District Justice 47-3-03 John Prebish
2223 W. Second Street Lilly, PA 15938
814-886-8879
Magisterial District Courts in Pennsylvania handle a variety of legal matters, serving as the initial point of contact for many cases. These courts handle summary criminal offenses, traffic violations, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil cases up to $12,000. They also conduct preliminary hearings for more serious criminal charges, determining if a case should proceed to the Court of Common Pleas.
Specific situations where you might visit a Magisterial District Court:
Summary Offenses:
If you’ve received a citation for a summary offense, such as a traffic ticket or minor criminal offense, you’ll likely need to go to the local magisterial district court.
Landlord-Tenant Disputes:
Magisterial District Courts handle landlord-tenant disputes, including eviction cases and lease disagreements.
Civil Cases (Under $12,000):
If you have a civil claim (like a breach of contract or property damage) where the amount in dispute is $12,000 or less, you can file a case in the appropriate Magisterial District Court.
Preliminary Hearings:
If someone has been charged with a more serious crime (misdemeanor or felony), the magisterial district judge will conduct a preliminary hearing to determine if there’s enough evidence to send the case to the Court of Common Pleas.
Warrants and Protection from Abuse:
Magisterial District Courts can issue arrest and search warrants and also handle Protection from Abuse (PFA) cases.
Weddings:
In some districts, magisterial district judges can also perform marriage ceremonies.
Why choose a Magisterial District Court?
Less formal and faster:
These courts are generally less formal and move cases along more quickly than higher courts.
Lower costs:
The fees associated with filing cases in these courts are typically lower.
Self-representation:
You can often represent yourself in these courts without an attorney, though it’s often wise to seek legal advice, especially in complex cases.