Magisterial District Courts in Pennsylvania

Not every dispute belongs in the Court of Common Pleas. Pennsylvania's Magisterial District Courts (MDJ courts) are the front line of the justice system; handling small civil claims, landlord-tenant disputes, and summary criminal offenses. There are 501 magisterial district courts across the state, each presided over by an elected Magisterial District Judge.

What MDJ Courts Handle

• Civil claims up to $12,000: The jurisdictional limit for civil actions before an MDJ. This covers debt collection, property damage, breach of contract, return of security deposits, and similar claims. There is no jury: the judge decides the case.
• Landlord-tenant disputes: Eviction proceedings (actions to recover possession of real property under Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 501 et seq.) are filed with the MDJ, regardless of the amount of rent owed. The MDJ can also hear related rent claims within its jurisdictional limit. However, the MDJ's jurisdiction over possession cases requires a landlord-tenant relationship, meaning a lease or rental agreement (written or oral). Without that relationship, for example a family member allowed to live in a property without a lease, a holdover after a land contract falls through, or a trespasser, the MDJ has no jurisdiction. The proper remedy is an action in ejectment, filed in the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. Ejectment is longer and more expensive, but it is the only option when no lease or rental agreement exists.
• Summary criminal offenses: Traffic citations, disorderly conduct, retail theft (first offense, under $150), underage drinking, and other summary offenses punishable by fine or up to 90 days in jail.
• Preliminary hearings: Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases start with a preliminary hearing before the MDJ to determine whether the Commonwealth has sufficient evidence to hold the case for trial at the Court of Common Pleas.
• Emergency PFA orders: When a judge of the Court of Common Pleas is unavailable (weekends, holidays), an MDJ (sitting as a hearing officer) can issue an emergency Protection From Abuse order under 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, which expires at the end of the next business day the court deems itself available.
• Search warrants: MDJs issue search warrants and arrest warrants for law enforcement.

Filing a Civil Complaint at the MDJ

To start a small claims case, file a Civil Complaint (Form AOPC 308A) at the magisterial district court with jurisdiction over your case. The form requires:

• Your name and address (plaintiff)
• The defendant's name and address
• The amount claimed (up to $12,000 plus costs)
• A summary of facts supporting your claim
• Your verification under penalty of law (18 Pa.C.S. § 4904)
• Certification of compliance with the Case Records Public Access Policy

Filing costs, service costs, and constable education fees are added to your claim. Under Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 206, the prevailing party can recover these costs.

Private Criminal Complaints

In addition to civil cases, Pennsylvania allows private citizens to file Private Criminal Complaints (Form AOPC 411A) with the MDJ. Under Pa.R.Crim.P. 506, a private criminal complaint must be submitted to the attorney for the Commonwealth (District Attorney) for approval or disapproval before the issuing authority may act on it. If the DA disapproves, you may petition the Court of Common Pleas for review. The complaint must set forth a summary of facts sufficient to advise the defendant of the nature of the offense, a bare citation to a statute is not enough.

Appeals from the MDJ

If you lose at the MDJ level, you have the right to appeal to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. This is a trial de novo, meaning the case starts over completely, as if the MDJ hearing never happened. For civil (non-landlord-tenant) cases, the appeal must be filed within 30 days of the MDJ's judgment. For residential landlord-tenant possession cases, the deadline is only 10 days (Landlord and Tenant Act § 513). If a tenant appeals a possession judgment, to obtain a supersedeas they must also deposit with the prothonotary, at the time the appeal is filed, a sum (or bond) equal to the lesser of three months' rent or the rent actually in arrears on the filing date, and then deposit each month's rent as it becomes due (within 30 days of the appeal and each successive 30-day period thereafter) during the appeal (Landlord and Tenant Act § 513; Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 1008(B)). Failure to maintain escrow results in termination of the supersedeas. Once appealed, the case proceeds under the regular Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. If you're considering an appeal, keep in mind that the costs (filing fee, attorney fees, and the time involved) may exceed what's at stake.

MDJ Courts vs. Court of Common Pleas

Statutory content on this page was last verified against Pennsylvania statutes (20 Pa.C.S.; 72 P.S. Art. XXI): Jun. 2026. If you are reading this significantly after that date, confirm key provisions with current statute text or contact our office.