| Prothonotary (civil records) | Berks County Prothonotary |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts (criminal records) | Berks County Clerk of Courts |
| Clerk address | Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601 |
| Phone | Prothonotary (610) 478-6970; Clerk of Courts (610) 478-6550; Register of Wills (610) 478-6600 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Register of Wills 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) |
| Earliest records noted | Varies by court — older files may be on paper or microfilm |
| Plain copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy fee | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Berks County keeps civil case records with the elected Prothonotary and criminal case records with a separate elected Clerk of Courts, both at the Berks County Services Center in Reading. A third office, the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, is on the same floor and keeps probate and estate records.
Case searching for both civil and criminal matters runs through the statewide UJS Web Portal; Berks County's department pages are primarily contact and forms pages rather than separate search tools.
Because all three offices share the same building and courthouse complex, it is easy to walk into the wrong office; check the room number on the county directory before you go.
Search Berks County court records online
Prothonotary (civil records)
Berks County Prothonotary
- Cost
- Fees for certified copies; case searches are through the UJS Web Portal
- Coverage
- Civil, custody, divorce, judgment, and appeal filings for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas
- Records
- Civil, Family
Located at the Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading.
Clerk of Courts (criminal records)
Berks County Clerk of Courts
- Cost
- Fees for certified copies; case searches are through the UJS Web Portal
- Coverage
- Criminal and traffic filings for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas
- Records
- Criminal, Traffic
Located at the Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, 4th Floor, Reading.
Other courts
Berks County Register of Wills
- Cost
- Free to search in person; fees for certified copies
- Coverage
- Wills, estates, guardianships, and Orphans' Court dockets
- Records
- Probate
Located at the Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading.
Other courts
UJS Web Portal (used for Berks County civil and criminal dockets)
- Cost
- Free
- Coverage
- Court of Common Pleas civil and criminal docket sheets for Berks County
- Records
- Civil, Criminal, Family, Traffic
Berks County does not run a separate public case search website; use the statewide portal.
What is available online
Berks County directs case searches to the statewide UJS Web Portal for both civil and criminal dockets. The county's own department pages host contact information and forms rather than a separate search system. Probate records are primarily searched at the Register of Wills counter.
Which clerk has your record
In Pennsylvania, the clerk who keeps a file depends on which court heard the case. Check the court name on the case notice, citation, or order, then use the office and coverage details above to identify the record holder. Court names and responsibilities differ by state; a county clerk may not keep court case files. For federal cases, see the PACER guide. The full court structure is on the Pennsylvania page.
| Court | Typical cases | Records kept by |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Court of Pennsylvania | Appeals in most civil and criminal cases from the Courts of Common Pleas; Family law and custody appeals | Prothonotary of the Superior Court (docket sheets on the UJS Web Portal) |
| Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania | Civil actions by and against the Commonwealth and its agencies; Appeals from state agencies and licensing boards; Some local government and election matters | Prothonotary of the Commonwealth Court (docket sheets on the UJS Web Portal) |
| Courts of Common Pleas (60 judicial districts) | Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases; Civil lawsuits, contracts, and personal injury; Divorce, custody, and support | Prothonotary (civil) and Clerk of Courts (criminal) of the county; Register of Wills (Orphans' Court) for probate |
| Magisterial District Courts | Summary offenses and traffic citations; Landlord-tenant and small claims up to the statutory limit; Preliminary arraignments and hearings in criminal cases | Magisterial District Judge's office for that magisterial district |
| Philadelphia Municipal Court and Pittsburgh Municipal Court divisions | Misdemeanors and summary offenses within city limits; Landlord-tenant and small civil claims; Traffic within the city | Clerk of the Municipal Court division (Philadelphia); handled within the Court of Common Pleas structure in Allegheny County |
Request records in person or by mail
Berks County clerk offices
Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601
Phone: Prothonotary (610) 478-6970; Clerk of Courts (610) 478-6550; Register of Wills (610) 478-6600
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Register of Wills 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.)
Contact details were taken from the office's website and are re-checked on a schedule; confirm hours before visiting.
Civil records. Search the UJS Web Portal, or visit the Prothonotary at 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor. Certified copies require the case number and payment.
Criminal records. Search the UJS Web Portal, or contact the Clerk of Courts at 633 Court Street, 4th Floor, for certified copies or documents not shown online.
Probate and estate records. Contact or visit the Register of Wills at (610) 478-6600. Ask for the will, letters testamentary or of administration, or the estate document you need.
Fees
| Item | Typical cost in Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Plain copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
| Certified copy | Set by the clerk — ask when you request |
Copy fees are set locally by each Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, and Register of Wills under fee schedules authorized by the Judicial Code (42 Pa.C.S.) and county fee ordinances, so the per-page and certification charges differ by county and change periodically. Confirm the current fee with the specific office before sending payment.
Need a copy an agency will accept? See how to get certified copies of court records.
Sealed and restricted records
Pennsylvania court records are presumed open under the Unified Judicial System's public access policy, but the policy itself carves out categories that are not published even though a file exists:
The Pennsylvania guide lists every category of sealed and restricted record, and our guide to expunging or sealing a criminal record explains how to remove one from public view.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search Berks County, PA court records?
Use the statewide UJS Web Portal for both civil and criminal dockets; Berks County does not run a separate online case search.
What does the Berks County Prothonotary handle?
Civil filings including lawsuits, judgments, custody, and divorce, separate from the Clerk of Courts, which handles criminal filings.
Where do I get a Berks County probate record?
From the Register of Wills at the Berks County Services Center, 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading.
Are the Berks County court offices all in one building?
Yes. The Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, and Register of Wills are all at the Berks County Services Center at 633 Court Street, though on different floors.
Sources
- Berks County — Prothonotary — https://www.berkspa.gov/departments/prothonotary
- Berks County — Clerk of Courts — https://www.berkspa.gov/departments/clerk-of-courts
- Berks County — Register of Wills — https://www.berkspa.gov/departments/register-of-wills
- UJS Web Portal (statewide, used for Berks County dockets) — https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/
- Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — Courts — https://www.pacourts.us/courts
- Unified Judicial System — Public Records — https://www.pacourts.us/public-records
- Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — https://www.pacourts.us/Storage/media/pdfs/20210524/020901-publicaccesspolicy_2010-000836.pdf
- PATCH — Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Search — https://www.pa.gov/agencies/psp/programs/records-request/overview-of-patch
- 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 — Criminal History Record Information (expungement, Clean Slate) — https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/18/00.091..HTM
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania — https://www.paed.uscourts.gov/
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania — https://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania — https://www.pawd.uscourts.gov/
- PACER — Federal court records — https://pacer.uscourts.gov/
See also: all Pennsylvania counties.