Berks County Court Records

Berks County Court records are created in accordance with the provisions of 204 Pa. Code Chapter 213 Court Records Policies. These documents are filed with, accepted, and maintained by a court or custodian as defined by § 213.81. They include papers, dockets, books, pictures, or other documents maintained in various forms.

In Berks County, Pennsylvania, these records are instrumental in helping the general public understand the justice system and its processes. They can be used as evidence in court because they provide crucial proof that a particular activity or transaction occurred. Court records in Berks County encompass dockets, indices, and documents such as orders, opinions, judgments, and decrees.

Are Court Records Public in Berks County?

Yes. Per the Pennsylvania Right to Know Statute, public, legislative, and financial records shall be accessible for inspection and duplication unless otherwise determined by law/court order. The County of Berks's Right to Know Policy also recognizes the importance of open government by providing public access to information and recording the county's dedication to enhancing public information accessibility.

However, an agency may withhold records per several exceptions included in the RTKL. Factors such as court orders and the attorney-client privilege may also be considered when limiting public access to specific records. Some of the court records which are exempt from public inspection include:

• Social Security numbers
• Identity of confidential informants
• Driver's license numbers
• Employee numbers
• Home, cellular, or personal phone numbers
• A minor's name, home address, and date of birth.
• Personal financial information
• Personal medical information
• Spouse's name, marital status, beneficiary or dependent information

Berks County Court Records Search

Persons seeking Berk County Courts records may conduct their search through:

• The Unified Judicial Web Portal
• The court where the case was filed
• The Berks County Civil System

Berks County Court Records Search by Name

To perform a name-based court record search in Berks County, inquirers may do one of the following:

• In-person Searches: Interested persons may contact the courthouse where a case was filed in person to carry out a name-based court record search. In this case, the inquirer must provide the record holder's full name as well as other important information.
• The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal: This online tool, which is provided by the state judiciary, may be utilized by anyone who wishes to conduct a name-based court record search online. To perform a court record search by name, click on the "Search by" drop-down box and choose the "Participant Name" option. Choose Berks County in the drop-down option and input the relevant name of the party involved. Input other information if available and click on search. Individuals can also download the docket sheet or court summary of the case involving the relevant party.
• Berks County Civil System: Individuals may obtain civil court case records through this online tool by simply typing in the first and last name of the relevant party and clicking on search.

Berks County Courts

The following are the addresses and contact information of courts in Berks County:

Berks County Court of Common Pleas
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6208
Fax: (610) 478-6366

Berks County Clerk of Courts
633 Court Street
4th Floor
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6550
Fax: (610) 478-6570

Register Of Wills/Clerk Of Orphans' Court
Berks County Services Center, 2nd Floor
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6600
Fax: (610) 478-6251

Berks County Prothonotary
Berks County Courthouse, 2nd Floor
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6970

Office of Court Administration
633 Court Street, 7th Floor
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6208
Fax: (610) 478-6366

Adult Probation & Parole Office
633 Court Street, 7th Floor
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-3400
Fax: (610) 478-3451

Court Reporters
633 Court Street, 14th Floor
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6467
Fax: (610) 478-4949

Domestic Relations Office
633 Court Street
6th Floor, Services Center
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-2900
Fax: (610) 478-6583

Family Court
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6208
Fax: (610) 478-4995

Jury Services
Services Center, 2nd Floor
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6402
Fax: (610) 478-6449

Berks County Juvenile Probation
633 Court Street
10th Floor, Services Center
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-3200
Fax: (610) 478-3251

Berks County Law Library
10th Floor
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-3370
Fax: (610) 478-6375

Magisterial District Court
Special Courts Administration
633 Court Street, 1st Floor
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6456
Fax: (610) 478-6608

Treatment Court
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6208
Fax: (610) 478-6366

Criminal Justice Advisory Board
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6208

Berks County District Attorney's Office
633 Court Street
5th Floor Services Center
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6000
Fax: (610) 478-6002

Berks County Superior Court Case Search

The Berks County Court of Common Pleas, also known as a trial court, handles both criminal and civil issues, including those concerning families and children, such as divorce, property division, alimony, child custody and support, paternity, and protection orders. They additionally handle appeals from the lower court.

Anyone looking to conduct a court case search can visit the courthouse where a case was filed to look for it.

Individuals may also use the Open Records Request Form to address a request to the Records Officer in charge of the county records. Persons seeking criminal court records may download, fill, and email or fax the request form from the Berks Clerk of Court's website to the Clerk of Court's official address.

Alternatively, interested persons may find court records, such as dockets and calendars, through the Unified Judicial Web Portal. At the same time, Civil court records can be found in the Berks County Civil Court System.

Berks County District Court Records

The Berks County Magisterial District Court has jurisdiction over civil claims with a disputed amount of less than $12,000.00, landlord/tenant disputes, summary offenses (both traffic and non-traffic), and preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases. They provide emergency remedies under the Protection From Abuse Act and the Older Adult Protective Services Act. Magisterial district judges also issue arrest warrants, preside over preliminary arraignments, establish and accept bail, execute search warrants, and perform marriage ceremonies.

To access magistrate district court records in Berks County, interested persons may:

• Visit the relevant courthouse in person.
• Look up the magisterial district court records online via the "Berks County Civil Court System" online tool or the "Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal".

Berks County Criminal Records

Persons seeking Berks County criminal records may contact the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) to request a criminal record check on a Berks County resident. Requests can be made online by filling out and submitting the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) online form.

Alternatively, requests for criminal records or Berks County Arrest Records can be sent in by mail. To do so, download, fill out, and mail the Criminal History Request Form to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with a certified check or money order.

There is a $22.00 non-refundable fee for each request. Credit card payments and billing to a pre-established account are accepted. Customers will be charged for misspelled words, duplicate submissions, and other user mistakes. A notarized copy incurs an extra non-refundable fee of $5.00. Notarized copies are not accessible for free volunteer checks.

Furthermore, most criminal case dispositions can be accessed by examining court docket sheets on the Pennsylvania Judiciary website.

Berks County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Berks County criminal court records include all records of criminal court proceedings kept by the county's judicial system. Interested persons may look up criminal cases in Berks County by contacting the Berks County Open Records Office, filling and submitting an Open Records Request Form in person, via mail or via email at Countyopenrecordsofficer@countyofberks.com and by Fax: (610) 478-6293.

Interested persons may also contact the Clerk of Court's Open Records Officer in person for more information on criminal court records in Berks County. Inquirers may look up the Open Records Policy and Fee Schedule for details concerning the fees required to access the court documents.

Alternatively, members of the public may utilize the "Unified Judicial Web Portal" maintained by the state of Pennsylvania to view Berks County criminal court case records.

Get Berks County Civil Court Records

Civil court case records are legal documents and files that contain information about civil cases filed by people, institutions, or businesses in a civil court. Berks County has three civil courts; the Court of Common Pleas, the Register of Wills, and the Clerk of the Orphan's Court. The Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas serves as Chief Clerk and record keeper for all civil case files. The office is responsible for filing, documenting, and processing all civil cases, family court issues, equity actions, judgments, federal, state, and local tax liens, municipal liens, arbitrations, license suspension appeals, and appeals to higher courts.

Members of the public seeking civil court case records in Berks County may search with the Berks County Civil Court System (CMS). Inquirers may also obtain copies of these records at the county courthouse or court clerk's office.

Berks County Family Court Records

Family cases in Berks County are tried in the Court of Common Pleas. The Family Court Office provides families and children with an accessible, consistent, and coordinated approach to addressing legal issues. Areas of service include protection from abuse, divorce, custody, domestic relations, etc. Family Court matters are recorded and maintained by the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas. Interested parties may stop by this office to view or obtain copies of available family court records. The "Berks County Civil Court" System also provides family court records to interested persons online.

The law requires that certain parts of family court records be redacted and made confidential. As a result, third-party requestors may be denied access to such case material.

Berks Dissolution of Marriage Records

Dissolution of marriage is the legal term for a divorce in Pennsylvania. Berks County's dissolution of marriage records comprise all documents related to a divorce or annulment conducted by a local court. Anyone may look up dissolution of marriage or divorce records through the following methods:

• Berks County Civil Court System (CMS).
• The courthouse where the divorce was filed

Berks County Marriage and Divorce Records

Anyone seeking marriage records in Berks County may obtain them by contacting the Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans' Court offices in the Berks County Services Center (Courthouse) in person during working hours. Interested persons may also view marriage records on the "Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court Online Services" after registering. Marriage records available include those dating from 2009 to date and Records up to 2008. Individuals may also view marriage records information from 1885 to date.

The Prothonotary's Office in Berks County serves as the legal custodian of all divorce proceedings filed with the Berks County Court of Common Plea. Interested persons may visit the courthouse where the divorce case was filed in person or easily look up divorce records online through the Berks County Civil Court System (CMS). However, that access to certified copies of marriage and divorce records in Berks County is limited to persons named in the record and authorized individuals.

Berks County Birth and Death Records

The Genealogy Department of the Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans' Court offices maintains and disseminates Berks County birth and death records to inquirers. Interested persons may conduct a birth or death record in person at the Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans' Court offices in person. Alternatively, registered users may obtain birth and death records by utilizing the "Online Service" provided by the office. Birth and death records information ranging from 1894 to 1906 may be accessed by the general public.

Furthermore, the Pennsylvania Department of Vital Records preserves a database of birth and death records registered in Pennsylvania between 1906 to the present. Pennsylvania's Vital Statistics Law of 1953 governs the release of vital records such as marriage, birth, fetal death, and death records. Legislation grants the public access to birth and death records after a certain period. However, there are limitations to the accessibility of vital records prior to this time.

Berks County Probate Court Records

The Berks County Register Of Wills decides whether the document submitted for Probate/Estates should be accepted as the decedent's last will. When conflicts develop during probate, the Register, as a quasi-judicial officer, has the authority to hold hearings, receive testimony, analyze evidence, and decide how the estate should be administered. The Register of Wills is a mandated keeper of all probate records filed at the office. Therefore, anyone interested in obtaining a probate record in Berks County may contact the Register of Wills office in person, via email, or by phone during working hours.

Berks County Property Records

Berks County original deeds, mortgages, and miscellaneous books are available for inspection at the Berks County Recorder of Deeds office upon request. Interested persons may contact the office in person. The Recorder of Deeds Online Services provides registered users with a centralized way to search and access documents recorded in the office. Records are filed by party name, and while address searches are possible, they are unreliable because addresses have changed over time and were not routinely searched until recently. However, interested parties can use the Assessment Office Parcel Search to find property and owner identities by current address. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies can be purchased from this website for $10.00 per document plus a $1.75 convenience fee. Anyone who uses the print queue option for multiple print jobs will only be charged the $1.75 + fee once.

All deeds dating back to 1892 and 1752 to 1855 can be searched by party name. All mortgages dating back to 1949 and miscellaneous documents from 1937 can be searched by name. All other older documents are searchable by name using the computerized index books, which can be accessed by selecting "Index Books" as the search criterion.

Berks County Court Records Online

Several third-party websites like Pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us also offer access to public records. However, while most third-party websites provide free search services to interested users, some in-depth searches may incur fees. Individuals can also pay a monthly or annual fee based on how frequently they conduct searches.

Third-party websites provide a convenient and expeditious alternative to public-owned databases, but the information available might differ from official sources since the government does not maintain them. Individuals are encouraged to verify details obtained from third-party websites because they may be unreliable.