Pennsylvania runs its trial courts through one statewide structure, the Unified Judicial System, yet the door you walk through depends on your county, your type of case, and sometimes your neighborhood. Our directory lists 617 court offices across the Commonwealth, from the dense Pittsburgh and Harrisburg clusters to small offices in places like Tunkhannock and Gettysburg. This page explains who runs these courts, what each level handles, and how to prepare, so you reach the right office on the first trip.

How the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Is Organized

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania sits at the top and has seven justices. It oversees the whole system and has the final word on state law. Below it are two statewide appellate courts. The Superior Court hears most appeals from trial courts in criminal and civil matters. The Commonwealth Court mainly handles cases involving state and local government agencies.

The workhorse trial courts are the Courts of Common Pleas. Pennsylvania has 67 counties but only 60 judicial districts, because some smaller counties share a district and a bench. Common Pleas judges hear felony prosecutions, larger civil lawsuits, divorce and custody cases, juvenile matters, and appeals from the lower courts. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, known as the AOPC, supports the Supreme Court in running statewide administration, technology, and statistics.

At the base are the magisterial district courts. These minor courts see more residents than any other level, and most of the listings in our directory fall into this group. Philadelphia is arranged differently. The Philadelphia Municipal Court, at 1301 Filbert Street, performs much of the work that magisterial district courts do in the other 66 counties.

What Magisterial District Courts Handle in Pennsylvania

Each magisterial district judge, often shortened to MDJ, is elected to a six-year term and serves a district drawn around population. Judges who are not attorneys must complete a state certification course and pass an exam before taking the bench. Their courts typically handle the following:

Names in the directory vary. You will see "District Court," "Magistrate Court," and "Magisterial Court" used almost interchangeably, as in Baldwin District Court near Pittsburgh, West York Magistrate Court, and Johnstown Magisterial Court. On official paperwork the office appears as a numbered Magisterial District Court, so match the number on your notice to the right address.

Court staff can explain filing steps, hearing dates, and deadlines. They cannot give legal advice or tell you how to argue your case. If you need that kind of help, contact a lawyer, a legal aid office, or your county bar association.

Metro Versus Rural: How Court Access Differs Across Pennsylvania

Allegheny County leads our listings with 50 offices, and 28 of them are in Pittsburgh. The district boundaries there follow neighborhoods and suburban boroughs, so a Pittsburgh mailing address does not always mean a Pittsburgh court. Baldwin District Court on Grove Road is a good example of a suburban office that carries a Pittsburgh address.

The Philadelphia suburbs are also dense. Montgomery County and Delaware County each have 29 listings. Lima Magistrate Court, with a Media address on South Pennell Road, is one of the Delaware County offices. In these counties you often have several courts within a short drive, but your case must still go to the district that covers where the event happened or where the defendant lives.

Mid-sized cities form their own clusters. Harrisburg has 13 listings, including the Dauphin County Central Magistrate Court on Mall Road, which reflects the city's role as both state capital and county seat. Erie has 11, while Allentown, Reading, and York have 10 each. In these cities, the Common Pleas courthouse and the minor courts are often a few minutes apart, which helps if your matter moves from one level to the next.

Rural counties work differently. Tunkhannock Magistrate Court in Wyoming County and Gettysburg District Court at 34 East Middle Street in Adams County serve wide areas with smaller populations. Smaller offices may have limited counter hours and set hearing days, so call before you drive. Common Pleas courthouses sit in the county seat, as with Centre Common Pleas Court on South Allegheny Street in Bellefonte, Fayette County Court in Uniontown, and Monroe County Court in Stroudsburg. For a rural resident, a Common Pleas filing may mean a longer trip than a traffic hearing does.

One practical difference is timing. Metro offices often schedule many hearings per day and ask you to arrive early for screening and check-in. Rural offices may batch hearings on specific mornings. Either way, the date and time printed on your notice control, and a missed hearing can lead to a default judgment or a bench warrant.

Preparing for a Pennsylvania Court Visit: Documents, Deadlines, and Costs

Most problems at a Pennsylvania court come from missed deadlines and missing paperwork rather than from the case itself. Before you go, gather these items:

Deadlines in Pennsylvania are short. A traffic citation generally gives you 10 days to plead or request a hearing. After a civil judgment from a magisterial district judge, either side generally has 30 days to appeal to the Court of Common Pleas. Appeals from landlord-tenant judgments for possession have a shorter 10-day window. Count calendar days, not business days, and file early.

Expect security screening at courthouse entrances. Leave knives, pepper spray, and any weapons at home or in your car. Arrive at least 30 minutes early, silence your phone, and dress neatly. Arrange childcare, because many courtrooms discourage children unless they are part of the case.

Fines, costs, and filing fees are set by statute and local rules, so confirm the current amount with the specific office instead of relying on an old figure. If you have limited English, you can ask the court in advance about an interpreter for your hearing. Legal aid organizations in many counties help eligible residents for free, and county bar associations often run lawyer referral services.

Courts in Pennsylvania operate under a unified state judicial system that handles everything from traffic infractions and small claims disputes to major felony trials and civil litigation. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court serves as the highest state court with authority over all state court matters.

Courts locations are available in 385 cities across Pennsylvania. They are spread across 67 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Erie, reflecting areas where county seats and urban centers house multiple court divisions to handle high caseloads.

Residents of Pennsylvania should know which court has jurisdiction over their matter — whether it is a municipal, district, circuit, or superior court — before filing documents or appearing for a hearing.

Courts by Counties

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Residents of Pennsylvania who need to access court services should identify the correct court for their matter, check the court's website for filing fees, forms, and procedures, and consider using the court's self-help resources if they are not represented by an attorney.

Browse Courts by county across Pennsylvania to find the nearest location.

Where to Find Court Offices Around Pennsylvania's Regional Hubs

Pennsylvania's court offices cluster around its regional hubs, and the listings show how local geography shapes access. In the Lehigh Valley, Allentown Central Magistrate Court sits at 930 Hamilton Street in Lehigh County. Across the county line, Northampton County residents use Bethlehem Magistrate Court II on Nazareth Pike or Easton District Court at 6 South 3rd Street.

In south-central Pennsylvania, Reading Magistrate Court IV is at 441 Morgantown Road in Berks County, Lancaster District Court II is at 1351 Elm Avenue, and West York Magistrate Court is at 577 Maryland Avenue. Chambersburg District Court, at 157 Lincoln Way East in Franklin County, serves the Cumberland Valley.

The northeast has a different pattern. Luzerne County has Luzerne County Court at 200 North River Street in Wilkes-Barre. Magisterial Scranton Court is at 509 Cedar Avenue in Lackawanna County, and Williamsport Magisterial Court is at 48 West 3rd Street in Lycoming County. In the northwest, Erie District Court III on Buffalo Road is one of the offices covered under Erie County.

Western Pennsylvania adds Aliquippa Magistrate Court in Beaver County, New Castle Magistrate Court I in Lawrence County, and Chicora Magistrate Court with a Butler address. The postal city in an address does not always match the court's coverage area, so check the district number on your notice before you travel. Hours and phone numbers change, so call the office first.

Pennsylvania Courts: Frequently Asked Questions

The right court is usually set by where the incident happened or, for civil claims, where the defendant lives or does business or where the dispute arose. If you received a citation or notice, the court's name, district number, and address are printed on it, so start there. If you are filing a new civil case, look up your municipality in the court locator on the Unified Judicial System web portal, or call the nearest listed office and ask which district covers your street. Boundaries follow municipal lines, so a Pittsburgh mailing address can fall under a neighboring borough's court.

A Pennsylvania traffic citation generally gives you 10 days to respond. You can plead guilty and pay the fine and costs by the method listed on the citation, or plead not guilty and request a hearing before the magisterial district judge. Ignoring a citation is the worst choice, because the court can enter a guilty finding by default, add costs, and notify PennDOT, which can affect your license. If you plead not guilty, the court mails a hearing notice. Bring the citation, your license, and any photos or records that support your account. If the date does not work, ask the court promptly for a continuance.

Magisterial district courts hear civil claims up to $12,000, with some case types excluded. You file a complaint at the court that covers the defendant's location, pay a filing fee that rises with the amount claimed, and the court schedules a hearing. Bring contracts, receipts, photos, estimates, and any witnesses. If you lose, either side can generally appeal to the Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of the judgment, while landlord-tenant possession appeals have a shorter 10-day window. Claims above $12,000 belong in Common Pleas, where many people hire a lawyer. Ask the court office for its current fee schedule before you file.

A Protection From Abuse petition is filed with the Court of Common Pleas. The county can be where you live, where the abuser can be served, or where the abuse happened. Victims are not charged a filing fee, and many counties direct you to the prothonotary or a designated family-court office. When Common Pleas is closed, you can ask a magisterial district judge for an emergency order, which is short-lived and must be followed by a request to Common Pleas for a longer one. A hearing for a final order is generally scheduled within ten business days of filing. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

These matters belong to the Court of Common Pleas, not the magisterial district court. Divorce and custody cases are generally started through the county prothonotary, and the family division or domestic relations section handles support and scheduling. Wills and estates go through the county Register of Wills, with the Orphans' Court resolving disputes. Felony case records are kept by the Clerk of Courts. Each county courthouse, such as Centre County in Bellefonte or Fayette County in Uniontown, has these offices, though their names and room locations vary. Call the courthouse first and ask which window takes your type of filing.

Most court proceedings in Pennsylvania are open to the public, apart from sealed matters and many juvenile cases. Docket sheets for magisterial district courts and Common Pleas courts can be searched through the Unified Judicial System web portal by name, docket number, or citation number. A docket shows hearing dates, charges or claims, and outcomes, but not every document. For certified copies, contact the clerk's office and expect a copying fee. Photography and recording inside courtrooms are generally restricted, and you will pass through security first, so allow extra time.