Court records in Beaver County, Pennsylvania are maintained by several county offices — including the Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and the Recorder of Deeds — and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and in-person visits. BeaverCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Beaver County. You can also search docket sheets through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal, visit the Clerk of Courts office at the Beaver County Courthouse, or use the Prothonotary's office for civil case records.
Beaver County Court System Overview
Beaver County is part of Pennsylvania's 36th Judicial District, which serves Beaver County exclusively. The county's trial court is the Court of Common Pleas, a court of general jurisdiction that handles criminal, civil, family, orphans' court (probate), and juvenile matters. Below the Court of Common Pleas, several Magisterial District Judges preside over minor criminal cases, preliminary hearings, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, and traffic violations. The Beaver County Courthouse serves as the primary seat of the court system.
Courthouse hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Court of Common Pleas is staffed by multiple judges who hear cases across all divisions.
Courts Serving Beaver County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver County Court of Common Pleas | 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009 | (724) 728-5700 |
| Magisterial District Judge Offices (multiple locations throughout the county) | Varies by district | Varies by district |
| U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | (412) 208-7500 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | 5414 U.S. Steel Tower, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | (412) 644-2700 |
Beaver County falls within the Western District of Pennsylvania for federal matters. There are no separate municipal courts in Beaver County — Magisterial District Judges handle cases that municipal courts would in other states.
What Types of Cases Beaver County Courts Hear
Courts in Beaver County handle a broad range of case types across the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Judge offices:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, summary offenses
- Civil: Lawsuits above and below jurisdictional limits, landlord-tenant, small claims
- Family: Divorce, custody, child support, protection from abuse orders, paternity, termination of parental rights
- Orphans' Court (Probate): Decedent estates, guardianships, adoptions, trust matters
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings, dependency matters
- Traffic: Vehicle Code violations, DUI
District Court Cases in Beaver County
The Beaver County Court of Common Pleas functions as the county's trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears felony criminal cases after they have been held for court following a preliminary hearing before a Magisterial District Judge. Civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $12,000 are filed directly with the Prothonotary's office. The court also hears appeals from Magisterial District Judge decisions, post-conviction relief petitions, and all family law, orphans' court, and juvenile matters. Cases are assigned to individual judges, and the president judge oversees administrative operations. Criminal cases typically arrive after a preliminary arraignment and preliminary hearing at the magisterial district level, where the judge determines whether sufficient evidence exists to send the case forward.
Magistrate Court Cases in Beaver County
Magisterial District Judges (MDJs) in Beaver County handle the first stage of most criminal proceedings, including preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings for felonies and misdemeanors. They also preside over summary offense trials (Pennsylvania's equivalent of infractions), traffic violations, and DUI arraignments. On the civil side, MDJs hear cases where the amount in controversy is $12,000 or less, including small claims and landlord-tenant disputes. Under Pennsylvania law, small claims actions are generally limited to $12,000. Beaver County has an administrative order governing public access to MDJ records, which outlines procedures for requesting records from these offices. MDJ offices are located throughout the county to serve different geographic areas.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Beaver County
Family Law
Divorce, custody, child support, protection from abuse (PFA) orders, paternity, and termination of parental rights cases are handled by the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Divorce complaints and custody petitions are filed through the Prothonotary's office. PFA petitions may be filed at the courthouse or, after hours, through a Magisterial District Judge.
Probate (Orphans' Court)
The Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles decedent estates, guardianships of incapacitated persons, adoptions, and trust disputes. Filings for estate administration are made through the Register of Wills office at the Beaver County Courthouse.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency and dependency proceedings are heard by the Court of Common Pleas. Juvenile records are confidential under Pennsylvania law and are not available through public docket search tools. Contact the Juvenile Probation Office at the courthouse for procedural questions.
How Cases Move Through the Beaver County Court System
- Filing or initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint filed by law enforcement or a private criminal complaint. Civil cases start with a complaint filed at the Prothonotary's office. Family and orphans' court matters begin with a petition.
- Preliminary proceedings (criminal): The defendant appears before a Magisterial District Judge for a preliminary arraignment, where bail is set. A preliminary hearing follows to determine if the case proceeds to the Court of Common Pleas.
- Assignment to judge: Once a case reaches the Court of Common Pleas, it is assigned to a judge.
- Initial hearings: Criminal defendants are formally arraigned. Civil cases receive a scheduling conference or case management order.
- Pre-trial phase: Both sides conduct discovery, file motions, and — in criminal cases — may engage in plea negotiations.
- Trial or resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or resolve through a guilty plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from the Court of Common Pleas go to the Pennsylvania Superior Court or Commonwealth Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Beaver County
The President Judge of the 36th Judicial District oversees court administration in Beaver County, assisted by a Court Administrator. Local rules of court for Beaver County supplement the statewide Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure. You can find Beaver County local rules through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal.
Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and court administrative policies, most court records are generally accessible to the public. Exceptions include juvenile records, certain family court filings, sealed records, and documents protected by court order. The PA Office of Open Records handles appeals when access to government records is denied. For court-specific records, access is governed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Public Access Policy rather than the Right-to-Know Law.
Hearings at the Beaver County Courthouse are open to the public unless sealed by the court. Contact the Court Administrator's office at (724) 728-5700 for questions about attending hearings or any remote hearing procedures that may be in effect.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Beaver County
- Court docket search: Search public docket sheets for Beaver County cases through the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal, which allows searches by case number, participant name, or offense tracking number.
- Record research at the Clerk of Courts: The Clerk of Courts record research procedure explains how to conduct your own search free of charge online or request a search through the office.
- Civil case records: The Prothonotary's office maintains all civil case filings and is the largest filing office in the courthouse.
- Deed and property records: Search the Beaver County Recorder of Deeds online portal for property records dating back to 1800. The Assessment Office provides property assessment and delinquent tax information.
- Criminal history background checks: Use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system for statewide criminal record checks. You can also request a background check by mail through the Pennsylvania State Police.
- Criminal record expungement: Learn about the criminal record expungement process through the Pennsylvania State Police.
- Inmate search: Locate individuals held at the Beaver County Jail (6000 Woodlawn Boulevard, Aliquippa, PA 15001; phone: 724-378-8177) or use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator for state prison inmates.
- Bench warrants: The Beaver County Sheriff's Office publishes information about outstanding bench warrants.
- Vital records: Birth and death certificates are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Health Vital Records office.
- Open records requests: For non-court government records, submit requests through the PA Office of Open Records or directly to the relevant Beaver County department.