Court records in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, are maintained by several county offices — including the Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and the Recorder of Deeds — and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and in-person visits. CambriaCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Cambria County. Additional access points include the UJS web portal, the Clerk of Courts office, the Prothonotary office, and other county and state government resources.
Cambria County Court System Overview
Cambria County is part of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System and sits within the 47th Judicial District. The Court of Common Pleas is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction for the county, hearing both civil and criminal matters. Magisterial District Judges preside over minor criminal cases, preliminary hearings, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, and traffic violations at the local level. Appeals from Magisterial District Courts proceed to the Court of Common Pleas. The county courthouse is located in Ebensburg, the county seat.
Courts Serving Cambria County
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Cambria County Court of Common Pleas (47th Judicial District) | 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931 | (814) 472-1637 |
| Magisterial District Courts (multiple locations throughout the county) | Varies by district | Varies by district |
| U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (Johnstown Division) | 319 Washington Street, Johnstown, PA 15901 | (814) 533-4504 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | 5414 U.S. Steel Tower, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 | (412) 644-2700 |
Cambria County falls within the Western District of Pennsylvania for federal matters. The Johnstown Division of the U.S. District Court serves the county. Several Magisterial District Courts operate throughout Cambria County in communities such as Johnstown, Ebensburg, and surrounding areas.
What Types of Cases Cambria County Courts Hear
Courts in Cambria County handle a broad range of case types:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Summary offenses and traffic violations
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts at the Court of Common Pleas level)
- Small claims (filed at the Magisterial District Court level)
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, protection from abuse orders
- Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, trusts
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency matters
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
The sections below explain which court handles each type and how cases move through the system.
District Court Cases in Cambria County
The Cambria County Court of Common Pleas is the trial court of general jurisdiction. It hears all felony criminal cases after a preliminary hearing is held before a Magisterial District Judge and the case is bound over. The court also handles civil lawsuits of all dollar amounts, equity actions, and appeals from the Magisterial District Courts. Judges of the Court of Common Pleas preside over jury and non-jury trials, post-conviction relief proceedings, and sentencing. Cases are assigned to individual judges upon filing. The Prothonotary manages civil case records, while the Clerk of Courts maintains criminal case records.
Magistrate Court Cases in Cambria County
Magisterial District Courts in Cambria County handle:
- Summary offenses and traffic violations
- Misdemeanor and felony preliminary hearings
- Civil claims up to $12,000
- Small claims up to $12,000
- Landlord-tenant disputes (including eviction proceedings)
- DUI arraignments and preliminary hearings
- Emergency protection from abuse orders (when the Court of Common Pleas is unavailable)
Under Pennsylvania law, the jurisdictional limit for civil cases and small claims in Magisterial District Courts is $12,000. These courts do not conduct jury trials. If either party is dissatisfied with the outcome, they may appeal to the Court of Common Pleas for a trial de novo.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Cambria County
Family Law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protection from abuse, and termination of parental rights cases are heard by the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas. Divorce filings are handled through the Prothonotary's office. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides self-help information on divorce proceedings for those representing themselves.
Probate: The Register of Wills and the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas handle decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, and trust matters. Filings for probate are made with the Register of Wills at the Cambria County Courthouse.
Juvenile: Juvenile delinquency and dependency cases are heard by the Court of Common Pleas. Juvenile court records are confidential under Pennsylvania law and are not available through public docket search portals.
How Cases Move Through the Cambria County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: Criminal cases begin with a complaint filed by law enforcement or a private citizen at a Magisterial District Court. Civil cases start with a complaint filed at the Prothonotary's office. Family and probate petitions are filed at the appropriate office.
- Assignment to Judge: Cases are assigned to a Court of Common Pleas judge. Magisterial District cases are heard by the district judge where the case was filed.
- Initial Hearings: Criminal defendants appear for a preliminary hearing (at the Magisterial District Court) or arraignment (at the Court of Common Pleas). Civil cases proceed to a scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in plea negotiations (criminal) or settlement discussions (civil).
- Trial or Resolution: Cases are resolved through plea agreement, jury or bench trial verdict, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Either party may appeal to the Superior Court or Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Civil judgments may be enforced through the Prothonotary's office.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Cambria County
The Cambria County Court of Common Pleas is administered by the President Judge and a Court Administrator. Local rules of court for the 47th Judicial District govern procedural matters specific to Cambria County. These rules can be found on the Cambria County page of the Unified Judicial System website.
Public access to court records is governed by Pennsylvania's Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System and the state's Right-to-Know Law. Most court docket information is publicly available, though certain records — including juvenile cases, some family court filings, and sealed records — are restricted. The UJS Public Records page explains access policies. County-level open records requests can be submitted through the Cambria County Open Records office, and state-level guidance is available from the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Hearings at the Cambria County Courthouse are generally open to the public. Contact the Court Administrator's office at (814) 472-1637 for information about remote hearing procedures or courtroom access.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Cambria County
- Statewide Court Docket Search: The UJS web portal case search allows free searches of docket sheets for cases filed in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts statewide.
- Cambria County Civil Court Portal: The CountySuite Online portal provides access to civil case information filed with the Prothonotary.
- Criminal Records: The Clerk of Courts office maintains criminal case records. Statewide criminal history checks are available through Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH), or you can request a background check through the Pennsylvania State Police.
- Land and Property Records: The Recorder of Deeds office records and provides access to deeds, mortgages, and other real estate documents. The Tax Assessment office maintains property valuation records, and the GIS Center offers mapping tools.
- Inmate Search: The Cambria County Prison page provides information about the county jail. For state inmates, use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator or the state inmate/parolee lookup.
- Sex Offender Registry: Pennsylvania's Megan's Law website allows searches for registered sex offenders by county, municipality, or zip code.
- Sheriff's Office: The Cambria County Sheriff's Office handles courthouse security, bench warrant service, civil paper service, and sheriff's sales.
- Tax Sales: The Tax Claim office maintains records of delinquent real estate taxes and conducts county tax sales.
- Open Records Requests: Submit requests to the Cambria County Open Records office by email, mail, fax, or in person at 1150 Wilmore Road, Ebensburg, PA 15931, or call (814) 472-2353.