Adams County, Pennsylvania State Court Records
Adams County court records are documents gathered, submitted to, or generated by the court in the course of proceedings, including civil, criminal, family, and probate cases. These records are official and constitute the county's public records. They contain all important filings with information about the claim or charge, legal actions and processes that occurred during the proceeding, and the court's decision.
Clerks of various courts process records and are also responsible for preserving them and aiding public access. Court records are often interrelated with records maintained by other public agencies, as case filings frequently contain official documents issued by these agencies. For instance, criminal cases sometimes arise from an arrest made by a law enforcement agency. The resulting case record typically contains the arrest information.
Are Adams County Court Records Public?
Yes, Adams County court records are public according to the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. Under this policy, the general public has the right to view all records maintained by court record custodians for free and only pay a nominal fee if they wish to obtain copies. However, this policy provides for the following exemptions, among others:
- Social security numbers
- Financial account numbers (the last four digits may be displayed)
- Driver license numbers
- State Identification numbers
- Minors' names and date of birth, except when they are a defendant in a criminal case
- Address and other contact information of abuse victims
- Medical/psychological records
- Financial source documents
- Certain family and probate case records, such as adoption and custody records
What Information is Available in Adams County Court Records?
The amount of information available to a researcher varies with the mode of access, with more available to in-person researchers at the clerk's office. According to the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System, Section 10.0(b), the remote court record viewing resources shall only contain the following information:
- Case party's name
- Case type
- The city, state, and ZIP code of a party's address
- Filing date
- Court orders and opinions
- Docket number
- Counsel of record's name and address
- Docket entries
Adams County Court Records Search
Adams County court records are available to requesters through any of the following methods:
Online Access
There are no county-wide online resources for all Adams County court records. To view court records online, visit the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal. Searches can be done by case participant name, attorney name, citation number, filing date, docket number, etc. Searches will return the docket sheet for the searched particular, which can be viewed or printed (for a fee).
In-Person Access
All court record clerks allow in-person record viewing at their individual offices. Depending on the court/division where a case was filed, a person may file their request with the prothonotary, clerk of courts, or any of the magisterial district court clerk's offices. Find their contact information below.
Mail and Phone Requests
While there are no over-the-phone options for requesting court records, individuals may call the clerk's office for inquiries about how to proceed with their record request, like the applicable fee. Adams County court clerks accept mail-in requests. Requirements include a self-addressed envelope, sufficient identifying information about the sought record, and the appropriate fee.
Fees for Court Records in Adams County
Under the county's public records policy, court record custodians are allowed to charge fees for duplication, printing, or photocopying of records. However, custodians are allowed to establish exact amounts themselves. Note that fees are not applicable for viewing records at the court facility. Some of the fees are as follows:
|
Agency |
Plain Copies |
Certified copies |
|---|---|---|
|
$0.25 per page ($1.00 for microfilm) |
$6.50 per certification | |
|
$12.50 per name |
N/A |
Adams County Courthouse Locations
The Adams County court system consists of the common pleas court (comprised of the civil and criminal divisions), the orphans' court, and four magisterial district courts. Their addresses and contact information are as follows:
Adams County Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
Adams County Courthouse
117 Baltimore Street, Suite 103
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9806
FAX: (717) 334-9333
Adams County Court of Common Pleas - Prothonotary (Civil)
Adams County Courthouse
117 Baltimore Street, Suite 104
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9834
Fax: (717) 334-0532
Adams County Orphans' Court
Adams County Courthouse
117 Baltimore Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9806
Fax: (717) 334-9333
Adams County Magisterial District Court 51-3-01
34 East Middle Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 334-7913
Fax: (717) 334-1262
Adams County Magisterial District Court 51-3-02
45 W Hanover St., #D, Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 334-7810
Fax: (717) 334-3226
Adams County Magisterial District Court 51-3-03
40 Church Road
East Berlin, PA 17316
Phone: (717) 624-7138
Fax: (717) 624-1201
Adams County Magisterial District Court 51-3-04
2267 Fairfield Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-3870
Fax: (717) 337-0934
Criminal Records Access in Adams County
Criminal cases in Adams County are heard in the Adams County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division. The Adams County Clerk of Court's Office files, maintains, and preserves the resulting criminal case records. All criminal court records maintained by the court clerk's office are public and can be accessed through the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal. The clerk's office also offers in-person searches through public-access computers at their office.
Certified criminal record searches are provided by the Pennsylvania State Police. Interested persons should complete the right-to-know request and submit it with their name and valid physical address by mail, email, fax, or in person to
PSP Department Headquarters
Agency Open Records Officer
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg PA 17110
By mail:
PSP Bureau of Records & Identification
ATTN: Agency Open Records Officer
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
By Email (RA-psprighttoknow@pa.gov) or Fax: (717) 525-5795
Adams County Probate Records
The Adams County Orphans' Court hears all probate matters, such as guardianships, incapacitated persons and minors, trusts, conservatorships, and estate administration. Probate court records are public under the Case Record Public Access Policy, although exemptions apply for certain records, including medical/psychological records, financial source documents, information about minors, and adoption records.
The Clerk of the Orphans' Court's Office has custody of these records and is responsible for their public availability. Records can be accessed online through the online Orphans' Court record search portal. Alternatively, a record seeker can submit a written request with a self-stamped envelope and the appropriate fee to the clerk's office.
Adams County Family Court Records
Family law cases are filed and heard at the Adams County Common Pleas Court and the associated records are public. The Prothonotary's office maintains records for all family court cases, including adoptions, divorces, domestic abuse, paternity, child custody, and alimony. Interested persons may obtain records from this office at $0.25 per plain page plus an additional $6.50 for certification (if needed). Microfilmed records are $1.00 per page. Submit a record request with adequate description of the sought record, a self-stamped envelope, and the appropriate fee to
Beverly Boyd, Prothonotary
Adams County Courthouse
117 Baltimore Street,
Room 104
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9834
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday
Federal Court Records in Adams County
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania presides over federal law matters from Adams County. Federal court records are documents pertaining to cases handled under federal law, such as immigration-related cases, bankruptcy cases, interstate drug trafficking, tax evasion, and human trafficking.
To look up a federal court record, visit the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) and perform a search using a case participant's name. Records cost $0.10 per page. A maximum of $3.00 is charged for any single document and individuals who spend $30.00 or less within a given quarter may qualify for a fee waiver.
