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In Lancaster County, money disputes up to $12,000 go to the small-claims court: simplified procedures built for people without a lawyer.
Read on for the claim ceiling, the fees, the courthouse serving Lancaster County, the way the other side is notified, the cut-off dates, and each filing step. Squabble prepares the paperwork and files it on your behalf.
Lancaster County hears small claims at several hub courthouses. The right one depends on where the defendant lives or where your dispute happened. The court matches your ZIP code to a courthouse.
Tap a courthouse to see its details in the list below.
Not sure which courthouse? Use the court's official court locator to match your ZIP code to the correct location, or let Squabble identify it for you automatically. Hub courthouses can change; confirm before you file.
Lancaster County has 4 courthouses listed above; Magisterial District Court 02-1-02 is one of them. The nearest counties to Lancaster County are York County and Lebanon County.
This court accepts electronic filing for small claims, so a case can be started without a courthouse trip.
Small claims are heard at the courthouse, in person.
Two sets of evidence are needed, one for the judge and one for the other side, and some courts also take it electronically in advance.
In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, small claims cases are heard in the Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court system, which handles civil claims up to $12,000. Magisterial District Court 02-1-02 is located at 2205 Oregon Pike in Lancaster, ZIP code 17601, and can be reached at (717) 569-8774. That court is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Two other locations serve the area from Lancaster as well, Magisterial District Court 02-2-03 at 1351 Elm Avenue, reachable at (717) 299-7898, and Magisterial District Court 02-2-04 at 796A New Holland Ave., reachable at (717) 299-7966, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The county has a population of 563,293 and includes communities such as Ephrata, Columbia, Elizabethtown, Denver, and Gap, along with ZIP codes including 17022, 17512, and 17522. It lies near York County, Lebanon County, and Chester County. Electronic filing is not available.
More than one location takes small claims here. The court matches a case to a location by address.
These 62 places sit inside Lancaster County:
Adamstown, Akron, Bainbridge, Bart, Bausman, Bird In Hand, Blue Ball, Bowmansville, Brownstown, Christiana, Columbia, Conestoga, Denver, Drumore, East Earl, East Petersburg, Elizabethtown, Elm, Ephrata, Gap, Goodville, Gordonville, Holtwood, Hopeland, Intercourse, Kinzers, Kirkwood, Lampeter, Lancaster, Landisville, Leola, Lititz, Manheim, Marietta, Martindale, Maytown, Millersville, Mount Joy, Mountville, Narvon, New Holland, New Providence, Paradise, Peach Bottom, Penryn, Pequea, Quarryville, Reamstown, Refton, Reinholds, Rheems, Ronks, Silver Spring, Smoketown, Stevens, Strasburg, Talmage, Terre Hill, Washington Boro, West Willow, Willow Street, Witmer.
Lancaster County holds about 563,293 people, 6th of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Magisterial District Court 02-1-02 in Lancaster lies around 12 miles from the York County courthouse in York and 9 miles from the Lebanon County courthouse in Lebanon.
Neighbouring counties and the courts that serve them:
This is the part of the court built for ordinary money arguments. The procedure is stripped back, and there is a ceiling on the amount at stake.
Maximum claim
Filing is generally possible in the county of the events or the county of the defendant.
Splitting a single claim across multiple filings to dodge the ceiling is not permitted.
What this court awards is a sum of money, not an instruction to act or to hand something back.
Pennsylvania permits lawyers at the hearing without requiring them. Everything is built around people presenting their own case.
Under-18s are represented by a guardian the court appoints.
Over the limit? A claim above the ceiling can be trimmed to fit, or filed in full in the ordinary civil court. Trimming generally means writing off the remainder.
They are the same across all 73 Lancaster County ZIP codes, from 17022 onward. Lancaster County is under the same limits as nearby York County and Lebanon County.
Debts up to $12,000 belong in this court. These are the arguments people bring most frequently.
Lancaster County has about 563,293 residents. Lancaster County takes in Adamstown, Akron and Bainbridge and the rest of the county.
It's built to be navigable without a lawyer. Here's the shape of a case from start to finish.
Fill in the claim, pick the courthouse that covers the dispute, and pay what the court charges.
Service puts the papers in the defendant's hands and starts their time to answer or settle.
Expect a brief session rather than a trial, in person or by video where available, with a decision at the end or soon after.
Magisterial District Court 02-1-02 publishes its counter hours; they are listed on this page. This is the route a Lancaster County case takes, whether it starts in 17022 or anywhere else among the county ZIP codes.
Filing is only half of it. The defendant has to receive formal notice, a step called service of process, and in most cases you cannot hand over the papers yourself. Pennsylvania courts usually take delivery by delivery arranged by the court, email service where the court allows it, certified mail, the sheriff or constable or personal delivery by an approved server.
Depending on the court: the sheriff or constable, a professional process server, the clerk by certified mail, or another adult who isn't part of the case. Methods and costs vary by county.
Every court fixes a minimum number of days between service and the hearing. The clerk will tell you what it is for your case. Service must be at least 10 days before hearing. With exception of Philadelphia, all counties do certified mail.
The person who delivered the papers signs a proof of service. That document goes to the court ahead of the hearing.
Service is where many self-filed cases stall. Squabble can coordinate professional Service of Process so it's done correctly and on time.
York County and Lebanon County are the counties nearest to Lancaster County. A Lancaster County address carries one of its 73 ZIP codes, 17022, 17501 and 17502 among them.
Filing is only possible for a set time after the events. Beyond it, the other side can have the claim thrown out.
| Kind of claim | Filing deadline |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 4 years |
| Oral contract | 4 years |
| Property damage | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
They do not change from one Lancaster County ZIP code to another, 17022 included. Lancaster County, population about 563,293, is covered by the table above.
Money owed under a contract in Pennsylvania generally accrues interest at 6% per year before judgment (41 P.S. §202).
Interest can be calculated before filing using the Squabble interest calculator.
It is the same rate across all 73 Lancaster County ZIP codes. Lancaster County is under the same state rate as nearby York County and Lebanon County.
Two checks first: the amount must fall within the ceiling, and the claim must still be in time.
Identify the party precisely, lay out what occurred, and show the arithmetic behind the total.
File at the Lancaster County hub courthouse for your dispute's ZIP code, or e-file, and pay the $30–$100 fee (or request a waiver if you qualify).
With a hearing date in hand, organise service and lodge the completed proof with the court.
Arrange your evidence and number the exhibits so nothing has to be searched for on the day.
Come to the hearing in person or remotely where permitted, present the facts, and get the ruling.
Tell Eleanor what happened and Squabble builds the filing, Triple-Checks™ it for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files it on your behalf.
Start for FREE →Claim form starts the case · Proof of service shows the defendant was notified · Fee waiver if you qualify. Exact form names vary by court; Squabble prepares the right ones for your courthouse.
A Lancaster County filing goes to one of 4 courthouses, Magisterial District Court 02-1-02 among them. Lancaster County has a population of about 563,293.
Hearings are short and plainly run. Questions come from the judge, and most parties appear without help.
Lancaster County has about 563,293 residents. Adamstown, Akron and Bainbridge are among the Lancaster County places a hearing can draw parties from.
The ruling establishes the debt. Recovery is a further step, supported by enforcement measures that are set by each state.
Some states permit part of the debtor's wages to be diverted to the judgment until it is cleared.
A levy lets the court reach money sitting in the debtor's bank account.
Lodging the judgment with the county can create a lien over property the debtor owns.
You can also ask the court to order the debtor to appear and disclose income and assets under oath. An unpaid judgment generally keeps accruing interest at the rate state law sets until it's satisfied.
Adamstown, Akron and Bainbridge are among the Lancaster County places a judgment debtor may live in. A Lancaster County judgment comes from one of its 4 listed courthouses.
Last reviewed August 2026. Court fees, limits, and procedures change. Verify current details with the court before filing.
Talk with Eleanor about what happened. Squabble prepares your demand letter and court-ready documents, Triple-Checks them for administrative and jurisdictional accuracy, and files your Lancaster County case for you.
