Beaver County, Pennsylvania State Court Records
Beaver County court records are the collective data and filings detailing the events and outcomes of cases heard within the 36th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. These materials comprise case identifiers (such as party names and case numbers) as well as filed documents, including warrants, pleadings, motions or summonses, witness statements, judicial verdicts, and injunctions.
These records are created in accordance with mandates codified in various Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS) policies. The system provides accountability to the public regarding how justice is administered and the procedures for requesting or inspecting records.
Some counties place most court records under the authority of a single custodian. However, Beaver County divides this responsibility among three offices:
- The Prothonotary: The primary keeper of record for civil matters, such as property disputes, divorce, municipal liens, and custody orders
- The Clerk of Courts: The custodian for criminal case files
- The Register of Wills: The official overseer for probate and estate filings
Court records in Beaver County may be used in conjunction with state-level criminal history records, local arrest records, or federal court records to form a complete picture of an individual’s legal profile.
Are Beaver County Court Records Public?
Yes. As stipulated in the UJS Case Records Public Access Policy (204 Pa. Code § 213.81), most Beaver County court records are open to the public for inspection and duplication. However, this right of access is subject to confidentiality limitations, as certain information is restricted or redacted to protect the privacy rights of involved parties, such as
- Personally Identifying information (PII), including social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and state identification (SID) numbers.
- Financial or medical data, such as bank account numbers, check registers, mental health records, or physical health data.
- Protected court cases, especially juvenile delinquency records and adoption case files.
What Information is Available in Beaver County Court Records?
Beaver County court case information may be found in general docket entries and full case files. Collectively, they include the following types of details:
- Case summary, including the case type, filing date, and current status of the case
- The names of the parties involved in a case, including the prosecutor or claimant, the defendant, and the appointed attorneys
- The Register of Actions, which typically features a detailed timeline of filings and judicial actions in the case
- Court documents, most popularly motions, briefs, and petitions
- Orders, opinions, and sentencing decisions issued by judges at the Court of Common Pleas
Beaver County Court Records Search
Beaver County is similar to other counties in Pennsylvania in having a decentralized court case records system where different offices oversee different types of records. As noted previously, criminal case files fall under the purview of the Clerk of Court, while the Prothonotary takes charge of civil cases and family filings. Probate and estate cases are under the authority of the Register of Wills, who is also the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court.
Notwithstanding this split, Beaver County courts utilize two major online services for public records inspection or duplication: a free statewide portal for summary information and a specialized county system for detailed civil filings.
- The Unified Judicial System (UJS) database is the statewide system. It provides docket information in criminal matters heard at the Court of Common Pleas and traffic or landlord cases handled in the magisterial districts. People can also conduct family and probate searches. Available search parameters include the case, citation, or docket number, or an individual or company name.
Users can inspect or print docket sheets for free, with the knowledge that they are not a substitute for officially certified copies. The public can also use the PAeDocket mobile app for quick searches of criminal court dockets.
- The Prothonotary provides an online subscriber-only service for researchers and other frequent users to inspect or copy documents in civil lawsuits and divorce cases, among others. This service attracts a $25 setup fee plus a $1.10 per-minute usage fee invoiced monthly, subject to a minimum monthly charge of $25.
The public may visit the Beaver Courthouse at 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009, for records unavailable online and use the public computer terminals to search for cases by name or number at no cost except for printing or certification. The onsite personnel are law-bound to fulfill physical or electronic file requests, subject to availability or eligibility. Staff can also help locate a case file, typically for a modest search fee.
In addition, inquirers may send mail requests to the relevant division in the table below to obtain desired case documents. This process involves completing the Public Access Records Request Form and submitting payment through a check or money order, together with a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE).
Department | Case Type | Mailing Address |
|---|---|---|
Prothonotary | Civil, Divorce | 810 Third Street, Building A, 1st Floor |
Clerk of Courts | Criminal | 810 Third Street, Building B, 2nd Floor |
Register of Wills | Wills, Probate | 810 Third Street, Building B, 1st Floor |
Orphans’ Court | Marriage, Adoptions | 810 Third Street, Building B, 1st Floor |
Fees for Court Records in Beaver County
Court record fees in Beaver County generally vary by court custodian and also by whether a copy is plain or signed and certified. The table here presents an overview of the current fee schedule:
Item | Prothonotary (Civil) | Clerk of Courts (Criminal) | Register of Wills (Probate/Marriage) |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Copy | 25 cents per page | 50 cents per page | 50 cents (in office) / $1 (mail) |
Certified Copy | $6 | $16 | $25 (Will) / $5 (Marriage) |
Exemplified Copy | $21 | $47 | $50 |
Mailing Fee | $2 (postage) | Varies | $2 (postage) |
There is typically a $5 search fee for historical records or when not enough search information is provided, and a $2 convenience fee for mailed records.
Beaver County Courthouse Locations
Listed here are the contact details, including phone numbers, for the main courthouse (Court of Common Pleas) and magisterial district courts in Beaver County.
Court of Common Pleas
Beaver County Courthouse
810 Third Street
Beaver, PA 15009
Phone: (724) 728-5700
District Court 36-1-01 (Ambridge / Baden / Harmony)
650 11th Street
Ambridge, PA 15003
Phone: (724) 266-2180
District Court 36-1-02 (Beaver Falls / Eastvale)
Human Services Building
1010 8th Avenue
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Phone: (724) 843-0530
District Court 36-2-01 (Freedom / Rochester)
559 Third Avenue
Freedom, PA 15042
Phone: (724) 774-0840
District Court 36-2-02 (Beaver / Brighton / Bridgewater)
175 Friendship Circle
Beaver, PA 15009
Phone: (724) 775-3380
District Court 36-3-01 (New Brighton / Pulaski)
513 11th Street
New Brighton, PA 15066
Phone: (724) 843-1620
District Court 36-3-02 (Chippewa / Darlington / Ohioville)
19 Cessna Drive
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Phone: (724) 846-9696
District Court 36-3-03 (Center / Monaca / Potter)
226-F Center Grange Road
Aliquippa, PA 15001
Phone: (724) 775-1714
District Court 36-3-04 (Hopewell / Aliquippa / Independence)
1515 Gringo Road
Aliquippa, PA 15001
Phone: (724) 378-4448
Criminal Records Access in Beaver County
The statewide UJS search portal is the primary way to view Beaver County criminal case records. Searchers can use the individual’s name, date of birth, or Offense Tracking Number (OTN) to locate felony or misdemeanor case information. Individuals can also visit Building B, second floor at the Beaver County Courthouse to inspect original case files.
Local law enforcement in the county also maintains arrest logs and jail rosters. These records document an individual’s arrest or incarceration status and typically detail suspected, alleged, or convicted criminal activity. Searchers may contact the relevant local police agency or county detention center to obtain these records.
Unlike both options above, a comprehensive criminal background report chronicles an individual’s entire statewide criminal activity, typically for employment, volunteering, or personal review. This type of report can be requested from the state police, which maintains the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system. The fee is $22 for a standard check, which produces a certified document detailing the subject’s criminal profile.
Beaver County Probate Records
The Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court oversees Beaver County probate records. This dual office maintains a comprehensive collection of records generated in the course of processing wills and estate filings for deceased residents, and adjudicating protective matters involving the living. The records encompass asset distribution, appointments of executors for estate administration, and establishments of guardianships and conservatorships for those who cannot manage their own affairs.
The public may inspect general docket summaries for probate filings through the UJS search portal or the specialized county case database, or they can visit the main courthouse to request full case file access. The latter option may require proof of eligibility, as certain probate matters-such as adoption or mental health filings-are restricted due to privacy considerations.
Beaver County Family Court Records
In Beaver County, divorce and child custody matters are managed by the Prothonotary, while child and spousal support cases are handled by the Domestic Relations division. Meanwhile, adoption and termination of parental rights affairs fall under the purview of the Clerk of Orphans’ Court. For this reason, individuals should ensure to make in-person requests at the right department to avoid delays.
It is imperative to note that access to family law cases is highly regulated in most instances. For example, 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4352 proclaims child and spousal support files as strictly confidential, while 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2915 mandates that all adoption records remain sealed. Only the affected parties and their legal representatives are typically granted access, and they must tender evidence of identity.
Online access to basic case information is available through the statewide UJS portal, while nonconfidential cases may be viewable through the county’s subscription service.
Federal Court Records in Beaver County
Federal cases arising in Beaver County, and their associated records, fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Division, which handles civil disputes or criminal prosecutions involving federal law.
One may physically inspect or duplicate available court records at the public terminals located at the main courthouse, or submit record search requests to the clerk’s office at the address below:
Joseph F. Weis, Jr. U.S. Courthouse
700 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: (412) 208-7500
Online access to federal dockets and case files is facilitated through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. One must register on the platform and pay 10 cents a page per search, capped at $3 per document. Cumulative usage below $30 a quarter attracts a fee waiver.