Franklin County Pennsylvania Court Docket
Franklin County Pennsylvania court docket records are available through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal and through the county's own online resources. The county seat is Chambersburg, where the courthouse houses the 39th Judicial District. Franklin County shares this judicial district with neighboring Fulton County. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts offices in Chambersburg maintain records for civil and criminal cases respectively. Residents and researchers can search docket sheets online for free or visit the courthouse in person during regular business hours.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Court Docket Search
The Pennsylvania UJS Web Portal is the main tool for searching Franklin County court docket records. This statewide system covers all courts of common pleas and magisterial district courts. Search by party name, docket number, or case number. The portal returns the full docket sheet with charges or claims, hearing dates, assigned judge, attorney information, and current case status.
Name searches require accurate spelling. One wrong character can prevent a record from appearing in results. Try alternate spellings if the first search returns nothing. Filtering by Franklin County and a specific date range helps when looking for a common name.
Franklin County also maintains local county resources for court records. The Prothonotary's office has its own web presence through the county government website, and the Clerk of Courts office does as well. These local offices can assist with records not yet digitized in the statewide portal.
The UJS portal provides direct access to Franklin County court docket sheets. Search Franklin County court docket records on the UJS portal.
The portal displays full docket sheets, case status, and hearing schedules for Franklin County records.
Franklin County Prothonotary Office
The Franklin County Prothonotary's office is the official keeper of all civil case records filed in the Court of Common Pleas. This office maintains filings for contract disputes, personal injury cases, property matters, civil appeals, and any civil claim above the magisterial court limit of $12,000. Civil judgments are also recorded and indexed through the Prothonotary.
The Franklin County Prothonotary maintains its own online presence at franklincountypa.gov/departments/prothonotary. This county-level resource can provide information about local filing procedures, fees, and contact details that supplement the statewide UJS portal.
Franklin County's Prothonotary office maintains civil case records accessible through both local and statewide portals. Visit the Franklin County Prothonotary page for civil records information.
The Prothonotary in Chambersburg handles all civil filings for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
Civil docket searches through the UJS portal return results for Franklin County cases along with the same format used for all other Pennsylvania counties. Document images for civil cases may be viewable online for more recent filings.
Note: For civil cases filed before the court's electronic system was fully implemented, the Prothonotary office in Chambersburg may need to locate the physical file.
Franklin County Clerk of Courts
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts is the official record keeper for all criminal case filings in the Court of Common Pleas. This office maintains the docket record for every felony and serious misdemeanor case that comes through the 39th Judicial District. When a case is bound over from a magisterial district court, the Clerk of Courts opens the new Common Pleas docket.
The Clerk of Courts office has its own county web page at franklincountypa.gov/departments/clerk-of-courts. This page provides local contact information, office hours, and guidance specific to Franklin County criminal records.
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts handles all criminal case records for the 39th Judicial District. See the Franklin County Clerk of Courts page for criminal records access.
The Clerk of Courts office in Chambersburg is the official source for Franklin County criminal case records.
Criminal docket sheets from Franklin County are also searchable through the UJS portal, where case status, charges, and hearing dates appear at no cost. The Clerk of Courts office handles in-person requests and certified copy orders.
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is the main trial court for the 39th Judicial District. It sits in Chambersburg and handles all felony criminal cases, major civil disputes, family law matters, juvenile proceedings, and appeals from the magisterial district courts. The court shares the 39th Judicial District with neighboring Fulton County.
Common Pleas judges in Franklin County are elected to ten-year terms and follow rules established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The court handles a moderate caseload reflecting the county's growing population in south-central Pennsylvania, not far from the Maryland state line.
Both the Clerk of Courts and the Prothonotary are located in the courthouse in Chambersburg. Court staff at both offices can assist with record location requests during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
Criminal Docket Records in Franklin County
Criminal Franklin County court docket records begin at the magisterial district level when charges are filed. Once a case is bound over to Common Pleas, it enters the CPCMS system and becomes searchable through the UJS portal. Every court event is recorded on the docket sheet in order.
A criminal docket sheet in Franklin County lists all charges with their offense grades, bail details, each court proceeding with its date and result, the assigned judge, and the final case disposition. This information is available online for free and updates in real time as the case moves forward.
For certified criminal history reports, the PATCH system run by the Pennsylvania State Police is the right resource. PATCH operates separately from the court portal and carries its own fee. It produces a formal certified document rather than a docket sheet summary.
Note: Expunged case records are removed from public access after the court order takes effect. The current portal result is the best indicator of what remains visible for any given case.
Franklin County Magisterial District Courts
Magisterial District Courts are the entry point for most legal matters in Franklin County. These courts process traffic violations, summary criminal offenses, preliminary hearings for more serious charges, and civil claims up to $12,000. Landlord-tenant disputes and other minor civil matters also go through this level.
Franklin County has several magisterial district judges covering specific geographic areas. Each handles cases from the municipalities within their assigned district. Docket records from all district courts are in the MDJS system and are searchable through the UJS Case Search page.
Traffic and summary offense dockets include the charge, hearing date, result, and any fine. When a case is bound over to Common Pleas, the new docket opens at that level while the original district court docket stays in the system. Both records remain accessible online separately.
Public Access Policy in Franklin County
Pennsylvania law makes most court records publicly available. The Case Records Public Access Policy, governed by 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 and published at pacourts.us/public-records, explains what is open and what is restricted. Most criminal and civil docket sheets fall under open access rules.
Juvenile records are sealed by law under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6308. Mental health proceedings and some protection-from-abuse matters carry restricted access. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law under 65 P.S. § 67.301 applies to government agency records but court records follow UJS policy first.
The Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg has public access terminals where anyone can view docket records during regular business hours. No appointment is required. Staff at the Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary can direct visitors to the correct office.
Franklin County Court Records and Fees
Online docket searches through the UJS portal are free. No login is required to view public case information or docket entries for Franklin County records.
Requesting physical copies at the Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg costs $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal copy fees. The Prothonotary handles civil copy fees. Call ahead for large copy requests to confirm payment options and turnaround time. Parties with limited financial means may seek a fee waiver by filing an in forma pauperis petition with the court.
The UJS Case Search tool lets you pull specific Franklin County docket sheets by party name or case number. Search Franklin County docket records through the UJS Case Search.
Results show the full docket history, case type, and party names for Franklin County criminal and civil records.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County borders Adams, Cumberland, and Fulton counties, each with court records accessible through the same UJS portal.