pennsylvania public records search guide and FAQs

What can you find?

A Pennsylvania records request can surface court dockets, property deeds, business filings, professional licenses, and certain criminal and incarceration data. Vital records such as birth and death certificates exist, but access is limited by law and eligibility.

How to start

Begin with the agency that maintains the data: county recorder for land records, the Unified Judicial System for docket sheets, the Department of State for businesses, and the Department of Corrections for inmate lookups. Many offices offer online indexes; others require a written request under the Right-to-Know Law.

Tips and expectations

• Have names, dates, addresses, and case numbers ready to narrow results.
• Expect fees for copies, certification, or extensive staff time.
• Processing can take days to weeks, depending on the office and scope.
• Privacy rules restrict juvenile, sealed, and certain personal data.
• Verify results; similar names can cause mistaken matches.

Common questions

Is a search statewide? Not always; many records are county-based. Can I use results legally? They’re informational; consult an attorney for official use. Need bulk data? Request datasets from the publishing agency or the state’s open data portals.