Search Lebanon County Court Records
The main public route for Lebanon County court records is Pennsylvania UJS Case Search. It is a free statewide docket service for many Court of Common Pleas, Magisterial District Court, appellate, traffic, and criminal matters. UJS warns that recent entries may not appear at once, and public docket sheets are not the same as a Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history check.
Civil, family, protection from abuse, judgment, lien, and some Orphans' Court records also route through the county's CountySuite civil case search. The research snapshot found that official portal returning a 502 error, so the practical fallback is the Prothonotary, Register of Wills, UJS Case Search, or an in-person counter search. The Lebanon County official site remains the starting point for local office pages, forms, parking, and phone directory details.
- Open UJS Case Search and choose a search type such as docket number, participant name, citation number, OTN, incident number, or date filed.
- For local cases, narrow the county filter to Lebanon or the judicial district filter to Lebanon, 52.
- Open the docket sheet and review the case status, parties, events, charges, bail, disposition, financials, and docket entries.
- For civil or family case files, check CountySuite or contact the Prothonotary in Room 104 if the online record is not enough.
- For certified copies, older probate indexes, sealed-record questions, or full file review, contact the office that holds that record type.
The county phone directory is useful when the online docket identifies a room, court office, or county department but not the full copy process.
The Lebanon County home page is one official source for office links, public apps, and county records pages.
That county site connects local users to the court system, clerks, sheriff, prison, Register of Wills, and county forms that support records access.
Lebanon County Court Offices
Lebanon County court records are unusually concentrated in one public building. Court Administration, the Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court, Sheriff's Office, District Attorney, PFA office, Law Library, Domestic Relations, and Commissioners all operate from the Lebanon County Municipal Building at 400 South 8th Street. This matters because several record searches start online but end with a room-specific request.
Court Administration in Room 311 supports the Court of Common Pleas, judges, jury management, scheduling, budget, personnel, the 10 percent bail program, ADA forms, interpreter forms, and public liaison work. The Prothonotary in Room 104 handles civil, family, PFA, judgments, and liens. The Clerk of Courts in Room 102 handles criminal and juvenile Common Pleas filings. The Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court in Room 105 handles probate, estates, guardianships, adoptions, inheritance-tax collection, and marriage licenses.
Court Administration
Room 311, 400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
717-228-4440
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Prothonotary
Room 104, 400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
717-228-4418
Civil, family, PFA, judgments, liens.
Clerk of Courts
Room 102, 400 South 8th Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
717-228-4419
Criminal and juvenile filings.
The Lebanon County contact directory lists court offices, district judges, prison, District Attorney, Public Defender, city offices, and related services.
The directory is a good fallback when a docket search shows which county office holds the file but the public portal does not provide copy instructions.
Lebanon County Court System
Pennsylvania uses a unified judicial system. Lebanon County's general trial court is the Court of Common Pleas, 52nd Judicial District. It handles felony criminal cases, major civil cases, divorce, custody, PFA matters, juvenile cases, Orphans' Court proceedings, and appeals from Magisterial District Courts. The lower courts in Lebanon County are Magisterial District Courts, which handle traffic citations, summary offenses, landlord-tenant cases, small civil claims, preliminary arraignments, and preliminary hearings.
Appeals from local trial courts move to the Superior Court or Commonwealth Court, depending on case type, with discretionary review by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The federal court path is separate. Lebanon County sits in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, with practical federal access through Harrisburg, Scranton, Williamsport, Wilkes-Barre, PACER, and CM/ECF.
| Court or office | Local role | Common record types |
|---|---|---|
| Court of Common Pleas | General trial court for Judicial District 52 | Felony, major civil, family, juvenile, appeals, Orphans' Court matters |
| Magisterial District Courts | Lower trial courts and first criminal contact point | Traffic, summary, landlord-tenant, small civil, preliminary hearings |
| Prothonotary | Civil and family filing office | Civil actions, divorce, custody, PFA, judgments, liens |
| Clerk of Courts | Criminal and juvenile filing office | Criminal dockets, charges, juvenile filings where public access is allowed |
| Register and Orphans' Court | Probate and marriage office | Estates, wills, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses |
Case flow: Magisterial District Court starts many traffic, summary, and preliminary criminal matters; qualifying criminal cases move to the Court of Common Pleas; appeals then route to Pennsylvania appellate courts.
The Pennsylvania courts overview describes the state court hierarchy used by Lebanon County.
That hierarchy explains why the same Lebanon County case can appear first at the MDJ level, then later under a Common Pleas docket number.
Lebanon County Court Record Types
Lebanon County court records are not all held by one clerk. Civil complaints, answers, motions, orders, judgments, liens, arbitration appeals, MDJ civil appeals, writs, subpoenas, praecipes, and discontinuance papers route through the Prothonotary. Family records include divorce, custody, support-related filings, prior-name election forms, and confidential information sheets when required by court policy.
Criminal records are filed with the Clerk of Courts after a case reaches the Court of Common Pleas. Public docket sheets can show charges, bail, events, dispositions, sentences, counsel, and entries unless a record is sealed, expunged, juvenile, or limited access. Traffic records are usually Magisterial District Court records, while probate and marriage records route through the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court.
- Civil and family records: Prothonotary files, including divorce, custody, PFA, judgments, and liens.
- Criminal records: Clerk of Courts files with charges, counsel, bail, hearings, disposition, and sentence details.
- Traffic records: MDJ citations, PAePay payment records, and UJS traffic docket sheets.
- Probate records: Orphans' Court files for estates, wills, guardianships, adoptions, and inheritance-tax matters.
- Marriage records: Register of Wills license records and certified copies.
The UJS learning page gives statewide background on Common Pleas courts and the work they do.
For Lebanon County searches, that statewide context helps separate Common Pleas records from MDJ citations and other lower-court matters.
Lebanon County Court Record Fields
A Lebanon County docket sheet can be a short case summary or a detailed record of every public entry. Common Pleas criminal examples use docket numbers such as CP-38-CR-0000430-2023. The CP marker identifies Common Pleas, 38 identifies Lebanon County, CR identifies a criminal case, and the final segment is the year. MDJ traffic examples use formats such as MJ-52303-TR-0002858-2025.
Public docket fields vary by case type. A criminal docket can include court name, division, docket number, judge, OTN, issuing authority, arresting agency, complaint or citation number, township, parties, counsel, bail, charges, calendar events, disposition, sentence, and docket entries. Civil and family files show different parties, pleadings, orders, judgments, and filings.
| Field | What it may show |
|---|---|
| Docket number | The court, county, case category, sequence, and year. |
| Parties | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent, Commonwealth, or counsel names. |
| Events | Arraignment, preliminary hearing, call of the list, motions, trial, sentencing, or continuance entries. |
| Charges or claims | Statute, grade, offense date, claim type, or civil filing type. |
| Disposition | Outcome, plea, dismissal, sentence, judgment, or final order. |
- Disposition
- The outcome of a charge, claim, or case.
- OTN
- An offense tracking number used in Pennsylvania criminal records.
- Information
- A formal criminal charging document filed by the Commonwealth in Common Pleas.
- Impounded
- A file or filing that is restricted by court order.
Lebanon County Public Access Rules
Lebanon County court records access starts with the court custodian and the Pennsylvania court access rules. The UJS public records page points users to free public docket sheets and court data. The UJS public-record policies page links the Case Records Public Access Policy, Rule 509 materials, request forms, and FAQs.
Agency records are different. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law can help with sheriff, prison, District Attorney administrative, and county agency records. It is not the first route for docket sheets or filed case documents. Those court records are governed by court policy, not by a private database or a general background-search site.
Access references: Pennsylvania Case Records Public Access Policy governs trial and appellate case records. 204 Pa. Code section 213.81 links the statewide court policy. The Right-to-Know Law covers many agency records. The Criminal History Record Information Act notice on UJS warns that docket sheets are not criminal-history background checks.
The UJS Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas page identifies the county court within the statewide system.
That UJS page is useful when a user needs the official statewide profile for the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas rather than a single county department page.
Restricted Lebanon County Court Records
Some Lebanon County court records are public in part but restricted in detail. Juvenile matters are filed by the Clerk of Courts but are public only where the law allows. Adoption records since 1954 are sealed and cannot be opened without a court order. PFA and family files may contain confidential addresses, minor information, safety details, or sealed documents.
UJS policy requires confidential information and confidential documents to be filed in a way that keeps sensitive details out of the public record. Social Security numbers, financial-account numbers, minor information, victim information, mental-health or incapacity details, and sealed entries can be redacted or withheld. Expungement and limited access are also distinct. Expungement removes or destroys eligible record access more completely, while limited access hides eligible records from public view but leaves access for courts and criminal justice agencies.
Note: A private background-search result is not proof that a Lebanon County record remains public after sealing or expungement.
Lebanon County Criminal Charges
Criminal cases may start with a summons or warrant, followed by preliminary arraignment before a Magisterial District Judge. The Public Defender page explains that the judge advises the defendant of charges and sets bail. At preliminary hearing, the Commonwealth presents evidence. If enough evidence exists, the case moves to Common Pleas, where formal arraignment, call of the list, trial, plea, disposition, and sentencing can follow.
The District Attorney is Pier Hess Graf. The office handles criminal prosecution, detectives, victim witness work, ARD, DUI Court, Veterans Court, consumer protection, and public safety programs. The Public Defender represents eligible defendants in qualifying criminal matters, with application proof such as pay stubs, disability or retirement statements, unemployment documents, assistance statements, and child-support orders.
| Stage | Record clue | Office or system |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary arraignment | Charges, bail, issuing authority | MDJ and UJS |
| Information filed | Formal Common Pleas charges | Clerk of Courts |
| Call of the list | Trial readiness or plea setting | Common Pleas docket |
| Disposition | Guilty plea, dismissal, verdict, sentence | UJS and Clerk of Courts |
Lebanon County Warrants and Jail
The Sheriff's Office in Room 3 lists bench warrants and criminal warrants among its court-related services. Sheriff Jeffrie C. Marley Jr. is an officer of the courts, and the office also handles subpoenas, court security, prisoner transport, PFAs, civil process, extraditions, real estate sales, and assistance to local, state, and federal agents. No public county active-warrant search list was located in the inspected official web text, so warrant checks should use the sheriff, issuing court, UJS docket entries, and MDJ offices.
Lebanon County Correctional Facility is at 730 East Walnut Street. It houses pretrial detainees who cannot post bail, county-sentenced inmates under two years, certain longer county sentences at judge discretion, probation or parole violators, and short-term state or federal inmates appearing locally. No official county jail roster was located on the county site. Custody checks use the facility phone, Pennsylvania VINE, UJS docket clues, and the Pennsylvania DOC locator for state-sentenced inmates or parolees.
The full custody pathway is covered in Lebanon County inmate records, while warrant verification and bench-warrant clues are covered in Lebanon County warrant records.
Lebanon County Marriage Probate Records
Marriage licenses and marriage records are handled by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court in Room 105. Couples must call for an appointment, and virtual appointments remain available for illness, handicap, or hardship. The office accepts cash and check according to the current county page. Certified marriage license copies and search requests use the fees published by the Register office.
Probate records use Orphans' Court terminology in Lebanon County. The Register handles wills, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and inheritance-tax collection. Orphans' Court records are computerized from 1976 forward, while older records require index searches. Adoption records are on file since 1926, but adoptions since 1954 are sealed and need a court order to open.
| Record | Office | Key access point |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license copy | Register of Wills | Room 105, marriage line 717-228-4414 |
| Divorce decree | Prothonotary | Room 104, civil and family files |
| Estate or will record | Clerk of Orphans' Court | Room 105, computerized from 1976 forward |
| Adoption record | Orphans' Court | Sealed since 1954 unless court order allows access |
Lebanon County Traffic Records
Traffic citations in Lebanon County are usually Magisterial District Court records unless a DUI or other serious offense moves into Common Pleas. UJS Case Search can show traffic dockets. PAePay handles eligible traffic ticket, court cost, fine, restitution, summary, non-traffic, and criminal payment-plan searches.
A court traffic record is not the same as a PennDOT driver record. The court record shows citation number, docket, charge, statute, plea or payment status, court date, disposition, fine or cost, and possible failure-to-appear or warrant clues. A PennDOT driver record shows license status, points, suspensions, convictions or actions reported to PennDOT, and driver-history products. Use PennDOT driver-record services or the Individual Driver Records application for the state driver file.
Traffic payment caution: UJS help says paying an eligible traffic citation online may require a guilty plea, so contesting a citation should start with the issuing MDJ court.
Lebanon County Court Fees
Copy and filing fees depend on the office and record type. The Register of Wills and Orphans' Court publishes specific search and copy amounts. The Prothonotary links current 2025-2027 civil and family fee schedules, while the Clerk of Courts links a criminal fee schedule. Users filing a new case should confirm the current PDF before quoting a filing fee because court costs can change by case type.
| Office | Item | Amount or note |
|---|---|---|
| Register and Orphans' Court | Search request | $10.00 |
| Register and Orphans' Court | Marriage license certified copy | $10.00 |
| Register and Orphans' Court | Non-certified copy, 8.5 x 11 | $0.50 per page |
| Register and Orphans' Court | Non-certified copy, 8.5 x 14 | $1.00 per page |
| Probation Collections | PAePay transaction note | County page cites a non-refundable $2.75 online convenience fee |
Lebanon County Court History
Lebanon County was formed on February 16, 1813 from Dauphin and Lancaster counties. The county name traces to old Lebanon Township, created in 1729, and the county seat dates from 1740. The current county court center is the County-City Municipal Building, where courthouse artifacts donated by John and Marie Wengert have been honored.
The modern Court Administration office was created in 1974 to reduce administrative burdens on Common Pleas judges. It now coordinates personnel, budgets, jury management, scheduling, 10 percent bail applications, public relations, and liaison functions. Current public access also reflects newer tools, including UJS Case Search, PAePay, CountySuite links, a 2023 civil search guide, 2025-2027 Prothonotary fee schedules, and the Sheriff's Teleosoft portal for services received as of December 18, 2024.
The Lebanon County history page gives local background on the county and its courthouse artifacts.
That local history helps place the modern Municipal Building within the county's long-running public record and court administration role.
Lebanon County Court Context
Lebanon County's 2025 estimated population is 146,380, with 361.84 square miles of land area and 2020 density of 395.9 people per square mile. The 2020-2024 Census figures noted 22.2 percent under age 18, 21.1 percent age 65 or older, 8,552 veterans, median household income of $78,425, and mean travel time to work of 22.1 minutes. Those figures help explain why court access must support walk-in records, online searches, interpreters, ADA forms, and multiple district judge offices.
The Census QuickFacts page for Lebanon County supplies local population, land area, and demographic context.
Population and travel-time data are not court records, but they frame the need for both online docket tools and in-person counter access.
Lebanon County Court Records FAQ
Where do Lebanon County court records searches start? Most docket searches start with UJS Case Search. Civil, family, PFA, judgment, lien, and some Orphans' Court records may also require CountySuite or the Prothonotary, Register, or Clerk counter.
Does Lebanon County have one clerk for all court records? No. The Prothonotary handles civil and family Common Pleas files, the Clerk of Courts handles criminal and juvenile filings, and the Register of Wills is also Clerk of Orphans' Court for probate and marriage matters.
Can online docket sheets replace certified copies? No. Online docket sheets help identify case details, but certified copies must come from the office that holds the file.
Are juvenile and adoption records public? Juvenile records are restricted unless law allows access. Adoption records since 1954 are sealed and cannot be opened without a court order.
How are Lebanon County warrants checked? Use the Sheriff's Office, UJS docket entries, the issuing Magisterial District Court, Clerk of Courts entries, or Probation Collections depending on the warrant type. No official county active-warrant list was found in the inspected sources.
Does the county publish a jail roster? No official Lebanon County jail roster was located on the county site during research. LCCF, VINE, UJS, and the Pennsylvania DOC locator provide different custody or case channels.