Court records of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary office and are accessible through online tools, official court portals, and directly at the court office. WestmorelandCourt.us will help find public information about court records in this county. Additional access points include the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal, the Clerk of Courts office in Greensburg, and the public record search page on the county's official website.
Westmoreland Court System Overview
Westmoreland County belongs to the 10th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, which exclusively serves this county. The Court of Common Pleas — a court of general jurisdiction — handles criminal, civil, family, and probate cases. The county's administrative judge coordinates the work of the Court of Common Pleas judges and magisterial district judges.
Magisterial District Courts serve as courts of first instance for minor cases, traffic violations, and preliminary hearings in criminal proceedings. Their decisions can be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas.
Westmoreland County Courthouse
Courts Serving Westmoreland
Residents of the county are served by several courts at the state and federal levels.
State Courts
Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas
Magisterial District Courts — the county has several magisterial district courts located in various municipalities. Contact information for a specific court can be found through the Case Lookup page or on the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal.
Federal Courts
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Westmoreland County falls under the jurisdiction of the Western District of Pennsylvania. Bankruptcy cases are heard by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania at the same address.
What Types of Cases Westmoreland Courts Hear
The courts serving the county hear a wide range of cases. Here are the main categories:
- Criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, infractions
- Civil cases: claims of any amount, small claims
- Family law: divorce, custody, support, protective orders, paternity establishment
- Probate cases: estate administration, guardianship, conservatorship
- Juvenile cases: juvenile offenses, child protection cases, adoptions
- Traffic violations and DUI
A detailed distribution between court levels is described below.
District Court Cases in Westmoreland
The Court of Common Pleas functions as the main court of general jurisdiction. Serious criminal cases reach here after a preliminary hearing in the magistrate court — if the judge finds sufficient evidence for bindover. Civil claims exceeding the jurisdictional limit of the magistrate court are filed directly with the Prothonotary.
The case is assigned to a specific judge. Appeals from magistrate court decisions are also heard by the Court of Common Pleas — effectively a new trial (de novo). Additionally, the court handles post-conviction proceedings, including motions under the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA). Documents can be filed through the Prothonotary e-filing system.
Magistrate Court Cases in Westmoreland
Magisterial district courts are the first stop for most people encountering the court system. They handle:
- Misdemeanors and infractions
- Preliminary hearings in felony cases
- Civil claims up to $12,000
- Small claims up to $12,000
- Traffic violations
- Initial hearings in DUI cases
According to Pennsylvania law, the jurisdictional limit for civil cases in magistrate courts is $12,000. Some magistrates in the county specialize in certain types of cases due to high caseloads — for example, handling only traffic violations or only criminal preliminary hearings.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Westmoreland
Family Law
Divorce, child custody, support, protective orders (PFA), and paternity establishment cases are handled by the Family Law Division of the Court of Common Pleas. Instructions on obtaining a copy of a divorce decree are available on the county's website. Civil and family records filed through the Prothonotary can be viewed in the iJEMS system — note that divorce and custody cases from 2018 are currently unavailable online.
Probate Cases
Estates, guardianship of incapacitated persons, and trust matters are handled by the Orphans' Court Division within the Court of Common Pleas. The Register of Wills accepts applications for estate opening. Probate records are available through the public records section.
Juvenile Matters
Juvenile offenses and child protection cases are handled by a separate division of the Court of Common Pleas. Juvenile case records are confidential under Pennsylvania law and are not subject to public access.
How Cases Move Through the Westmoreland Court System
- Case Initiation: a criminal complaint is filed through the magistrate court; a civil claim — through the Prothonotary; a family petition — through the appropriate division.
- Judge Assignment: after registration, the case is assigned to a specific judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
- Initial Hearings: in criminal cases — arraignment; in civil cases — scheduling conference.
- Pretrial Phase: parties exchange evidence (discovery), file motions; in criminal cases, plea negotiations may occur.
- Trial or Resolution: trial, plea, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: sentencing, appeal to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, enforcement of judgment. The county sheriff's office is responsible for serving civil process and executing court orders.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Westmoreland
The administrative judge of the 10th Judicial District and the court administrator coordinate the daily operations of the Court of Common Pleas and magistrate courts. To contact court administration, call (724) 830-3000.
Local court rules are published on the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal. These rules govern filing deadlines, motion formats, and hearing scheduling procedures.
Public Access to Records
Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (Act 3 of 2008), most court records are public. However, there are exceptions:
- Juvenile cases — confidential
- Some family cases (custody, divorce) have limited online access
- Records sealed by court order
The electronic access policy for court records is determined by the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. To submit a request for open county records, use the Open Records Request form or mail a request to the Open Records Officer, 2 N Main Street, Suite 103, Greensburg, PA 15601.
Hearings are generally open to the public. Visitors may appear in person at the Courthouse. Information on remote participation should be clarified with court administration.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Westmoreland
- Court Case Search: the Case Lookup page allows searching for civil and criminal cases. For statewide search, use the Pennsylvania Judiciary web portal — the PAeDocket® app provides quick search by case number or participant name.
- Prothonotary Records: the iJEMS system provides 24/7 access to civil and family records filed through the Prothonotary.
- Clerk of Courts: the Clerk of Courts office maintains registers and dockets of the Court of Common Pleas, including criminal cases.
- Property Records and Deeds: the Recorder of Deeds offers online search of recorded documents. Property tax assessment is available through Real Property Search.
- Criminal History Check: the PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) system, administered by the Pennsylvania State Police, allows obtaining a criminal background check.
- County Inmate Search: the current inmates search of Westmoreland County Prison complies with the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA). Information on charges and bail can be found through docket sheet search on the Unified Judicial System portal.
- State Inmate Search: the Inmate Locator of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections allows finding state-level inmates and parolees.
- County Public Records: the general records page consolidates access to vital records, civil and criminal cases, property deeds, marriage licenses, and other documents.
- State Office of Open Records: the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles appeals on denials of public document requests.