Fayette County Court of Common Pleas

Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Overview

Pennsylvania's trial courts are Courts of Common Pleas, and Fayette County is the Fourteenth Judicial District. The Court of Common Pleas handles major civil actions, criminal felony and misdemeanor cases, family matters, appeals from minor courts, and Orphans' Court matters through its divisions and related row offices.

The county's Court of Common Pleas landing page is fayettecountypa.org/302/Court-of-Common-Pleas. The Judges / Court of Common Pleas address is 61 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401; phone 724-430-1230; fax 724-430-1001. Court Administration is described by the county at fayettecountypa.org/304/Administrative-Office-of-Fayette-County-.

Fayette County Court Offices and Judges

Common Pleas records are not all kept by one counter. The correct access point depends on whether the matter is civil/family, criminal, Orphans' Court, domestic relations, juvenile, or specialty court related.

Court of Common Pleas vs. Magisterial District Courts

Fayette County's Pennsylvania structure does not use county courts or justice of the peace courts for ordinary local trial work. Common Pleas is the general trial court, while Magisterial District Courts are the lower courts for traffic, summary criminal, preliminary criminal, landlord-tenant, and smaller civil matters.

How a Case Moves Through the Fayette County System

Different case types follow different record paths. A civil case may begin as a complaint in the Prothonotary office, while a criminal case may start with a Magisterial District Court proceeding and move to Common Pleas after charges are held for court. Summary appeals, license-related appeals, and some traffic-related matters can also move from lower courts into Common Pleas.

Criminal flow: Police charge or arrest › Magisterial District Court preliminary stage › Case held for court › Clerk of Courts criminal docket › Arraignment or plea/trial proceedings › Sentencing › Appeal or post-sentence activity.

Civil flow: Complaint or petition filed with Prothonotary › Service and response › Motions or discovery › Court event or settlement activity › Trial or order › Judgment, enforcement, or appeal.

Probate flow: Estate appointment with Register of Wills › Will or administration filing › Letters or short certificate › Inventory, claims, receipts, releases, or Orphans' Court petitions as needed.

Civil, Family, Criminal, and Orphans' Court Records

Civil and family filings are maintained by the Prothonotary at 61 East Main Street, 1st Floor, Uniontown, PA 15401; phone 724-430-1272. Criminal filings are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the same courthouse floor; phone 724-430-1253. Probate, estates, guardianships, adoptions, and marriage licenses are handled by the Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court; phone 724-430-1206.

For docket searching, Pennsylvania UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/casesearch covers public docket sheets for appellate courts, Courts of Common Pleas, and Magisterial District Courts. Select County = Fayette to narrow local results. Public Calendar Schedule can show scheduled case events in Criminal Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts.

Fourteenth Judicial District and Specialty Courts

Fayette County is the Fourteenth Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The county identifies three specialty courts: Drug Treatment Court, Behavioral Treatment Court, and Veterans Treatment Court. The specialty-court office appears in the county directory at 61 East Main Street, 3rd Floor, Uniontown, PA 15401; phone 724-430-4021; fax 724-430-1001.

The county page states that these specialty courts were created through the initiative of retired Common Pleas Judges Hon. Conrad B. Capuzzi and Hon. Gerald R. Solomon, with continuing guidance from President Judge Hon. John F. Wagner Jr. Research did not locate official eligibility details, length, graduation rates, or participant counts, so program-specific eligibility should be confirmed with the court before relying on informal descriptions.

Magisterial District Courts and Lower-Court Contacts

Fayette County's lower courts are Magisterial District Courts. They handle traffic citations, summary offenses, preliminary arraignments, preliminary hearings, landlord-tenant cases, and smaller civil matters. The county directory page is fayettecountypa.org/474/Magisterial-District-Judges.

The Court of Common Pleas page states the county has seven magisterial district judges, but the research return identified six named entries. Use the official MDJ directory for the current full roster before contacting a specific office.

When a case moves from a Magisterial District Court to Common Pleas, the record path changes. A traffic or summary docket may remain with the issuing MDJ unless appealed. A criminal case held for court becomes a Clerk of Courts record in Common Pleas. A landlord-tenant or smaller civil case may remain at the lower-court level unless an appeal is filed. Confirm the current court level before requesting copies or appearing at the courthouse.

In-Person Court Access in Uniontown

Most Court of Common Pleas record questions lead to the courthouse at 61 East Main Street in Uniontown, but visitors should identify the office before arriving. Judges and Court Administration handle court operations and scheduling context. The Prothonotary handles civil, family, divorce, lien, and judgment records. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal records. The Register of Wills / Clerk of Orphans' Court handles estates, wills, marriage licenses, and Orphans' Court filings.

Bring the docket number, party names, filing year, and document title when requesting a file. For certified copies, confirm the fee, payment method, and whether the record is sealed, archived, or available through public terminals. Court staff can explain office procedures, but they cannot give legal advice or change access restrictions set by statute, court policy, or judge's order.