Berks County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

With 428,483 residents, Berks County is the fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania and is located in South Central Pennsylvania. Reading serves as the county seat. The Magisterial District Courts and Courts of Common Pleas make up the Berks County trial court system. Common Pleas Court is generally limited to hearing cases that fall outside the purview of its inferior court, but has wide authority over all civil and criminal issues. Magisterial District Courts can only hear specific kinds of cases.

The Berks County Courts of Common Pleas tackle a wider range of cases. This includes all felonies and lesser criminal offenses, civil claims with no financial limitations, domestic relations matters like divorce and child support, juvenile cases, adoptions, and corrections to birth certificates. They also handle appeals of some administrative decisions and arbitration reviews. This court has an Orphans' Court Division that handles estates, wills, guardianships, and termination of parental rights. The county's Court of Common Pleas has specialized Family Court and Domestic Relations Divisions that focus on specific areas like custody, divorce, and support collection services for children. The Berks County Magisterial District Courts handle less complex matters. Their jurisdiction includes most minor offenses and preliminary hearings for some serious crimes. They can also address specific DUI cases, certain misdemeanors, and some ordinance violations. In limited civil cases, they handle some landlord-tenant disputes. However, these courts cannot handle civil cases involving the state government. Magisterial District Courts have judges, typically with different titles - "District Justice" or "Magisterial District Judge." Regardless of the title, they hold the same jurisdictional authority.

The Berks County court system, which handles approximately 8,440 cases a year, is proof of how far its legal system has developed. The county is a prime example of why having a strong legal system is crucial, with a crime rate of 1,972.1 per 100,000 residents. The county maintains electronic court records that are accessible to the public. To access, use the search portal.

In summary, the Berks County court system is dedicated to maintaining justice across the legal system and is a crucial component of the county administration. The county's Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts work together to provide a robust legal framework that can handle a range of cases. The public's confidence in the Berks County legal system has increased since the implementation of an electronic system that ensures accessibility and transparency while protecting court records.