Magisterial District Court

Magisterial District Court cases in Delaware County, Chester, PA

Delaware County Magisterial District Court in Chester, PA is a Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court, a limited-jurisdiction trial court within the Unified Judicial System. It functions as the community's first level of court, handling summary criminal matters and traffic citations; issuing search and arrest warrants; conducting preliminary arraignments, setting bail, and holding preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases; and adjudicating civil claims up to $12,000, including small claims and landlord-tenant/eviction actions. It also hears municipal code and nontraffic summary offenses and may issue emergency protection-from-abuse orders when the Court of Common Pleas is unavailable. Felony trials, major civil cases, and family law matters such as divorce and custody are heard by the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.

Magisterial District Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Magisterial District Court

Magisterial District Courts in Delaware County serve as Pennsylvania's community-level courts. They:
- Accept filings for small civil claims up to $12,000; landlord‑tenant (evictions/rent); contract and code‑enforcement matters.
- Process traffic and non‑traffic summary citations, parking tickets, and local ordinance violations.
- Handle criminal intake: preliminary arraignments, set bail, conduct preliminary hearings for misdemeanors/felonies; issue search and arrest warrants; accept private criminal complaints.
- Hold summary trials and landlord‑tenant/civil hearings; enter judgments; manage continuances, subpoenas, and payments of fines/costs/restitution (including payment plans).
- Provide emergency Protection From Abuse and Sexual Violence/Intimidation orders when the Court of Common Pleas is closed; ongoing PFA matters proceed in the Court of Common Pleas.
- Do not provide jury services; jury trials and appeals are handled by the Court of Common Pleas.