THE JUDICIAL BRANCH - Pennyslvania's Unified Judicial System (Video)
(Separate Website)
Video presentation highlighting the operation of Pennsylvania's Court system (15:31).
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
About Pennsylvania's Courts
(Separate Website)
Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System forms a hierarchical structure that can best be illustrated in the form of a pyramid. A description of each level of the judiciary, beginning with the minor courts is presented.
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
A Short History of Pennsylvania's Courts
(Separate Website)
Information on the historical underpinnings of the Pennsylvania Courts
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Asked and Answered: Information about Pennsylvania's Courts and American Jurisprudence
(Separate Website)
Asked & Answered is a central resource page of the Pennsylvania Judiciary's Web site. Here you can access annual reports and press releases as well as information on how the courts are structured, how they function and how to contact them.
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Pennsylvania's Judicial System: A Citizen's Guide
(Separate Website)
A brochure by and about Pennsylvania's court system.
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Judicial Qualifications, Election, Tenure and Vacancies
(Separate Website)
Fact sheet outlining the basic requirements for the position of judge and information on elections, tenure and the filling of judicial vacancies.
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Jury Duty in Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Information on serving on jury duty in the courts of Pennsylvania.
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Definitions of Legal Terms
(Separate Website)
Glossary of terms commonly used in the judicial system.
Looking to the Future: The State of the Commonwealth's Courts
Information highlighting some of the Court's recent efforts and outling the many positive initiatives are ongoing, involving hundreds of jurists, staff, and citizens.
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Pennsylvania Judiciary's Web Application Portal
(Separate Website)
This site is the Internet Home for the Court's Electronic Services (E-Services).
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Pennsylvania Courts Self-Help Centers, Information and Forms
Pennsylvania Complaint for Custody
(Separate Website)
This custody form is for PARENTS only. Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can create a "Complaint for Custody" that you can use to start a NEW custody case. The site will ask you a series of questions about your custody situation and then create a custody complaint for YOU based on YOUR ANSWERS. This complaint can then be printed and filed in your local court. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word as your word processor.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Pennsylvania Petition for Modification or Contempt of a Custody Order
(Separate Website)
This custody form is for PARENTS only. Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can create a "Petition for Modification or Contempt of a Custody Order" that can be used to ask a court to change or enforce a custody order that is ALREADY IN EFFECT. The site will ask you a series of questions regarding your custody situation and existing order and then create a petition for YOU based on YOUR ANSWERS. This petition can then be printed and filed in your local court. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word as your word processor.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Pennsylvania Petition for Guardianship of Minor Children
(Separate Website)
Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can prepare a "Petition for Guardianship of Minor Children", which is for people who have children in their care, but are NOT the parents of the children. Guardianship is appropriate when the parents of the children are no longer available or able to care for the children. Examples are when the parents are dead or missing, or have serious drug, alcohol, or mental problems. You will be asked a series of questions about the children's situation. After answering all the questions, your petition will be prepared based on the answers you gave. The Petition can then be printed and filed in your local court. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word as your word processor.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Petition to Waive Court Costs
(Separate Website)
Click the document title to be linked to LawHelp Interactive where you can prepare a Petition to Waive Court Fees which can be used to ask the Court for permission to file legal papers for free. This form can be used in most types of court cases in Pennsylvania. Approval to waive fees is not automatic. You will need to ask the Court to approve your Petition. Instructions will be included. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a fill-in-the-blank form; you will need to answer questions while connected to the Internet.
IMPORTANT: To use this form, you must use Internet Explorer as your browser and Microsoft Word to print your documents.
By: North Penn Legal Services
Court of Common Pleas of the 17th Judicial District - Snyder and Union Counties
(Separate Website)
information on the Court of Common Pleas of the 17th Judicial District - Snyder and Union Counties.
By: Snyder County website
Court of Common Pleas - 17th Judicial District
(Separate Website)
Information about the Court of Common Pleas in Union County.
By: Union County website
Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas - District Court Administrators
(Separate Website)
Addresses and Phone Numbers of the adminstrative offices for the Courts of Common Pleas of each Judicial District in Pennsylvania.
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Pennsylvania Prothonotaries
(Separate Website)
Telephone numbers of Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court Protonotary Offices
By: Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
Locate Your Local Domestic Relations Office
(Separate Website)
This site allows you to locate the local domestic relations office in your county.
By: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Union County - Magisterial District Justice
(Separate Website)
Information on District Justices in Union County.
By: Union County website
Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judges
(Separate Website)
Locate a Magisterial District Judges by Magisterial District Judges Name, District Court Number, City, County or Zip Code
By: Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Supreme Court section of Pennsylvania Courts website. This is Pennsylvania's highest appeals court.
By: Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System
Superior Court of Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Superior Court section of the Pennsylvania Courts website. This is one of Pennsylvania's intermediate appeals courts.
By: Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
Superior Court of Pennsylvania Website
(Separate Website)
Court website. This is one of Pennsylvania's intermediate appeals courts.
By: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
(Separate Website)
Commonwealth Court section of Pennsylvania Courts website. This is one of Pennsylvania's intermediate appeals courts.
About The U.S. Courts
(Separate Website)
Information on the U.S. Courts and their function in the federal government.
By: The Federal Judiciary - U.S. Courts
Federal Courts in American Government
(Separate Website)
Explanation of the role of the federal courts in the govenment of the United States.
By: The Federal Judiciary - U.S. Courts
How the Federal Courts Work - Civil Cases
(Separate Website)
Explanation of the opeeration of the federal courts in civil cases. Also links to information on Criminal and Bankruptcy cases and Appeals.
By: The Federal Judiciary - U.S. Courts
Frequently Asked Questions
(Separate Website)
Frequently aske questions about the operation of the U.S. Courts.
By: The Federal Judiciary - U.S. Courts
U.S. Courts Forms
(Separate Website)
Forms available from the Federal Judiciary web site.
By: The Federal Judiciary - U.S. Courts
Court Fees
(Separate Website)
Information on fees charged by the U.S. Courts.
By: The Federal Judiciary - U.S. Courts
Supreme Court of the United States
(Separate Website)
Court website. This is the highest federal appeals court.
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
(Separate Website)
Court website. This is the intermediate federal appeals court for Pennsylvania, as well as several other states and territories.
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(Separate Website)
