Montgomery County Criminal Court Records Search
Montgomery County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Norristown. With a population nearing 860,000, Montgomery County is one of Pennsylvania's most populous counties and one of the busiest in the 38th Judicial District. The Clerk of Courts office manages a high volume of criminal filings and provides public access to docket information both in person and through the state's online portal. This page explains your options for searching Montgomery County criminal records, requesting certified documents, and understanding how the court system processes criminal cases in this county.
Montgomery County Quick Facts
Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Criminal Division
The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts is located at the Court House, 2 E. Airy Street in Norristown. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and can be reached at (610) 278-3346. Staff handle criminal case filings, maintain the official case record, process requests for certified copies, and issue subpoenas for criminal cases in the Court of Common Pleas. The office also maintains information pages on Clean Slate and expungement procedures for the public.
Montgomery County provides criminal case information through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal, but that portal access does not constitute an official background check. For certified criminal history documents, requestors must contact the Clerk of Courts directly or use the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system. The office can certify docket sheets, court orders, and other criminal case documents. Not all records can be certified. Some documents may be sealed by court order or restricted under privacy laws, and these are not available for public release.
| Clerk of Courts |
Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Court House, 2 E. Airy Street Norristown, PA 19404 Phone: (610) 278-3346 |
|---|---|
| Court of Common Pleas |
2 E. Airy Street, Norristown, PA 19404 Phone: (610) 278-3000 |
| Prothonotary | Phone: (610) 278-3341 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Court Records Website | montgomerycountypa.gov |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
Note: The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts issues subpoenas for criminal cases in the Court of Common Pleas. The office handles both criminal filings and post-conviction record requests from the public and from legal counsel.
Montgomery County Criminal Docket Search Options
Two online resources give you access to Montgomery County criminal case information. The first is the Montgomery County Court Records and Filings page at montgomerycountypa.gov. This county-run resource provides information about how to access court records and what services the Clerk of Courts offers. The second is the statewide UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, which lets you search criminal docket sheets by name, docket number, or date of birth.
The UJS Portal covers both the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts for Montgomery County. Results include the charges, court dates, bail status, and case outcomes. Docket sheets are available at no cost. For any legal purpose requiring official documentation, you need a certified copy from the Clerk of Courts, not a printout from the portal. The portal provides informational access only and is not an official background check under any Pennsylvania statute.
Certified Montgomery County Criminal Records
Certified criminal records from Montgomery County carry the official seal of the court and are accepted by other courts, agencies, and legal proceedings as official proof of a case outcome. The Clerk of Courts at 2 E. Airy Street in Norristown prepares certified docket sheets and court orders upon request. You can request certified records in person, by mail, or by submitting a written request to the office. Include the case number or the name of the defendant and the approximate year of the case.
Copy fees apply to all certified records. The Clerk's office can provide the current fee schedule by phone at (610) 278-3346. Some records cannot be certified because they have been sealed by court order or restricted under state privacy law. If a record you need is sealed, the clerk will advise you on any available alternatives. Cases that were expunged are removed from the system entirely and cannot be retrieved.
For a statewide criminal history report, use the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov. The fee is $22, and the report draws from the Pennsylvania criminal history database maintained under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183.
Note: PATCH reports and certified court records serve different purposes. A PATCH report shows statewide criminal history. A certified court record shows the official disposition of a specific case in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Expungements and Clean Slate Records
The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts maintains information pages on Clean Slate and expungement procedures. Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Act at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 provides for automatic sealing of eligible records. Misdemeanor convictions where the person has remained conviction-free for ten years are sealed without any court filing. Summary offense convictions are sealed after five conviction-free years. The sealing happens automatically through the court system and requires no action by the individual.
Petition-based sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 gives individuals a way to ask the court to seal records not covered by automatic sealing. Petitions are filed with the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. If the court grants the petition, the sealing order goes to the State Police and other record-holding agencies. Full expungements, which destroy the record, are available for dismissals, acquittals, and other specific circumstances set out in Pennsylvania law. The Pennsylvania Courts website has general information about both programs.
Public Access to Montgomery County Criminal Court Records
Pennsylvania's court public access rules are set out in Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509 and the statewide Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. Most criminal docket information is accessible to anyone, without requiring any showing of need or interest. The right to access public court records in Montgomery County extends to all members of the public.
Certain categories of records are restricted. Juvenile case files are not public. Mental health court materials and cases involving minor victims may be sealed or have restricted portions. Wiretap materials and certain grand jury records are also shielded from public release. If a record you are looking for is restricted, the Clerk of Courts can explain the restriction and identify any process for seeking access.
For general Pennsylvania open records questions, the Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov can assist. For court records specifically, the court's own public access rules apply rather than the Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County borders several large counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense occurred. Check the links below to find records in neighboring counties.