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Delaware County, Pennsylvania | Courthouse Directory
Delaware County has a Court of Common Pleas and a network of Magisterial District Courts that handle different stages of Pennsylvania criminal proceedings. Finding the correct courthouse matters when you need information about a preliminary arraignment, bail order, criminal charge, court appearance or release conditions.
This directory helps you find the right court guide, understand how bail works and locate official resources. Center City Bail Bonds is a private company that helps families with the bail bond process; we are not part of any court.
26 Magisterial District Courts1 Court of Common Pleas24/7 Center City Bail Bonds assistance (court offices keep weekday hours)
Official court information for Delaware County. Government offices keep business hours; Center City Bail Bonds is a separate, private company that answers 24/7.
District Courts
26 District Courts
Magisterial District Courts serve different Delaware County municipalities, wards and precincts.
County Court
1 Court of Common Pleas
Delaware County Courthouse in Media.
County Courthouse Address
201 West Front Street
Media, PA 19063
Court Office Hours
Mon to Fri, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Excluding holidays. District court offices and scheduled proceedings may have different arrangements.
Official sources:Delaware County MDJ Court List(opens in a new tab)Courthouse Directions and Hours(opens in a new tab)
The Delaware County Courthouse is the county's main judicial building and home of the Court of Common Pleas for the 32nd Judicial District. It is not one of the 26 Magisterial District Court offices.
Cases arrive here after a district court holds charges for court at a preliminary hearing. The Court of Common Pleas then handles formal arraignment, scheduling, criminal motions, bail modification requests within its jurisdiction, pleas, trials and sentencing.
Most first bail decisions are made earlier, at a preliminary arraignment before a district judge or on-call issuing authority. The courthouse complex also houses the Office of Judicial Support, which keeps criminal records and answers bail payment and refund questions, and Court Administration, which manages scheduling and case assignments.
Court of Common Pleas · 32nd Judicial District
201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063
Office hours Mon to Fri, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding holidays.
County-level criminal proceedings after the preliminary hearing stage, plus court records and bail payment administration.
Search by court number, municipality, ward text, office town or street address. Results show which municipalities each court serves and flag when a match is only the office location. The district number on official paperwork always controls.
Showing 9 of 26 courts
Office: Chester
Judge: Wilden H. Davis
529 Penn Street, Chester, PA 19013
Municipalities served
Shared building: Magisterial District Courts 32-1-20, 32-1-21 and 32-1-22 all use 529 Penn Street, Chester, but each has its own district number, ward assignments, docket and phone line. Check the district number on your notice.
Office: Chester
Judge: Dawn L. Vann
529 Penn Street, Chester, PA 19013
Municipalities served
Shared building: Magisterial District Courts 32-1-20, 32-1-21 and 32-1-22 all use 529 Penn Street, Chester, but each has its own district number, ward assignments, docket and phone line. Check the district number on your notice.
Office: Chester
Judge: Shepard Garner
529 Penn Street, Chester, PA 19013
Municipalities served
Shared building: Magisterial District Courts 32-1-20, 32-1-21 and 32-1-22 all use 529 Penn Street, Chester, but each has its own district number, ward assignments, docket and phone line. Check the district number on your notice.
Office: Collingdale
Judge: Lee Grimes
100 Clifton Avenue, Collingdale, PA 19023
Municipalities served
Split boroughs: Collingdale Wards 4 to 6 use District Court 32-2-42 (Glenolden) and Darby Borough Ward 3 Precinct 1 uses District Court 32-2-37 (Darby).
Office: Broomall
Judge: David H. Lang, Esquire
796 Parkway Boulevard, Broomall, PA 19008
Municipalities served
Address check: some older official directory materials list this court at 4655 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square. The current county and statewide directories list 796 Parkway Boulevard, Broomall. The county lists phone 610-356-7430 and the statewide directory lists 610-338-2250; this page shows the county number. Confirm with the court and your official notice.
Office: Media
Judge: Elizabeth Gallard, Esquire
349 West Baltimore Avenue, Media, PA 19063
Municipalities served
Media has three separate court locations: this court at 349 West Baltimore Avenue, District Court 32-2-46 at 939 North Providence Road (Upper Providence Township), and the Delaware County Courthouse at 201 West Front Street. They are not interchangeable.
Office: Folsom
Judge: George B. Dawson, Esquire
Ridley Township Municipal Building, 100 MacDade Boulevard, Folsom, PA 19033
Municipalities served
Address check: the county directory lists 100 MacDade Boulevard, Folsom. Some listings use a Woodlyn mailing name for the same area. Confirm with your official notice or by calling 610-532-0320.
Office: Springfield
Judge: Michael Culp, Esquire
56 Powell Road, Springfield, PA 19064
Municipalities served
Shared address: District Court 32-2-54 (610-690-7668) is also listed at 56 Powell Road but serves different areas, and its hearings have been held elsewhere. Use the district number on your paperwork.
Office: Upper Darby
Judge: Harry J. Karapalides, Esquire
Barclay Square Building, 1550 Garrett Road, Suites 150 and 200, Upper Darby, PA 19082
Municipalities served
Address check: the Pennsylvania judiciary's statewide directory lists the Barclay Square Building at 1550 Garrett Road. Delaware County's online directory lists a different Garrett Road street number. Confirm the correct entrance and location using your court notice or by calling the court at 610-626-6900 before visiting. Shared building: Courts 32-1-33, 32-1-34 and 32-2-51 are all listed at Barclay Square with one phone number, but each serves different precincts. Give the district and docket number when you call.
Judge names are shown only where the county and state directories agree; Courts 32-2-43 and 32-2-48 are listed by number until that is confirmed. District 32-1-31 was eliminated in September 2024 and is not listed.
Delaware County is Pennsylvania's 32nd Judicial District. Criminal cases usually start in one of the 26 Magisterial District Courts, each assigned specific municipalities, wards or precincts, and move to the Court of Common Pleas only if charges are held for court.
Not every arrest follows the same path. Some cases end at the district court level through dismissal, withdrawal or a summary disposition. District courts are court offices, not jails, and the Court of Common Pleas does not set the first bail order in every case.
First stage · 26 offices
May handle
Delaware County Courthouse, Media
May handle
Official sources:Delaware County Courts(opens in a new tab)Pa.R.Crim.P. 540(opens in a new tab)
Bail in Delaware County involves several courts and offices. A court-authorized bail authority decides lawful release conditions under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Center City Bail Bonds does not set or modify the court's bail amount.
A
A case usually begins with an arrest or a criminal complaint filed by a police department. The complaint lists the alleged offenses and is filed with the Magisterial District Court for the area where the offense is alleged to have happened.
B
At the preliminary arraignment, an issuing authority, usually a Magisterial District Judge or an on-call judge after hours, acts as the bail authority. Under Rules 523 and 524 it weighs case-specific information and chooses a type of release with any conditions.
C
Release may be on recognizance, on nonmonetary conditions such as reporting or no-contact orders, or on monetary bail. When money is required, the bail order says how much and whether a percentage deposit is allowed.
D
Where the order allows it, bail may be posted through an authorized court or county process, or a licensed surety may post a bail bond under its own written terms. Center City Bail Bonds never sets or changes the court's amount.
E
If the person is held, custody is often at George W. Hill Correctional Facility. After conditions are met, the facility processes release. Another detainer, warrant or hold can keep someone in custody even after bail on the new charge is satisfied.
F
The district court holds a preliminary hearing. If charges are held for court, the case moves to the Court of Common Pleas in Media, where bail generally continues unless a court modifies it.
Official sources:Pa.R.Crim.P. 523 (Release Criteria)(opens in a new tab)Pa.R.Crim.P. 524 (Types of Release)(opens in a new tab)
A simplified eight-step view. The exact process depends on the circumstances of the case, and no step has a guaranteed timeline.
Police begin a case by arrest or by filing a complaint. Some people receive a summons by mail instead of being taken into custody.
Identification and booking may take place at a police station. Custody location and timing vary by department and circumstance.
An issuing authority gives the defendant the complaint, explains rights and addresses bail, sometimes by video or after hours.
The bail authority sets the type of release and any conditions. Not every defendant must post monetary bail.
If money is required, an authorized deposit or payment, or a lawful professional bond, may satisfy the order.
The facility processes release once conditions are met. Not everyone is held at George W. Hill, and other holds can delay or prevent release.
The district court decides whether the Commonwealth has shown a prima facie case, unless the hearing is waived or continued.
Charges held for court move to the Court of Common Pleas for formal arraignment, motions, pleas, trial and sentencing.
Keep in mind. Not every defendant goes to George W. Hill, not every defendant must post monetary bail, and an additional detainer or hold can prevent release. No one can promise a release time.
Under Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 540, the preliminary arraignment is where the defendant learns the charges, hears important rights and has bail addressed. The issuing authority may release the person or, if conditions are not met, the person may be detained.
Preliminary arraignments may take place through authorized on-call assignments, by two-way video or outside standard office hours, so they do not always happen in the regular office of the district court that serves the arrest location.
The preliminary arraignment is usually the first court proceeding after arrest. It is not a trial and does not decide guilt.
Under Rule 540 the defendant receives a copy of the complaint so they know what is alleged.
The issuing authority explains important rights, including the right to a lawyer and how to request appointed counsel.
A Magisterial District Judge or an authorized on-call judge conducts it, sometimes by two-way video and outside office hours.
Bail is addressed and the type of release and any conditions are set by the bail authority.
A preliminary hearing date and place are usually set. Keep the notice; it controls the appearance.
Not sure which court? Use the district court directory to compare the courts serving a municipality.
Find Your District CourtOfficial sources:Pa.R.Crim.P. 540 (Preliminary Arraignment)(opens in a new tab)
A preliminary hearing is held at the district court. Under Rule 542, the Commonwealth must show a prima facie case: enough evidence that a crime was committed and that the defendant probably committed it. It is not a trial, and guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is not decided.
The defendant may be represented by a lawyer, who can cross-examine witnesses, present evidence and object. Hearings can be continued for reasons the rules allow. Existing bail conditions generally continue unless a court changes them. If charges are held for court, the case moves to the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
If a prima facie case is shown, some or all charges move to the Court of Common Pleas.
If the Commonwealth does not meet its burden on a charge, that charge may be dismissed.
The hearing may be rescheduled for reasons the rules allow, with a new notice.
A defendant may waive the hearing with advice of counsel, or charges may be withdrawn or amended.
These are common results, not the only ones. Dismissal or a bail reduction is never automatic.
Official sources:Pa.R.Crim.P. 542 (Preliminary Hearing)(opens in a new tab)
Bail is decided case by case, and monetary bail is not imposed in every case. When it is, the bail order states the amount and whether a percentage deposit is allowed under Rule 528.
A court-authorized deposit is different from a professional bail bond, which has its own written, lawful terms. Release processing and any outstanding legal hold are separate again.
The calculator shows a possible 10% court-authorized deposit, where legally permitted and applicable, for illustration only. Not every defendant can pay 10%, and the result is not a Center City Bail Bonds price, quote or guaranteed premium.
Full Monetary Bail
$10,000.00
Example 10% Court Deposit
$1,000.00
Illustration Only. Requires Court Authorization.
This calculator provides an example only. The court determines bail and whether a percentage deposit is allowed. It does not estimate bail bond company fees, guarantee release, or represent a payment quote. Contact Center City Bail Bonds to discuss your situation.
Get Bail Help NowThe amount the bail order sets, if it sets monetary bail at all. Only a bail authority decides it.
Some orders allow a percentage deposit under Rule 528, often up to 10%. Not every defendant may use this.
A licensed surety has its own written, lawful costs and conditions, separate from any court deposit.
Release still requires facility processing, and an outstanding hold or detainer can prevent it.
Official sources:Pa.R.Crim.P. 524(opens in a new tab)Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(opens in a new tab)
These options are not interchangeable. Which one applies depends on the bail order, the case stage and the time of day.
Official Option 1
An authorized issuing authority may accept qualifying bail at certain stages under the rules. Not every district court accepts every type of payment at every time; call the court on the paperwork for current instructions.
Official Option 2
The county directs bail payment and refund inquiries to the Office of Judicial Support. It is a county office with official administrative duties, separate from Center City Bail Bonds.
Official Option 3
The Pennsylvania courts' online bail payment service. Eligibility and accepted procedures depend on the case. Paying bail is different from paying fines or court costs.
Official Option 4
The county describes facility-specific bail and release arrangements, including after-hours procedures for some cases. Not every bond can be posted at the jail; contact facility records staff before you travel.
Option 5 · Private Company
Where a lawful bail bond is available for the case, Center City Bail Bonds can help with the bond process. We are a private company. We do not accept official court payments on behalf of the judiciary and cannot change a bail order.
District courts issue bail orders and commitments, and Court of Common Pleas proceedings can change a case's status or bail later. George W. Hill Correctional Facility manages detention and release processing for people in its custody.
Jail officials do not replace judicial bail decisions. Additional holds or detainers can affect release, and not everyone arrested in Delaware County is booked into George W. Hill. The facility is in Thornton, not inside the Media courthouse.
26 district courts and the Media courthouse
Role
500 Cheyney Road, Thornton
Role
The alleged charge is one factor a bail authority may consider, but no charge carries a fixed bail amount in Delaware County. Prior record, case circumstances, other holds and the stage of the case all matter. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt.
Understand release procedures after a DUI arrest.
DUI Bail Bonds GuideBail information for possession, PWID, and delivery charges.
Drug Charge Bail Bonds GuideAssistance with Pennsylvania assault-related bail requirements.
Assault Bail Bonds GuideGuidance on domestic violence bail and court restrictions.
Domestic Violence Bail Bonds GuideExplore release options for serious felony allegations.
Felony Bail Bonds GuideUnderstand detainers, violation hearings, and release limitations.
Probation Violation Bail Bonds GuideThe Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System runs a public case search covering district court and Common Pleas dockets. Center City Bail Bonds does not operate it. Publicly available information can be limited and is updated over time, and a case search is not a substitute for the official court notice; the notice and current instructions from court staff govern required appearances.
What to look for
District court assignments follow official municipal, ward and precinct boundaries. A city name, mailing address or ZIP code alone may not identify the right court, and the courts in a split municipality are not interchangeable. Check the district number on your paperwork and the individual court guide.
Wards or precincts decide the assignment:
Wards or precincts decide the assignment:
Wards or precincts decide the assignment:
Wards or precincts decide the assignment:
Wards or precincts decide the assignment:
Wards or precincts decide the assignment:
Wards or precincts decide the assignment:
Each guide covers local bail information and the courts serving that municipality. Similar names are separate places: Darby Borough and Darby Township, Chester City and Chester Township, Ridley Township and Ridley Park, Lansdowne and East Lansdowne, Upper and Nether Providence, Upper and Lower Chichester.
Answers about Delaware County's courts, bail, payments, the county jail and court records.
The county's current court list shows 26 active Magisterial District Courts in the 32nd Judicial District. District 32-1-31 was eliminated in September 2024, and its former areas were reassigned. The Delaware County Courthouse in Media, home of the Court of Common Pleas, is a separate court and is not counted among the 26.
The Delaware County Courthouse is at 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063, main phone 610-891-4000. It is a different building from District Court 32-1-28 on West Baltimore Avenue in Media and from George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Thornton.
Magisterial District Courts handle the early stages of criminal cases, such as preliminary arraignments, many initial bail decisions and preliminary hearings, plus summary and minor matters. The Court of Common Pleas handles cases held for court: formal arraignment, motions, pleas, trials and sentencing.
The district number on the complaint, bail paperwork or hearing notice is the most reliable answer. You can also search the docket in the Pennsylvania UJS Portal or use the directory on this page to compare the courts that serve your municipality. For split towns, the ward and precinct decide the court.
No. Each district court serves an assigned group of municipalities, wards or precincts, and many towns share a court in a nearby community. Some large towns, like Upper Darby and Chester City, are divided among several courts.
Under Pennsylvania Rule 540, the defendant receives the complaint, is told about rights including the right to counsel, and bail is addressed. A preliminary hearing date is usually set. Arraignments may be held by video or by an on-call issuing authority outside regular office hours.
A judicial bail authority, usually the Magisterial District Judge or an on-call issuing authority at the preliminary arraignment, decides the type of release and any conditions under Rules 523 and 524. Later changes may come from the district court or the Court of Common Pleas. A bail bond company never sets bail.
Pennsylvania rules allow an issuing authority to accept qualifying bail at certain stages, but what an office accepts depends on the case, the order and office hours. Call the court named on the paperwork for current instructions before you go.
Some bail can be paid through Pennsylvania's PAePay Bail service at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Not every case or bail type is eligible, and PAePay bail is separate from paying fines or court costs. Questions about payments and refunds go to the Office of Judicial Support at 610-891-5693.
The person may remain in custody. A lawyer may ask the court to modify bail, and where the order permits, a licensed bail bond may help meet a monetary condition. Center City Bail Bonds can explain whether a bond is an option, but cannot change the order.
Under Rule 542, the Commonwealth must show a prima facie case: enough evidence that a crime was committed and that the defendant probably committed it. The defense may cross-examine witnesses. Charges may be held for court, dismissed, or the hearing continued. It is not a trial.
Yes, bail can be modified under the rules, usually after a motion by the defense or the Commonwealth. Before a case is held for court, the district court may hear the request; afterward, the Court of Common Pleas generally decides. No change is guaranteed.
George W. Hill Correctional Facility is at 500 Cheyney Road, Thornton, PA 19373, phone 610-361-3200. It is the county jail, not a court, and it is not inside the Media courthouse. Not everyone arrested in Delaware County is booked there.
Search the Pennsylvania UJS Portal by name or docket number at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch, check the official court notice, or call the court named on the paperwork. Online information can be limited or delayed; the official notice controls.
No. Court offices keep weekday business hours, generally 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and preliminary arraignments after hours run through an on-call system. Center City Bail Bonds is a private company that answers calls 24/7, separately from any court schedule.
We can help you understand the bail order, gather basic case information, find the right official office and, where a lawful bond is available, help with the bail bond process. We are a private company in Philadelphia, not part of any court. Call (215) 870-8197, 24/7. We cannot give legal advice or promise release.
Families often need help understanding an initial bail order, gathering basic court information, finding official payment resources or exploring lawful professional bail bond assistance. Center City Bail Bonds can help with each of those steps.
Center City Bail Bonds is a private business in Philadelphia and is not affiliated with the Delaware County courts. We have no office inside any Delaware County courthouse.
Center City Bail Bonds
1238 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
24/7 bail assistance
