Adams County
Created from parts of York County on January 22, 1800, Adams County was named after John Adams, the second President of the United States. It has a total area of 522 square miles and an estimated population of 106,748 inhabitants. The county seat is Gettysburg.
The 51st Judicial District of Pennsylvania comprises Adams County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. Court of Common Pleas cases involve contract disputes, personal injury lawsuits, criminal offenses, real estate matters, and family law cases. Additionally, the Orphan's Court division of the Court of Common Pleas is responsible for protecting the personal and property rights of minors.
Adams County Magisterial District Courts handle minor civil and criminal cases including municipal code violations, landlord-tenant disputes, traffic offenses, small claims lawsuits, and preliminary hearings for felony cases.
Public court records in Adams County are maintained and kept by the Clerk of Courts. These records consist of motions, judgements, complaints, and petitions filed with the Clerk's Office. In Adams County, residents have access to public court records through public computers and docket books located in the Clerk's Office. It is worth noting that juvenile records are considered confidential records and can be released only with court authorization.
Anyone can access the following public court records in the Office of the Adams County Clerk of Courts:
- Criminal Case Records
- Civil Case Records
- Landlord-Tenant Case Records
- Traffic Case Records
- Non-Traffic Case Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal provides access to docket sheets and case records related to Adams County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial Courts. A successful search requires the requester to provide a few details such as a citation or docket number, participant name, and the date of case filing. Furthermore, parties interested in viewing criminal records dating back to 1986 can do so by visiting the Clerk's Office in person.
