedings, exhibits admitted into evidence, sentencing records, and any other documents filed with or produced by a court of law. Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level, such as property deeds held by the Recorder of Deeds, vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates) maintained by the Division of Vital Records, or tax assessment records managed by the county assessor's office.
In Beaver County, court records are maintained across several judicial bodies, each responsible for a specific category of legal matters:
- Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County — the principal trial court of general jurisdiction, maintaining records for civil, criminal, family, orphans' court (probate), and domestic relations matters
- Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) Offices — courts of limited jurisdiction handling preliminary hearings, summary offenses, traffic matters, and minor civil claims
- Prothonotary's Office — the official filing office for all civil proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas
- Clerk of Courts — the official custodian of criminal court records in the Court of Common Pleas
Records maintained across these offices cover civil litigation, criminal prosecutions, family law matters, estate and probate proceedings, traffic violations, and small claims actions. Under Pennsylvania's Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C.S. § 102, court records are defined as documents and data compilations in any form that are filed with or maintained by a court in connection with a judicial proceeding.
Are Court Records Public In Beaver County
Court records in Beaver County are presumptively open to the public under Pennsylvania law. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Case Records Public Access Policy, which governs access to case records of the Unified Judicial System, establishes that members of the public have a general right to inspect and copy judicial records. This policy applies to all courts within the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, including the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County and the Magisterial District Judge offices.
The following categories of records are generally available for public inspection:
- Most civil case files, including complaints, answers, and supporting documents
- Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
- Judgments and court orders
- Docket sheets reflecting the procedural history of a case
- Scheduled hearing dates and courtroom assignments
- Sentencing records in criminal matters
It is important to note the distinction between state and federal court records. Records of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which has jurisdiction over federal matters arising in Beaver County, are maintained separately through the federal PACER system and are governed by federal rules rather than Pennsylvania state law. Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's access policy, including records sealed by court order, juvenile delinquency records, mental health commitment records, and documents containing sensitive personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers. The Clerk of Courts - Beaver County Courthouse serves as the official custodian of criminal court records and members of the public are welcome to visit the courthouse to view available records.
How To Find Court Records in Beaver County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Beaver County may access them through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of case and the court in which it was filed.
Step 1 — Identify the correct court and office. Determine whether the matter is a civil, criminal, family, probate, or summary/traffic case, as each category is maintained by a different office within the Beaver County Courthouse.
Step 2 — Visit the appropriate office in person. Members of the public may inspect records at the public counter of the relevant office during regular business hours. Staff are available to assist with locating case files and docket information.
Step 3 — Submit a written request if necessary. For records not immediately available at the public counter, a written request may be submitted to the custodial office. Requests should include the case number, party names, and the approximate date of filing.
Step 4 — Pay applicable fees. Pursuant to Pennsylvania law, fees may be assessed for copies of court records. The fee schedule is established by the court and posted at each office.
Step 5 — Use online portals where available. Several Beaver County court offices provide online access to docket information and case records, as described in the section below.
The Prothonotary - Beaver County Courthouse is the largest filing office in the courthouse and maintains official records of all civil proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas.
How To Look Up Court Records in Beaver County Online?
Multiple online portals currently provide access to Beaver County court records, depending on the type of proceeding involved.
Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System Web Portal (UJS Portal) The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System operates a statewide web portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, which provides free public access to docket sheets for cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Courts, and the Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania. Users may search by:
- Docket number
- Party name (first and last name)
- Date of birth (for criminal matters)
- Attorney name or bar number
Beaver County Prothonotary — Civil Records The Prothonotary's office maintains records of all civil proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas. Members of the public may search civil dockets through the UJS Portal or visit the office in person.
Beaver County Recorder of Deeds — Online Search While not strictly court records, property-related judgments and liens may be researched through the Beaver County Recorder of Deeds online search portal, which provides access to recorded documents from 1800 to the present.
Magisterial District Judge Records Access to MDJ-level records is governed by the administrative order issued by the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County. The procedures for public access to MDJ records are outlined in the court's administrative docket and are available on the county's official website.
How To Search Beaver County Court Records for Free?
Pennsylvania law and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Case Records Public Access Policy guarantee members of the public the right to inspect court records at no charge. Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 509, inspection of case records at the courthouse is free of charge; fees may only be assessed for copies or certified copies of documents.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- UJS Web Portal (ujsportal.pacourts.us) — free docket sheet searches for all Pennsylvania courts, including Beaver County
- Beaver County Clerk of Courts — in-person inspection of criminal court records at no charge during public counter hours
- Beaver County Prothonotary — in-person inspection of civil case files at no charge
- MDJ Office Records — in-person inspection of summary and minor civil case records at no charge, subject to the administrative order governing public access to MDJ records
Fees are assessed only when a member of the public requests paper copies or certified copies of documents. The current fee schedule is posted at each office and on the Beaver County official website.
What's Included in a Beaver County Court Record?
The contents of a court record vary by case type. The following outlines what is typically included in each category:
Civil Court Records
- Complaint and summons
- Answers and responsive pleadings
- Motions and supporting briefs
- Court orders and opinions
- Judgment entries
- Transcripts of hearings and trials
- Exhibits admitted into evidence
Criminal Court Records
- Criminal complaint and information or indictment
- Arrest warrant and affidavit of probable cause
- Bail and bond documents
- Preliminary hearing records
- Plea agreements
- Sentencing orders and pre-sentence investigation reports (where not sealed)
- Probation and parole orders
Family Court Records
- Divorce complaints and decrees
- Custody orders and modification petitions
- Support orders and payment histories
- Protection from abuse (PFA) orders
Orphans' Court / Probate Records
- Wills and letters testamentary
- Estate inventories and accountings
- Guardianship orders
Traffic and Summary Offense Records
- Citation and complaint
- Disposition and fine records
- License suspension orders
Small Claims Records
- Statement of claim
- Judgment for plaintiff or defendant
- Execution and garnishment records
How Long Does Beaver County Keep Court Records?
Pennsylvania courts are required to retain court records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 1727, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has authority to prescribe rules governing the disposition of court records.
Current retention periods for principal record categories are as follows:
- Criminal case files (felony and misdemeanor) — retained permanently or for a minimum of 20 years following final disposition
- Civil case files — retained for a minimum of 10 years following final disposition
- Domestic relations and support records — retained for a minimum of 10 years following the last action
- Orphans' court / probate records — retained permanently
- Traffic and summary offense records — retained for a minimum of 5 years following final disposition
- Juvenile delinquency records — subject to special retention and expungement rules under Pennsylvania's Juvenile Act
Members of the public seeking records from older cases should contact the relevant office directly, as some historical records may have been transferred to archival storage or microfilm.
Types of Courts In Beaver County
Beaver County is served by a two-tier state court structure, with Magisterial District Judge offices at the entry level and the Court of Common Pleas as the principal trial court of general jurisdiction. Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas proceed to the Pennsylvania Superior Court or Commonwealth Court, and thereafter to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County The Court of Common Pleas is the court of general jurisdiction for Beaver County, handling civil, criminal, family, orphans' court, and domestic relations matters. The court is organized into several divisions: Civil, Criminal, Family, and Orphans' Court.
Beaver County Courthouse — Court of Common Pleas 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 (724) 728-5700 Beaver County — Home Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Prothonotary's Office The Prothonotary is the official clerk of the civil division of the Court of Common Pleas and maintains records of all civil proceedings.
Beaver County Prothonotary 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 (724) 728-5700 Prothonotary - Beaver County Courthouse Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Clerk of Courts The Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of criminal court records in the Court of Common Pleas.
Beaver County Clerk of Courts 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 (724) 728-5700 Clerk of Courts - Beaver County Courthouse Public counter hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Magisterial District Judge Offices Beaver County is served by multiple Magisterial District Judge offices, which handle summary criminal offenses, traffic matters, preliminary arraignments, preliminary hearings in criminal cases, and minor civil claims up to $12,000. MDJ offices are distributed throughout the county to provide local access to judicial services.
Pennsylvania Superior Court The Superior Court of Pennsylvania hears appeals from the Court of Common Pleas in civil and criminal matters. It is an intermediate appellate court and does not maintain a physical presence in Beaver County; appeals are filed through the Court of Common Pleas.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for state law matters and exercises supervisory authority over all courts within the Unified Judicial System.
What Types of Cases Do Beaver County Courts Hear?
Each court within Beaver County's judicial structure has defined subject matter jurisdiction.
Court of Common Pleas — Civil Division
- Contract disputes and commercial litigation
- Personal injury and tort claims
- Real property disputes
- Equity matters and injunctions
- Appeals from MDJ civil judgments
- Small claims appeals
Court of Common Pleas — Criminal Division
- Felony prosecutions
- Misdemeanor prosecutions
- Preliminary hearings (transferred from MDJ)
- Post-conviction relief petitions
- Expungement petitions
Court of Common Pleas — Family Division
- Divorce and annulment proceedings
- Child custody and visitation
- Child and spousal support
- Protection from abuse (PFA) petitions
- Adoption proceedings
Court of Common Pleas — Orphans' Court Division
- Probate of wills and administration of decedents' estates
- Guardianship of incapacitated persons
- Trust administration
- Involuntary commitment proceedings
Magisterial District Judge Offices
- Summary criminal offenses (including most traffic violations)
- Preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases
- Minor civil claims (currently up to $12,000)
- Landlord-tenant disputes and eviction proceedings
- Restitution orders
How To Find a Court Docket In Beaver County
A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings and proceedings in a case. Members of the public may access Beaver County court dockets through the following methods:
Online — UJS Web Portal The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's web portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free public access to docket sheets for cases in the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. To search:
- Navigate to the UJS Portal and select the appropriate court type (Common Pleas or Magisterial District Court)
- Select "Beaver" as the county
- Enter the docket number, party name, or other available search criteria
- Review the docket sheet, which displays all filings, hearing dates, and dispositions
In Person — Clerk of Courts Members of the public may request docket information for criminal cases at the Clerk of Courts public counter during regular business hours.
In Person — Prothonotary's Office Civil case dockets are available for inspection at the Prothonotary's office public counter.
MDJ Office Records Docket information for cases before Magisterial District Judges is accessible through the UJS Portal or in person at the relevant MDJ office. The administrative procedures governing public access are set forth in the MDJ Records Administrative Order issued by the Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County.
Which Courts in Beaver County Are Not Courts of Record?
A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records, and which has the authority to fine or imprison for contempt. Under Pennsylvania law, courts of record possess the power to review their own judgments and their records are presumed accurate.
Magisterial District Judge courts in Pennsylvania are currently classified as courts not of record under 42 Pa. C.S. § 1515. This means that:
- Proceedings before MDJ offices are not stenographically transcribed as a matter of course
- Appeals from MDJ decisions to the Court of Common Pleas are conducted as trials de novo — that is, the case is heard entirely anew before the Common Pleas court, rather than reviewed on the basis of a lower court record
- MDJ offices do not maintain verbatim transcripts of hearings
The Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County, by contrast, is a court of record. All proceedings in the Common Pleas court are subject to official transcription, and the record of those proceedings forms the basis for any appellate review. The Pennsylvania Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, and Supreme Court are likewise courts of record.
Members of the public seeking to appeal a decision from a Magisterial District Judge office should be aware that the appeal will be heard as a new proceeding before the Court of Common Pleas, and that the MDJ-level record will not be transmitted to the appellate court.