Chester County Public Records Directory
Chester County sits in southeastern Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia. The county is home to about 530,000 people and is known for its well-kept open spaces and strong communities. The Chester County residents directory holds property files, court records, land deeds, voter rolls, and other public data. The county seat is West Chester. All main offices are based there. Searching the Chester County residents directory is a good way to find records tied to this part of the state.
Chester County Quick Facts
Chester County Property Assessment Records
The Chester County Assessment Office sets values for all real estate in the county. These values are used to figure out tax bills. The office keeps detailed records for each parcel. You can look up any property through the ChescoViews search tool at chesco.org/ChescoViews. Search by address, owner name, or parcel number.
The Chester County Assessment Office website shows how to search property data and file appeals.
This tool helps residents check their own records and review comparable sales data in Chester County.
If you want to dispute your assessment, the Board of Assessment Appeals hears cases. The board renders a decision within three to four weeks after your hearing. You get a written notice by mail. If you still disagree, you can file an appeal with the Court of Common Pleas within 30 days. Contact the Chester County Law Library at 610-344-6166 for the local rules on court appeals. Field assessors use a computer-based mass appraisal model to derive each value. The Common Level Ratio is set by the State Tax Equalization Board and can affect how your value is used.
Note: Chester County uses a millage formula where mills equal the budget divided by the tax base, so 5.164 mills on a $100,000 assessment would mean $516.40 in tax.
Chester County Land and Deed Records
The Chester County Recorder of Deeds keeps all land records for the county. These include deeds, mortgages, and UCC filings. The office has records from 1688 to the present day. That means Chester County holds some of the oldest deed files in all of Pennsylvania. You can view and search these records through the Chester County Records Search page.
There are three main ways to search Chester County deed records. The Document Search and Copies tool covers current records. The SearchIQS database holds files from before 1994, going back to the 1600s. ChescoViews gives you property details tied to parcels and maps. The IQS search is free to browse. Printing or downloading costs $0.50 per page. You can set up a user account for frequent use or log in as a guest for a one-time search.
The Search Library is at 313 West Market Street, Suite 3502. It is open from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, Monday through Friday. Staff can show you how to use the tools but cannot do title searches for you. For that, talk to a title searcher or an attorney. All documents are on public terminals in the office.
The Chester County Prothonotary maintains civil court records for the county.
Civil dockets and filings are all part of the Chester County residents directory through this office.
For very old documents, Family Search has most pre-1918 deed books and indexes for free. The earliest English records in Chester County come from Pennsylvania land warrants, surveys, and patents. Some of these date to the Proprietary Government under the Penn Family before 1776.
Historical Records in the Chester County Directory
Chester County has a rich archive of historical documents. The county's first court docket dates from 1681 to 1697. That is before William Penn arrived on October 28, 1682. A second volume covers 1697 to 1710. These files show every function of county government, from row offices and court cases to tax rolls and poor house records. The county Poor House was set up in 1800 in West Bradford.
All physical records before 1920 are kept. After 1920, only certain files are maintained. Less than ten percent of current records are seen as permanent. The county has a goal to put its old documents online so more people can search them. These files were once stored on microfilm with the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission. Now many are being digitized.
Sanborn fire insurance maps from the late 1800s and early 1900s are on hand through Penn State University Libraries and the Library of Congress. Historic atlases include the 1933 and 1950 Franklin Atlas, the 1883 Breou Farm Atlas, the 1874 Witmer Atlas, and the 1860 Kennedy Map. These are helpful for property research and genealogy in Chester County.
Note: The Chester County Archives digitization project aims to make all pre-1920 records available online for public search.
Chester County Voter Records
The Chester County Board of Elections keeps voter rolls and runs all elections. Voter data is part of the residents directory for Chester County. Each record shows the voter's name, address, party, and history. The office handles new sign-ups, address changes, and party switches.
The Board of Elections page for Chester County explains how to register and find polling places.
Residents can use this site along with the state voter portal at pavoterservices.pa.gov to check their status.
Searching Chester County Court Records
Court records for Chester County are filed at the Court of Common Pleas in West Chester. The Prothonotary handles civil matters. Criminal records and other court files are with the Clerk of Courts. Both sets of records are open to the public under state law.
The UJS Web Portal lets you search court dockets for any county in Pennsylvania. Type a name or case number and you can see basic case details for Chester County. For full files or certified copies, visit the courthouse in West Chester. The portal is free and does not require an account for basic searches.
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. section 67.101 makes most government records available to the public. Chester County follows this law. You can file a formal request with the county for any record not found through the standard search tools. The Office of Open Records handles appeals if your request is denied.
Vital Records for Chester County
Birth and death records for Chester County from 1906 to the present are held by the state. Order them through the PA Division of Vital Records. Older birth and death files may be at the Chester County Archives or through the state archives system.
Marriage licenses are issued at the county level. The Register of Wills in Chester County handles marriage license applications. The same office manages probate and estate records. These are all part of the Chester County residents directory. You can also check Pennsylvania's consolidated statutes at palegis.us/statutes for the laws that govern vital records access and procedures.
- Birth and death files from 1906 onward at the state level
- Marriage licenses through the Register of Wills
- Probate and estate records at the courthouse
- Older records at the Chester County Archives
Cities in Chester County
Chester County includes West Chester, the county seat, along with many boroughs and townships. All county-level records for these areas are held at the offices in West Chester. The residents directory serves the entire county.
County records for all Chester County municipalities are managed from the courthouse in West Chester.
Nearby Counties
Chester County borders several counties in the region. Make sure you search the right county for the records you need. Filing and record keeping is based on where a person lives or where the property sits.