Berks County Court Records
Dockets, indices, and documents (such as orders, opinions, judgments, decrees) for any case filed with, accepted, and maintained by a court or custodian is considered a “Court Record”, otherwise known as a “Case Record”.
§ 213.81 of the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania applies this rule equally to case records maintained in paper and electronic formats. A Clerk of Court serves as the primary custodian of court records in Berks County.
These records constitute part of Berks County Public Records and are available for public viewing and copying unless otherwise specified by law or judicial order.
The primary reason for the maintenance of these court records in Berks County, Pennsylvania, is to aid members of the public understand the functionalities of the judicial system, promote transparency, and hold the courts accountable for their verdicts and actions. For historical context, the preservation of court records gives room for legal reference and research since every citizen has easy access to documents containing their individual court case.
Are Court Records Public in Berks County
Yes. Per the Berks Right-to-Know-Law (RTKL), Berks court records are available to members of the public. Anyone who desires to inspect or copy a court record maintained by a county court can do so by simply submitting a request for access form. The Office of Open Records provides a detailed OOR's RTKL Flow Chart: Request through Appeal to encourage cooperation among all parties.
Nonetheless, disclosure of certain court records is barred by judicial order or attorney-client privilege under Section 708 of the Right-to-Know Law. The County Court may deny the release of a court record if it falls within one of the exceptions designed to protect information that is confidential or may jeopardize safety or investigations.
Types of confidential information include:
- Social Security Numbers
- Financial Account Numbers
- Driver's License Numbers
- State Identification (SID) Numbers
- Minors’ names and dates of birth except when a minor is charged as a defendant in a criminal matter
- Abuse victim’s address and other contact information, including employer’s name, address and work schedule, in family court actions as defined by Rule 1930.1, except for victim’s name.
Other statutes also restrict access to certain court records. These include records from adoption, juvenile delinquency, guardianship terminating parental rights, and certain criminal cases.
Where to Conduct a Berks County Case Lookup
Members of the public can conduct a Berks County case lookup to inspect/copy court records at the court location where a case was filed or presided. Online portals are also available for inquirers to find Berks County court records, this includes:
- Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal (this portal manages access to the statewide case management systems’ web docket sheets and requests for bulk data)
- Berks County Civil System
How to Conduct a Berks County Case Records Search
The Berks County Open Records Office provides adequate information for obtaining official court records filed and decided in the county and circuit court.
Records Request Search
Interested individuals can address a request to the County Records Officer in charge of the court record. For instance, the Clerk of Courts Open Record Officer is in charge of all criminal court records, while the Prothonotary Open Records Officer manages all information on civil and divorce court records.
Access to viewing and printing physical copies of the court records is granted by filing an Open Records Request Form through the office of the Court Records Officer in charge of the said court record.
For Criminal Court Records, inquirers must download the request form from the Berks Clerk of Court’s website, fill in the appropriate information, then email or fax it to the Clerk of Court's official address.
This process is cheaper and gives room for individuals to find certain records that are not available online.
Arrangements may be made for one to view these records for free within the provisions of statutory law. Nonetheless, the Open Records Policy and Fee Schedule contains details of the cost for each document. The minimal fee for each page is 25 cents and must be paid at the time the request is granted.
Electronic Case Records Search
The State of Pennsylvania maintains a Unified Judicial Web Portal that provides members of the public with access to certain county case records online and upon request.
Other case records within limits on public access to unified judicial system case records and Local Court Rules are not available for online public viewing and copying. Inquirers may get them at the courthouse if their Confidential Document Form is approved by the court.
The Frequently Asked Questions section of the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides accurate responses for more inquiries.
Physical Visit to Courthouse
Individuals can search for Berks County and Circuit court records at the Berks County Case Open Records Request Division located at:
County Open Records Officer
13th Floor Services Center
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Email: Countyopenrecordsofficer@countyofberks.com
Fax: (610) 478-6293
Persons requiring criminal case records may visit the Clerk of Courts office.For law library, domestic relations, adult probation, and juvenile Probation, a person must visit the division where the case was filed.
Berks County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records are legal documents and files that contain details of civil lawsuits filed by individuals, institutions, or companies in a civil court. Berks County's civil courts include the Court of Common Pleas, Register of Wills, and Clerk of the Orphan's Court.
The Prothonotary's Office in Berks County acts as the legal custodian of all civil instruments filed with the Berks County Court of Common Plea. On the other hand, the Register of Wills is a mandated keeper of all records filed in the Orphan’s Court and a great resource for genealogical information.
Major civil case records one can obtain from the Berks County of Common Pleas include family court matters, jury trials, civil appeals, and a few minor cases like domestic violence cases, assault, and divorce. Meanwhile, the Clerk of the Orphan’s Court holds records of probate cases, dockets, and files for adoptions, guardianships, marriage licenses, and other issues that may come before the Orphan's Court Judge.
Anyone seeking a civil court case record in Berks County can begin their search on the Berks County Civil Court System (CMS). The applicable courthouse or court clerk’s office is an alternative to getting copies of civil court case records.
Berks County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records are legal tenders generated by criminal courts following a proceeding. These records are typically held by court clerks in Berks County's district courts.
The Clerk of Courts prepares and maintains the court case records for the criminal division of the Court of Common Pleas.
The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal provides the public with access to criminal dockets filed and presided over within the county Criminal Court of Common Pleas. Inquirers may also email or visit the physical office of the clerk.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Members of the public have free access to Berks County court records on the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal. Members of the public may also find court records online for free on third-party aggregate websites, or at a nominal fee if extended research is required.
Courts in Berks County
The following are the addresses and contact information of the courthouses 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
Here are other county courthouse divisions:
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
