State guide
Pennsylvania
This is general information, not legal advice. Pennsylvania's court for smaller civil cases is the magisterial district court. Lancaster County Courts, an official county site, says magisterial district judges handle traffic cases, minor criminal cases, and civil cases involving amounts up to $12,000. They also set bail and hold preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases. The $12,000 sentence is how that court system describes the civil authority of this court level. This directory did not retrieve the text of 42 Pa.C.S. section 1515 from the legislature's site. Use the county page's figure as a published description, and ask the magisterial district judge's office to confirm the current civil limit before you file a claim near the line.
Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Which court hears it
- Magisterial district court
- Dollar limit we could verify
- Lancaster County's court site says magisterial district judges handle civil cases involving amounts up to $12,000. That description is of this court level. This directory did not retrieve the statewide statute page.
- Statute or court page
- Official page →
- Filing or self-help page
- Official page →
The Lancaster page explains where a civil suit is filed. Generally it is filed in the magisterial district where the cause of action arose or where the transaction happened. If the defendant is an individual, it may also be filed where the defendant can be served. If the defendant is a corporation, unincorporated association, or partnership, it may also be filed where the defendant regularly conducts business. Those are the page's venue rules. There are magisterial district judges across the county, elected to six-year terms, and they are commonwealth employees. The page says that if you are unsure where to file, the nearest office or court administration can direct you.
Magisterial district court is the first level of the Unified Judicial System for these cases. It is less formal than the Court of Common Pleas. People often appear without lawyers. You file a civil complaint for money within the amount the office confirms, and you arrange service under the rules that office uses. Landlord-tenant cases have their own forms and are filed where the property is located, which is a venue rule many county pages state for possession cases. Use the landlord-tenant form if you need possession. A generic civil complaint is for a money dispute. Bring the lease, invoices, or photos to the hearing the notice sets.
An appeal from a magisterial district judge goes to the Court of Common Pleas. The Lancaster page does not state the number of days, so this directory does not. Read the notice of judgment for the appeal language printed on it. A judgment is collected through the procedures the rules allow, which can include an order of execution. Ask the magisterial district court that entered the judgment which form to file. If your claim is above the civil amount that office states, the Court of Common Pleas is the court that hears larger civil cases. The Unified Judicial System site explains the minor courts statewide.
Official resources in Pennsylvania
County court page stating that magisterial district judges handle civil cases up to $12,000.
Statewide court site for minor courts and docket search.
Unified Judicial System page describing the minor-court level.
Key facts for Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania's smaller civil cases are heard by magisterial district judges.
- Lancaster County's court site says these judges handle civil cases up to $12,000.
- The statewide jurisdiction statute was not retrieved for this entry.
- Venue depends on where the claim arose, where an individual can be served, or where a business defendant conducts business.
- These judges also hear traffic, minor criminal matters, and preliminary hearings.
- Larger civil cases are heard in the Court of Common Pleas.
What to do next
- Confirm the civil maximum with the magisterial district court where you will file.
- Follow the venue rules on the county page before you choose an office.
- Use the landlord-tenant form if the case is about possession of a rental.
- Read the appeal language on the judgment notice. This entry does not state a number of days.
Looking for your city or county in Pennsylvania?
We haven't found official court-level pages for Pennsylvania we can verify yet, so we don't show local numbers here rather than guess. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Pennsylvania, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Pennsylvania page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- What small claims court is
- How dollar limits work
- Who can sue and be sued
- A demand letter before you file