PA · Warrant guide
Is there an online warrant search in Pennsylvania?
Yes — Pennsylvania has an official statewide online warrant search.
Official source
Open the official statewide search Opens the official state site in a new tab. It may not be complete or current — confirm active status with the court that issued the warrant.Last verified 2026-07-23Coverage Statewide searchJurisdiction Pennsylvania
The official online lookup
Pennsylvania is an unusual case: there is no dedicated public 'warrant database,' but the free statewide UJS Web Portal lets anyone pull the public docket sheet for a case by name, docket number, or citation across Magisterial District and Court of Common Pleas cases.
Because court actions are recorded on the case docket, a bench warrant issued in a docketed case is generally reflected in that case's public docket and case status — so the portal is the closest thing to a public warrant check in PA.
It is a docket-sheet search, not a live warrant-status system: it typically will not reflect a brand-new arrest warrant before charges are filed, and any result should be confirmed with the court.
Some county and district attorney offices also publish bench-warrant lists.
How to find out if you have a warrant in Pennsylvania
Warrants are issued by courts and served by sheriffs — so the surest way to confirm one is to ask the source directly. Work down this list.
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Search the free statewide UJS Web Portal docket sheets
Search by participant name, docket number, or citation number across Magisterial District Judge and Common Pleas cases. Review the docket entries and case status on your case's docket sheet; a docketed bench warrant is generally recorded there.
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Call the Magisterial District Court or the Clerk of Courts in the issuing county
The Magisterial District Court (for summary/lower cases) or the county Clerk of Courts (Court of Common Pleas) can confirm whether a bench warrant is outstanding and tell you the next scheduled date. Find court offices through the UJS site.
Open official site -
Contact the county sheriff or local police that would hold the warrant
Warrants are served by the county sheriff or local police; their records unit can confirm an outstanding warrant and explain how to address it.
Open official site -
Request your Pennsylvania criminal-history record via PATCH (Pennsylvania State Police)
The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH / ePATCH) system lets you request a state criminal-history record check online through the Pennsylvania State Police.
Open official site
Types of warrants in Pennsylvania
Not every warrant means the same thing. These are the common types.
- Bench warrant / failure-to-appear
- FTA) warrant — issued by a judge (often a Magisterial District Judge) for a missed appearance, unpaid fines/costs, or contempt
- Arrest warrant
- probable cause) — issued on a sworn showing that a person committed an offense
- Search warrant — authorizes law enforcement to search a specified place or property
What happens if a warrant is ignored
An outstanding warrant generally remains active until resolved and authorizes arrest at any contact with law enforcement.
In Magisterial District Court cases, unresolved missed hearings or unpaid fines and costs can escalate (additional costs or contempt proceedings).
In certain traffic and failure-to-respond situations, PennDOT may suspend driving privileges.
A warrant does not expire on its own.
What you can do
Procedural steps only — no outcome is predicted.
Look up your case on the UJS Web Portal and confirm the details with the issuing Magisterial District Court or county Clerk of Courts.
Note the docket number and any scheduled date.
Ask the court about the process for resolving the matter — for example, a payment arrangement, a hearing, or surrendering on your own terms — and keep a record of your contacts.
Your rights. You have the right to talk to a lawyer about your situation, and if you cannot afford one, you can ask the court about a public defender.
Common questions about warrants in Pennsylvania
Is there an online warrant search in Pennsylvania?
Yes — Pennsylvania runs an official statewide online warrant search. Read the caveats before you rely on it.
How do I find out if I have a warrant in Pennsylvania?
Contact the clerk of the court that issued the warrant or the county sheriff’s records or warrant division. Search the free statewide UJS Web Portal docket sheets; Call the Magisterial District Court or the Clerk of Courts in the issuing county; Contact the county sheriff or local police that would hold the warrant.
What happens if a warrant is ignored in Pennsylvania?
An outstanding warrant generally remains active until resolved and authorizes arrest at any contact with law enforcement. In Magisterial District Court cases, unresolved missed hearings or unpaid fines and costs can escalate (additional costs or contempt proceedings). In certain traffic and failure-to-respond situations, PennDOT may suspend driving privileges. A warrant does not expire on its own.
What should I do about a warrant in Pennsylvania?
Look up your case on the UJS Web Portal and confirm the details with the issuing Magisterial District Court or county Clerk of Courts. Note the docket number and any scheduled date. Ask the court about the process for resolving the matter — for example, a payment arrangement, a hearing, or surrendering on your own terms — and keep a record of your contacts.
Sources & official links
Everything on this page links out to official government sources. We don’t store or search records.
Last verified 2026-07-23 · 4 official sources