Search Chester County Phone Directory
Chester County maintains public records and contact information for dozens of government offices across southeastern Pennsylvania. The county seat is West Chester, where most departments are based. This Chester County phone directory connects you with courts, clerks, and administrative offices by listing their direct phone numbers, addresses, and hours. Use it to find the right person or department before you visit the Chester County Government Services Center at 313 West Market Street.
Chester County Quick Facts
Chester County Government Phone Directory
Chester County offices are centered at the Government Services Center in West Chester. The main phone number is 610-344-6000. This line connects to a switchboard that can route your call to any department. Staff answer during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
The Chester County official website provides a full department directory with direct phone numbers. You can search by office name or browse an alphabetical list. Each listing shows the phone number, office location, and hours for that Chester County division. Key contacts include Records Search at 610-344-4283, Commissioners at 610-344-6100, Assessment at 610-344-6105, and Health Department at 610-344-6225.
The Chester County phone directory also covers elected officials. The Commissioners, District Attorney, Sheriff, Controller, Treasurer, and other row officers all have listed phone lines. Each office handles a specific set of records and services for Chester County residents.
Save the main number in your phone for quick access. Chester County staff can point you to the right office in seconds.
Court Phone Numbers for Chester County
The Chester County Court of Common Pleas is located at 201 West Market Street in West Chester. Several offices within the court system keep records and take calls from the public. Each has its own phone line in the Chester County phone directory.
Yolanda Van de Krol serves as Clerk of Courts. Her office is in Suite 1400 at the courthouse. Call 610-344-6135 to reach the Clerk of Courts for criminal case records, summary appeals, or certified copies. The fee for certified copies is $5 per document. Standard copies cost $1 per page for the first 100 pages, then $0.25 per page after that. Copies from microfilm cost $2 per page. A criminal record search costs $21.
Debbie Bookman is the Prothonotary. Her office is in Suite 1425 at the same address. Call 610-344-6300 for civil case records, divorce records, or judgment searches. Copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies start at $7.00, which covers the first four pages. Each page after four costs $0.65.
The Chester County Court public records page explains how to submit open records requests for court documents. Most court records can also be viewed online through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal.
For family court, probate, or estate matters, contact the Register of Wills. Michele Vaughn holds that role. Her office is at 201 West Market Street, Suite 2200. Call 610-344-6335. Marriage records can also be obtained through this office in Chester County.
Note: Chester County court offices may close early on certain holidays, so call ahead to confirm hours.
Chester County Phone Directory for Property Records
Diane O'Dwyer serves as Recorder of Deeds for Chester County. The office is at 313 West Market Street, Suite 3302, in West Chester. Call 610-344-6330 to reach the Recorder of Deeds. This office records and maintains land records including deeds, mortgages, easements, and rights-of-way. The Recorder also files military discharge papers and notary public commissions.
The Chester County Recorder of Deeds provides online access to recorded documents dating back to September 15, 1905. Online searching is free. There is a fee to view or print documents. For help with the LANDEX search system, call 800-370-2836.
The Chester County Assessment office at 610-344-6105 handles property value questions. Tax Claim Bureau calls go to 610-344-6360. The Treasurer's office at 610-344-6370 handles tax payments. All three offices work with property data in Chester County.
Chester County Archives and Historic Records
Chester County has one of the oldest archives in Pennsylvania. The Chester County Archives opened in 1982. It is located in the Government Services Center and run by the Chester County History Center in cooperation with the county. The Archives phone number is 610-344-6760. Email inquiries go to ccarchives@chesco.org.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The holdings include estate files, vital records such as births, deaths, and marriages, deeds, tax records, and many other historically significant county records. Some date back to 1682, the year Chester County was founded. Researchers interested in genealogy, local history, or property chains will find this office valuable.
The Archives website has indexes, guides, and local history projects to help you plan your research before you visit Chester County. Staff can answer questions by phone or email if you are not able to come in person.
Open Records Requests in Chester County
Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. 67.101, public records held by Chester County agencies are presumed open. Anyone can submit a request. You do not need to state a reason.
Requests must be in writing. They should be specific about what records you seek. Chester County must respond within five business days. If the request is complex, the county may take up to 30 additional days with written notice. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. The county may ask for prepayment if your total will exceed $100.
If Chester County denies your request, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The OOR reviews the case and issues a ruling at no cost to the requester. The OOR is now located at 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Certain records are exempt from disclosure. These include Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, financial account numbers, and home addresses of judges and law enforcement officers. Juvenile records, attorney-client communications, trade secrets, and criminal investigative records are also protected under Chester County's application of the law.
Note: Chester County accepts Right-to-Know requests by mail, email, and fax, so choose the method that works best for you.
Chester County Phone Directory by Department
Chester County has a broad network of departments. Here are some of the most commonly called offices and their direct lines:
- Aging Services: 610-344-6350
- Emergency Services: 610-344-5000
- Human Services: 610-344-6280
- Planning Commission: 610-344-6285
- Veteran Affairs: 610-344-6375
- Voter Services: 610-344-6410
Each of these Chester County departments answers calls during regular business hours. Some offer voicemail after hours so you can leave a message. The county website posts updated contact details when staff or numbers change. If you get a busy signal, try the main switchboard at 610-344-6000 and ask to be transferred.
The Pennsylvania state portal also links to Chester County resources and state offices that serve the region. For state-level contacts, the Commonwealth publishes a yearly telephone directory through the Bureau of Publications at 717-704-1029.
Vital Records Contacts for Chester County
Marriage licenses in Chester County are issued by the Register of Wills at 610-344-6335. Both parties must appear in person. Bring valid ID. The office is at the courthouse on West Market Street in West Chester.
Birth and death certificates are handled at the state level. Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at 724-656-3100. Their mailing address is P.O. Box 1528, New Castle, PA 16103. They hold birth records from 1915 and death records from 1906. Chester County residents can order certified copies by phone, mail, or online.
Divorce records from Chester County are available through the Prothonotary's office at 610-344-6300. The Prothonotary keeps all civil case files, including divorce decrees and settlement agreements. Chester County divorce records are also searchable through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal for basic case information.
Nearby Counties
Chester County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. Make sure you contact the right county for your records request. The county where you live or where the record was filed determines which office to call.