Online Orphans' Court Record Search. 

This feature permits free access to public Orphans' Court index and case docketing dating back to 1800. Available records include estate matters such as Accounts and Trusts, as well as other matters including birth and death records and marriage applications.  Adoptions, termination of parental rights and incapacitations are NOT public record and therefore are not included online. Birth and death records after 1905 are recorded at Vital Records in New Castle, PA and are not on file at the courthouse. 

Below you will find how you can obtain records for various years as well as the link to access those records online.  We are currently working on digitizing our records and will adjust these dates accordingly.

Please visit County Fusions’ online web portal for records from 1978 to present.  Some records are available prior to 1978 however are not inclusive. 

Marriage and Orphans'       1978 – present

Please visit www.ancestry.com for marriages prior to 1973. Pennsylvania residence may search for free using this link only.  Otherwise you must create and pay for an account.  Birth and death records after 1905 are recorded in New Castle, PA.  Please contact the Department of Vital Records.

Marriage Dockets      1852 - 1945
Birth Records             1852 - 1854
Death Records           1852 - 1854 

Please visit www.familysearch.org and click search for the following case information.

Marriage Dockets               1885 - 1950
Orphans' Court Docket      1800 - 1853

General index to Orphans' Court records

For further advice on where you might continue to search, contact the Adams County Historical Society.
For records prior to 1800, contact York County Historical Society.

The Pennsylvania Historical Museaum Commission has digitized most of the physical case records from Adams County Clerk of Courts and made them available online.  

The Clerk of Orphans' Court office will also research Orphans' Court records for a fee. You may make request and provide initial payment by going to www.GovPayNow.com.  The written request may be submitted via the Adams County PA Clerk of Court mobile app or can be submitted by returning the Research Request form and mail payment to Clerk of Courts, Room 103, 117 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Requests are completed within 5 days.

Other Resources

You may wish to contact the below for additional information:  

Adams County Historical Society
PO Box 4325
Gettysburg, PA 17325 

Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
350 North Street Harrisburg PA 17120    
717-783-3281
www.phmc.state.pa.us

Information occurring before 1800 contact:

The York County Historical Society
250 East Market Street
York, PA 17402 

Department of Vital Records
PO Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
724-656-3100
Available Records on File