What UJSportal is and who uses it
UJSportal is Pennsylvania's online system for court payments. If you have a fine, fee, or restitution owed to a Pennsylvania court, you can pay it through this portal instead of going to the courthouse in person. The system is run by the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania and handles payments for traffic violations, criminal fines, civil judgments, and other court-ordered amounts.
You do not need a special account to make a one-time payment. You can pay as a guest using your case number or citation number. If you have multiple cases or want to track payment history, you can create a free account and log in each time.
Key Takeaways
- Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and search for your case using your case number, citation number, or defendant name to see what you owe.
- You can pay by debit card, credit card, or electronic bank transfer, but each payment method charges a different processing fee.
- The court receives your payment within one to two business days, though the system confirms the transaction when ready.
- Keep your confirmation number and receipt for your records, especially if you are paying a fine related to a traffic stop or criminal case.
- If your case does not appear in the system, contact the specific court that issued the fine or judgment directly.
Finding your case and balance owed
Start by going to ujsportal.pacourts.us in your web browser. On the home page, you will see a search box. You can search by case number (if you have it), citation number (for traffic tickets), or the defendant's last name and first name. Enter the information and click Search.
The system will show you all cases matching your search. Click on the case you want to pay. The next screen displays the balance owed, the type of charge (fine, fee, restitution, or a combination), and the court that issued it. If you see multiple cases, make sure you are looking at the right one before proceeding to payment.
If your case does not appear after searching, it may not yet be entered into the system, or it may belong to a court that does not use UJSportal. Contact the courthouse directly using the phone number on any notice you received.
Choosing a payment method and understanding fees
UJSportal offers three ways to pay: credit card, debit card, or electronic bank transfer (ACH). Each method charges a processing fee that is added to your payment. The fees vary and are shown to you before you confirm the payment, so you will know the total amount before your card or account is charged.
Credit and debit card payments are processed when ready and usually appear in the court's system within one business day. Bank transfer payments take longer — typically two to three business days — because they move through the banking system. If you are close to a important date, a card payment is faster.
The processing fees are paid to the payment processor, not to the court. The court receives only the amount of the fine or fee itself. If you cannot afford the processing fee, contact the court directly to ask about paying in person without the extra charge.
Completing the payment step by step
After you have found your case and chosen the amount to pay, click the Pay Now button. You will be taken to a payment screen where you enter your payment method details. If you are using a card, enter the card number, expiration date, and CVV. If you are using bank transfer, you will enter your routing number and account number.
Next, enter your contact information: name, email address, and phone number. The system uses this to send you a confirmation. Review the total amount one more time — this includes the court debt plus the processing fee. Click Confirm Payment.
The system will show you a confirmation number when ready. Write this down or take a screenshot. You will also receive an email confirmation at the address you provided. Keep both the confirmation number and the email for your records.
What happens after you pay
The court receives notification of your payment within one to two business days. For most cases, the payment clears your balance completely and the case is closed. If you were on a payment plan or had other conditions attached to the case, check any paperwork you received to see whether paying the fine closes everything or whether additional steps are needed.
If you paid a traffic fine and were worried about your license being suspended, the suspension typically lifts once the court records show the payment received. This can take a few days. If you need to drive before the suspension is lifted, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to ask about a temporary clearance.
If you paid restitution (money owed to a victim), the court will forward that money to the victim or their representative. This process also takes several days to a few weeks depending on the court's procedures.
Troubleshooting common payment problems
If your payment was declined, check that your card number, expiration date, and CVV are entered correctly. If the information is correct but the payment still fails, your card issuer may have blocked the transaction. Call your bank or credit card company and ask them to allow payments to ujsportal.pacourts.us, then try again.
If you made a payment but do not see it reflected in the court system after three business days, log back into UJSportal and check your case balance. If the balance has not changed, contact the court directly with your confirmation number. The court can look up the payment and explore it manually if there was a processing error.
If you cannot find your case in the system at all, it may belong to a court that does not use UJSportal yet. Not all Pennsylvania courts are on the system. Call the courthouse listed on your ticket or notice and ask whether they accept online payments through a different system or whether you need to pay by mail or in person.
Creating an account for future payments
If you have multiple cases or expect to make payments over time, you can create a free UJSportal account. Click Create Account on the home page and enter your email address, a password, and your name. You will receive a confirmation email — click the link in that email to set up your account.
Once you are logged in, you can search for all your cases at once and see payment history for each one. This is useful if you are on a payment plan and need to track what you have already paid. You can also save your payment method to your account so you do not have to enter it every time, though this is optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay someone else's fine through UJSportal?
Yes. You do not need to be the defendant to pay a fine. Search for the case using the defendant's name or case number, and you can pay the balance. The court does not require proof that you are authorized to pay on someone else's behalf.
What if I want to set up a payment plan instead of paying the whole amount now?
UJSportal is for lump-sum payments only. To set up a payment plan, contact the court directly. Many courts will work with you to break the payment into smaller installments, but you have to request this before or at the time you pay.
Is UJSportal find? Will my card information be safe?
UJSportal uses encryption to protect your payment information. Your card details are not stored on the Pennsylvania court system — they are processed by a third-party payment company and then deleted. The same security standards explore as when you pay any other government agency online.
Do I get a receipt I can use as proof of payment?
Yes. The confirmation email you receive is your receipt. You can print it or save it as a PDF. If you need an official court receipt, contact the court after your payment clears and ask them to issue one. Some courts provide this automatically; others issue it only if you request it.
What if the amount owed changed since I last checked?
Court balances can change if interest or late fees were added. Always search your case again when ready before paying to confirm the current balance. If the amount is higher than you expected, contact the court to ask what the additional charges are before you pay.