Cambria Court Records: Free Online Search & Docket Lookup

Cambria Court Records are official judicial documents filed with the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas and the county’s six Magisterial District Courts under Pennsylvania’s 67th Judicial District. Anyone needing a Cambria County court records search can begin at the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System’s Web Docket Sheets portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, delivering free, around-the-clock docket lookup without creating a user account. This entry point functions as the official Cambria court record access portal for civil, criminal, family, and orphans’ court dockets. Searchers seeking Cambria public court records can enter a party name, docket number, or attorney bar ID, with new filings appearing in real time as clerks update entries. The portal indexes Cambria County courthouse records across all case divisions, so researchers can pull docket information from Johnstown, Ebensburg, Carrolltown, Nanty Glo, and Patton without traveling. Anyone learning how to find Cambria court records through this channel runs a free Cambria County court case search against the same primary-source dockets courts rely on internally.

Cambria Court Records extend beyond simple docket viewing, covering complaints, motions, orders, and final dispositions for every division within the county judiciary. Visitors preferring in-person review can travel to the Cambria County Courthouse at 200 South Center Street in Ebensburg, where the Prothonotary handles civil filings and the Clerk of Courts maintains criminal dockets. Both offices accept walk-in requests during business hours and fulfill mail-in certified copy orders for a small statutory fee. Researchers performing a Cambria court docket lookup through these offices receive the same case history shown online, plus access to physical exhibits and original signatures. Anyone needing to search Cambria court records online for free can stick to the state portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Those needing certified versions rely on the courthouse custodians instead. Sealed matters, juvenile dependency files, and adoption records remain restricted from public view under Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Act and the Judicial Code’s confidentiality provisions. The Cambria judicial records search works smoothly when users know the party name and approximate filing year, narrowing thousands of active and archived cases. Every Cambria court documents online pathway leads back to the same custodian in Ebensburg, guaranteeing authenticity and chain-of-custody integrity for legal professionals and the public.

What Are Cambria Court Records?

Cambria court records are the official dockets, filings, orders, and dispositions of every civil, criminal, family, and probate case handled by the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas and the county’s Magisterial District Courts under the 67th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Each entry on a Cambria docket gives a chronological trail of filings, hearings, motions, and final orders issued in a specific case.

Definition and Legal Basis

Three Pennsylvania laws define how Cambria court records work. The Pennsylvania Judicial Code (42 Pa.C.S.) sets court procedures and filing rules. The Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101) lets the public request government records. The Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System, found at 204 Pa. Code §§ 213.81–213.88, lists which court records the public can see and which stay sealed.

Information Found in a Cambria Court Record

• Case caption with party names
• Docket number (such as CR-20XX-XXXX)
• Filing dates and event history
• Attorney of record
• Judge assigned to the case
• Dispositional order, verdict, or sentence
• Court schedule and hearing notes

Records Not Open to the Public

• Sealed or expunged records (post-2018 PA Clean Slate)
• Juvenile delinquency records (confidential)
• Adoption and paternity filings
• Mental health commitment records
• Grand jury materials and active investigations

Cambria County Court System: Structure & Jurisdictions

Cambria County runs a two-tier local judiciary under the Pennsylvania Constitution. Six Magisterial District Courts handle summary offenses and small civil claims. The Court of Common Pleas in Ebensburg hears all felonies, major civil cases, family law, and orphans’ court matters for the 67th Judicial District. Each tier keeps its own set of dockets, and each court uses its own office of record.

Court of Common Pleas Divisions

• Civil Division — handled by the Prothonotary
• Criminal Division — handled by the Clerk of Courts
• Family Division
• Orphans’ Court and Probate

Magisterial District Courts Serving Cambria County

The Magisterial District Courts preside over summary criminal cases (traffic, retail theft under $200, disorderly conduct) and civil claims up to $12,000. Any appeal of an MDJ ruling moves up to the Court of Common Pleas as a Summary Appeal under the SU docket.

How to Search Cambria Court Records Online (UJS Portal)

Cambria court records stay searchable through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Docket Sheets at ujsportal.pacourts.us. The portal gives free, 24/7 access to public docket entries for Court of Common Pleas cases and does not need a user account. Magisterial District Court dockets also appear on the same portal under the MDJ search option.

Step-by-Step UJS Web Docket Sheets Search

1. Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us
2. Click “Web Docket Sheets” in the Public Records menu
3. Pick “Cambria County” from the county dropdown
4. Select the docket type (Civil, Criminal, Family, Orphans’ Court, or MDJ)
5. Enter the search criterion — name, case number, or participant ID
6. Review results and click the docket number for the full event history
7. Download or print without paying a viewing fee

Cambria Court Record Search by Name

Name searches return results across all active and closed cases for that party. Adding a middle initial or a date range narrows the results when common names are involved.

Name Search Fields

• Last name (required)
• First name (recommended for accuracy)
• Middle initial (optional, helps narrow results)
• Date range filter (optional)

Search by Docket Number

A docket number search returns a single case directly. Use this approach when the caller or attorney gave you the exact docket identifier at intake.

Cambria County Docket Number Prefixes

UJS Portal vs. Third-Party Aggregator Sites

For a name search, the UJS portal remains the safest source because data flows directly from clerks to the docket display. Third-party sites sometimes index older or stale dockets and charge a fee for what the public portal already shows for free.

Cambria County Courthouse & In-Person Records Access

The Cambria County Courthouse at 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931 houses the Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, and Register of Wills offices. In-person record searches and certified copy requests get processed during business hours, normally 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Visitors who need certified or exemplified copies go to the office that handles the case type.

Cambria County Courthouse Address

Cambria County Courthouse
200 South Center Street
Ebensburg, PA 15931
Phone: (814) 472-5440

Prothonotary of Cambria County (Civil Records)

The Prothonotary keeps all civil court records for Cambria County. The office handles civil filings, family court filings, and orphans’ court documents at the Ebensburg courthouse. Researchers seeking civil case dockets, judgments, or liens start here.

Clerk of Courts of Cambria County (Criminal Records)

The Clerk of Courts keeps criminal court records. The office handles felony dockets, criminal motions, and sentence documents for cases that move through the Court of Common Pleas. Summary appeals from Magisterial District Courts also get filed and indexed by this office.

Register of Wills / Orphans’ Court Clerk

The Register of Wills handles probate matters, estate filings, and marriage licenses. Orphans’ Court records include wills, petitions, and fiduciary accountings tied to the Register of Wills office. Adoption files stay sealed under 23 Pa.C.S. § 2905.

What to Bring for an In-Person Search

• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Party names and an approximate filing date
• Case or docket number (if known)
• Payment method — cash, check, or money order
• A list of document titles you want to view

Fees, Certified Copies & Document Requests

Online docket viewing through the UJS portal stays free in Cambria County. Certified copies of court documents carry a statutory fee set by 42 Pa.C.S. § 1725, and copies get obtained from the originating Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts office. The fees below reflect Pennsylvania statutory costs and standard county handling charges as of 2026.

Cambria Court Records Fee Schedule

Pennsylvania courts assess a convenience surcharge added to the per-page copy charge. The actual bill at the counter gets calculated from the document length plus the certification fee, and you receive a receipt at the time of payment.

How to Request a Certified Cambria Court Record by Mail

1. Download the Cambria County records request form from the Prothonotary or Clerk of Courts office page on co.cambria.pa.us
2. List the document type, case number, and parties on the form
3. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE)
4. Attach a check or money order payable to “Prothonotary” or “Clerk of Courts”
5. Mail the request to the courthouse address

Mail requests typically take 7 to 14 business days before the documents leave the office. Add standard postal transit time on either end. Archived records filed before 1990 sometimes require an additional retrieval step, which can extend the timeline.

Types of Cambria Court Records by Case Category

Cambria court records span six major case categories — civil, criminal, family, orphans’ court, summary appeals, and magisterial. Each category gets maintained by a different clerk’s office and stays searchable through case-type-specific portals on the UJS system.

Civil Court Records (Prothonotary)

Civil court records cover private disputes between individuals, businesses, or government entities. Filings in the Civil Division get indexed under the GD docket prefix and stay open to public view unless sealed by court order.

Common Civil Case Types

• Contract disputes
• Personal injury and tort claims
• Real property and mortgage foreclosure
• Civil appeals from Magisterial District Courts
• Landlord-tenant actions
• Declaratory judgment actions

Criminal Court Records (Clerk of Courts)

Criminal court records include felony charges, misdemeanor appeals from MDJs, post-sentence motions, and probation violation hearings. The Clerk of Courts indexes these matters under the CR docket prefix.

Criminal Sub-Categories

• Felonies (CR docket)
• Misdemeanors appealed from MDJs
• Probation and parole violation hearings
• Bail modification motions
• Post-conviction relief petitions (PCRA)

Family Court Records

Family court records cover divorce, custody, child support, and Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders. The Prothonotary of Cambria County keeps the docket entries, and the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas handles hearings. PFA petitions often stay under seal temporarily for petitioner safety.

Orphans’ Court and Probate Records

Orphans’ court records deal with estates, wills, guardianships, and adoptions. Estate filings stay open to the public, but adoption and paternity records get sealed by statute under 23 Pa.C.S. § 2905. The Register of Wills office maintains the original filings.

Summary Appeal Records

Summary appeal records cover cases that move up from Magisterial District Courts. Drivers charged with traffic offenses and others who appeal summary convictions get their hearings in the Court of Common Pleas, where records appear under the SU docket prefix. De novo trials are common in this category.

Magisterial District Court Records

MDJ records handle summary criminal cases and small civil claims. Each of Cambria’s six Magisterial District Courts keeps its own docket. Searchers locate them through the UJS portal Magisterial District Court menu. MDJ docket numbers begin with the judicial district number (47) followed by the MDJ court identifier.

Sealed Records, Expungement & Privacy Rules

Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Act of 2018 and the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA) set the rules for when Cambria court records get sealed or expunged. Automatic sealing now covers many qualifying non-conviction and summary offenses without a court petition.

Pennsylvania Clean Slate Act Impact

The Clean Slate Act took effect in 2019 and expanded in 2022. The law orders automatic sealing of:

• Misdemeanor convictions after 10 years with no further offenses
• Qualifying summary convictions after 10 years with no further offenses
• Non-conviction records (like withdrawn or dismissed charges)
• Criminal charges that ended in successful ARD or diversion programs

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts runs the automatic sealing process through the Common Pleas clerks. Sealed records no longer appear on the UJS portal or background checks. Some offenses listed in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 stay permanently visible regardless of waiting periods.

How to File an Expungement Petition in Cambria County

1. Confirm eligibility under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122
2. Get certified copies of the disposition and arrest record from the Clerk of Courts
3. Fill out the Cambria County expungement petition form
4. File the petition at the Clerk of Courts office in Ebensburg
5. Pay the filing fee (or submit a petition to proceed in forma pauperis)
6. Attend the scheduled hearing before a Common Pleas judge

The Clerk of Courts forwards the petition to the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office for review. Objections trigger a contested hearing. Uncontested petitions often receive a signed order the same day.

Records Restricted from Public Access

• Active grand jury materials
• Juvenile dependency records (42 Pa.C.S. § 6336)
• Sealed mental health commitment records
• Trade secret and juvenile diversion files
• Information protected by court order
• Sensitive victim data in sexual offense cases

The UJS portal respects the access rules from 204 Pa. Code §§ 213.81–213.88. Restricted records show only minimal docket caption data or no entry at all on the public search screen. Sealed files require a court order to even confirm their existence.

Official Sources & Contact Details

For primary-source access to Cambria court records, use the state portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. The portal pulls directly from the Cambria County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts offices and updates throughout each business day.

Cambria County Courthouse

200 South Center Street
Ebensburg, PA 15931
Phone: (814) 472-5440
Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday

Official Web Resources

• Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal: ujsportal.pacourts.us
• Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts: pacourts.us
• Cambria County Government: co.cambria.pa.us
• 42 Pa.C.S. — Judicial Code (statute database)
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 — Expungement statute
• 65 P.S. § 67.101 — Right-to-Know Law (RTKL)
• 204 Pa. Code §§ 213.81–213.88 — Public Access Policy

Courthouse Location Map

Visit the UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us or call the courthouse at (814) 472-5440 for help with Cambria court records questions. Walk-in visitors should arrive at least 30 minutes before closing to give clerks time to pull archived files before the office ends the day’s transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find Cambria Court Records through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal, the Cambria County Courthouse, or third-party search sites. Free docket searches cover civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed across the county. Employers, legal teams, and journalists pull these records to confirm case outcomes, screen candidates, or build legal arguments. Public access rules keep most documents viewable without attorney involvement, and small fees apply only for certified copies or pre-2000 archive lookups. Knowing which portal covers your case type saves time and cuts sorting through wrong results.

How do I search Cambria Court Records online for free?

First, visit the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) web portal at pacourts.us. Next, click Web Docket Sheets and select Cambria County from the dropdown menu. Then, enter a party name, case number, or attorney bar ID to begin your search. The portal displays civil, criminal, family, and probate docket entries filed since 2000. View filing dates, charge descriptions, hearing schedules, and judge assignments without paying a fee. For older cases filed before 2000, visit the Cambria County Courthouse records office in Ebensburg during business hours. Finally, bring photo ID when requesting archived files in person.

What case types appear in Cambria County court records?

Cambria County court records cover five main case categories. First, civil cases include contract disputes, property lawsuits, and personal injury claims. Next, criminal records show felony and misdemeanor charges, guilty pleas, and sentencing outcomes. Then, family court documents list divorce decrees, custody orders, and protection from abuse filings. Orphan’s Court handles wills, estates, and guardianship matters. Finally, traffic and summary cases round out the docket system. Each case type uses docket prefixes like CV for civil, CR for criminal, and FD for family. Knowing the prefix helps narrow your search results quickly on the PA UJS portal.

How do I request certified copies of Cambria court records?

Certified Cambria court records cost $10 per document plus a $5 search fee. Submit your request in person at the Cambria County Courthouse Prothonotary office at 200 S. Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931. Mail requests must list a self-addressed stamped envelope, payment by check or money order, and case details like docket number and party names. Online certified copies are unavailable through the state portal. Allow 5-10 business days for mail processing. Same-day pickup works for in-person requests made before 3:00 PM on weekdays. Finally, phone requests are not accepted for certified copies under courthouse policy.

Can I access Cambria court records from my phone?

Yes. The PA UJS web portal works on any mobile browser without a separate app download. First, type pacourts.us on your phone. Then, tap Web Docket Sheets and search Cambria County cases the same way you would on a desktop. The mobile site resizes automatically for smaller screens. Saved searches and bookmarked docket pages let you return to active cases with one tap. For courthouse visits, plan ahead since mobile phones must stay in your vehicle or a lobby locker under Cambria County judicial security rules. Finally, bring a notepad instead for taking notes inside the courthouse.

What details do I need for a Cambria court docket lookup?

Gather at least one of these details before starting your search. First, a full name with date of birth works best for party lookups. Next, a docket number like CR-2024-1234 gives the most precise results. Then, attorney bar numbers help when you know the lawyer but not the client. After that, case type and filing year narrow broad name searches. Without these specifics, you may see hundreds of unrelated results for common names. The UJS portal does not support Social Security or fingerprint searches. Finally, if you hit dead ends, call the Prothonotary office at 814-472-1440 during business hours.

Are Cambria Court Records public, and what gets sealed?

Most Cambria Court Records are public under the Pennsylvania Judiciary open records policy. First, you can view dockets, motions, orders, and verdicts without restriction. Next, sealed records cover juvenile cases, adoption files, mental health commitments, and certain family court matters involving minors. Protection from abuse orders stay public until a judge seals them. Then, expunged records vanish from the public portal after the court orders removal. Name changes and paternity filings fall under restricted access. Finally, you can check seal status by reading the docket entry or calling the clerk’s office before traveling to the courthouse for research.