Fayette County Court Docket Search
Fayette County Pennsylvania court docket records are publicly available through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal. The county seat is Uniontown, where the courthouse houses the 14th Judicial District. Residents and researchers can search criminal, civil, and magisterial district case records online at no charge. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal record filings, and the Prothonotary handles civil records. Fayette County sits in southwestern Pennsylvania and processes a steady volume of cases across its court system each year.
Fayette County Quick Facts
Fayette County Court Docket Search
The Pennsylvania UJS Web Portal is the starting point for any Fayette County court docket search. The system covers all courts of common pleas and magisterial district courts statewide. You can search by party name, docket number, or case number. The portal returns the full docket sheet showing charges or claims, hearing dates, assigned judge, attorney information, and current case status.
Spelling accuracy matters. One incorrect character can hide a case from your search results entirely. If the first search comes back empty, try alternate spellings or a wider date range. Filtering by Fayette County helps reduce unrelated results when searching a common name.
The portal covers both Court of Common Pleas cases and Magisterial District Court cases in one place. Cases that start at the magisterial level and move to Common Pleas generate separate dockets at each stage. Both remain searchable in the same system.
The UJS portal gives direct access to Fayette County court docket sheets through the statewide search interface. Search Fayette County court docket records on the UJS portal.
The portal displays full docket sheets, hearing schedules, and case status for Fayette County records.
Fayette County Court of Common Pleas
The Fayette County Court of Common Pleas is the main trial court for the 14th Judicial District. Located in Uniontown, it handles felony criminal cases, major civil claims, family law matters, juvenile proceedings, and appeals from the lower magisterial courts. All proceedings follow procedures set by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Fayette County is a mid-size county in southwest Pennsylvania with a history rooted in coal and steel industries. The court handles a range of cases reflecting the community, from property disputes and contract matters to serious criminal charges. Family Division cases involving custody and support make up a significant share of the docket.
The Clerk of Courts in Uniontown maintains all criminal docket records filed at the Common Pleas level. The Prothonotary maintains civil records. Both offices are in the courthouse in Uniontown. Regular weekday hours apply. Call ahead for large record requests to confirm wait times and payment options.
Note: Certified copies of Fayette County court records cost more than standard copies. Contact the relevant office before your visit for the current fee schedule.
Criminal Court Dockets in Fayette County
Criminal Fayette County court docket records begin at the magisterial district court level when charges are filed. Once a case is bound over to the Court of Common Pleas, it enters the CPCMS database, which feeds into the public UJS portal. Every court event from arraignment through final disposition is recorded on the docket.
A criminal docket sheet in Fayette County shows the charges, offense grades, bail conditions, each hearing with its date and result, the presiding judge, and the final case outcome. This is all publicly available for free online. The docket updates as the case moves forward, so returning to check it shows new hearings, motions, or rulings.
For certified criminal history records, the PATCH system maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police is the correct resource. PATCH operates separately from the court portal and charges its own fee. It provides a formal certified document rather than a docket summary. Court docket records and PATCH reports serve different purposes.
Records ordered expunged by the court are removed from public access in the portal and at the courthouse. Searching the current portal is the only way to confirm what remains publicly available for a specific case.
Fayette County Magisterial District Courts
Magisterial District Courts in Fayette County are the entry point for most legal matters. These courts handle traffic violations, summary criminal offenses, preliminary hearings for more serious charges, and civil claims up to $12,000. Landlord-tenant disputes and minor civil cases also go through this level.
Fayette County has several magisterial district judges covering specific geographic areas within the county. Urban areas like Uniontown generate more district court filings, while rural townships have fewer cases. All of these docket records are in the MDJS system and are searchable through the UJS Case Search page.
Traffic and summary offense dockets include the charge, hearing date, outcome, and any fine imposed. When a case is bound over from district court to Common Pleas, a new docket is opened at that level. The original district court docket stays in the system as a separate record.
Note: Some Fayette County district court locations may have limited public hours. Calling ahead before visiting in person avoids unnecessary trips.
Civil Docket Records in Fayette County Pennsylvania
Civil case records in Fayette County are maintained by the Prothonotary's office in Uniontown. This office holds filings for contract disputes, personal injury cases, property matters, mortgage foreclosures, and civil claims above the $12,000 magisterial threshold. Civil judgments are also recorded with the Prothonotary.
Searching civil Fayette County court dockets follows the same steps as criminal docket searches on the UJS portal. Enter the party name or case number, select Fayette County, and review the results. Document images for civil cases may be viewable online depending on when the case was filed. Checking the portal is the fastest way to find out what is available without a trip to Uniontown.
The UJS Case Search tool pulls specific Fayette County docket sheets by party name or case number. Search Fayette County docket records through the UJS Case Search.
Results include the full docket history, case type, and party names for Fayette County civil and criminal cases.
Public Access Policy in Fayette County
Pennsylvania law makes most court records publicly available. The Case Records Public Access Policy, governed by 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 and detailed at pacourts.us/public-records, defines what is open and what is restricted. Most criminal and civil docket sheets fall within the open access rules.
Juvenile court records are sealed by law under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6308, which keeps minor participants confidential. Mental health proceedings and some protection-from-abuse filings also carry restricted access. The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.301 applies to government agency records but court records follow UJS policy first.
The Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown has public access terminals for viewing records in person during regular business hours. No appointment is required. Court staff can direct visitors to the correct office based on the type of record being requested.
Fayette County Court Copy Fees
Online docket searches through the UJS portal are free. No login is required to view public case information or docket entries from Fayette County.
Requesting paper copies at the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown costs $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee set by state schedule. The Clerk of Courts handles fees for criminal copies. The Prothonotary handles fees for civil copies. For large copy requests, calling ahead helps confirm payment methods and processing time. Parties with financial hardship may file an in forma pauperis petition to request a fee waiver. The court staff can explain the process during office hours.
Fayette County Family and Orphans' Court
Family Division cases in Fayette County cover divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, and protection from abuse orders. These are handled by the Court of Common Pleas in Uniontown. Docket sheets for family matters are available through the UJS portal. Some documents filed in custody and support cases may be restricted when they contain sensitive information about minor children.
Orphans' Court in Fayette County handles estate administration, wills, trusts, guardianships, and adoptions. The Register of Wills maintains these filings separately from the Prothonotary. For historical estate matters, a direct inquiry to the Register of Wills in Uniontown is more reliable than the online portal. Not all Orphans' Court records appear in the UJS system, especially for older cases predating digitization.
Nearby Counties
Fayette County borders several southwestern Pennsylvania counties, each with court records searchable through the same UJS portal.