Franklin County
Franklin County was created in 1784 and was named for its Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin. It is located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and boasts a population of more than 150,000 people. Chambersburg is both its county seat and largest municipality.
The Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts constitute the Franklin County trial court system. The Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, which comprises the Criminal, the Prothonotary, and the Orphans' Court divisions, presides over felonies, lesser offenses, uncapped civil claims, adoptions, selected arbitration reviews, and administrative agency appeals. Cases relating to juvenile issues and domestic relations matters also fall within this court's jurisdiction. In addition, its Orphan's Court division, in addition to handling adoptions and parental rights terminations, also presides over probate cases, including wills, trusts, and estates.
The Magisterial District Courts in Franklin County are limited jurisdiction courts that adjudicate criminal cases, including third-degree misdemeanors, felony preliminary hearings, summary offenses, some types of DUI lawsuits, and certain ordinance offenses. Magisterial District Judges also handle general civil claims with financial caps and some landlord-tenant disputes.
Franklin County court records are generally court proceeding records for various litigations in the county. These records typically consist of different case files containing such documented information evidence, case transcripts, notices, exhibits, verdicts/judgments, witness statements/affidavits, and motions. In general, Franklin County court records comprise the following record types:
- Criminal records
- Civil records
- Family Court records
- Probate records
- Juvenile records
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts keeps court records, including civil and criminal records and docket sheet information. While online access to Franklin County court records is readily available without charge via the Commonwealth's Case Search web portal, you may have to visit the specific courthouse where your case proceeding occurred and pay certain fees to inspect/obtain court record copies. You can also look up and obtain printouts of docket sheets online on the same case search portal.
