Reading Pennsylvania Court Records
Reading court records come from the Berks County Court of Common Pleas, which sits in the heart of the city at 633 Court Street. Reading is the county seat of Berks County and home to about 95,000 people. All major criminal, civil, family, and estate cases for Reading residents go through the Berks County court system. Seventeen Magisterial District Courts also serve Berks County for minor cases, traffic matters, and preliminary hearings. Many Reading court records can be searched for free through the statewide UJS Portal or the Berks County courts portal at berksrecords.us.
Reading Quick Facts
Where to Find Reading Court Records
Most Reading court records are filed and stored at the Berks County Courthouse at 633 Court Street in downtown Reading. Different divisions of the courthouse handle different case types. The Criminal Division is on the 4th Floor. The Civil Division and Prothonotary are on the 2nd Floor. The Orphans' Court Division is also on the 2nd Floor. The Family Court Administration is on the 6th Floor. All divisions share the same building address.
| Court | Berks County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address | 633 Court Street Reading, PA 19601 |
| Criminal Division | 4th Floor, 610-478-6550 |
| Civil Division | 2nd Floor, 610-478-6970 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | berksrecords.us |
The Berks County Clerk of Courts is located at 633 Court Street, 4th Floor. That office maintains criminal case files, tracks dockets, records judgments, and stores sentencing records. You can visit in person Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, submit written requests by mail, or search docket information online through the UJS Portal at no charge.
How to Search Reading Court Records
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the best free online tool for searching Reading court records. Enter a name, docket number, OTN, or citation to find cases. The portal covers both Magisterial District Court and Court of Common Pleas records for Berks County. You can view docket sheets showing charges, hearing dates, judge assignments, and case status. Searching and viewing docket sheets is free.
The Berks County courts also maintain their own portal at berksrecords.us. This site covers criminal records at the Clerk of Courts level, civil records at the Prothonotary, family court, and Orphans' Court. It provides public web docket sheets and guidance on how to request copies of filed documents. Use this site along with the UJS Portal for the most complete search of Reading court records.
For in-person searches of Reading court records, visit the courthouse at 633 Court Street. Staff at each division can look up cases by name or case number. Bring valid photo ID. Call the appropriate division before your visit to confirm current procedures and copy fees.
Note: Seventeen Magisterial District Courts serve Berks County, handling traffic, summary offenses, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil claims under $12,000. These records are also searchable through the UJS Portal.
Types of Cases and Court Records in Reading
Reading court records cover criminal, civil, family, and estate matters filed in Berks County. Criminal cases start at the Magisterial District Court level for summary offenses. Felonies receive preliminary hearings there before moving to the Criminal Division of Common Pleas. The Criminal Division at 633 Court Street, 4th Floor handles felony prosecutions, misdemeanor cases, criminal appeals from MDJ courts, post-conviction relief petitions, and probation and parole violations.
The Civil Division on the 2nd Floor of the courthouse handles civil lawsuits over $12,000, complex litigation, equity actions, mortgage foreclosures, landlord-tenant appeals, and tax assessment appeals. The Orphans' Court on the 2nd Floor covers probate of wills, estate administration, guardianships, trust administration, and adoption proceedings. The Family Court on the 6th Floor handles divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, protection from abuse cases, paternity determinations, and name changes. Reading residents use each division based on the type of case they are involved in.
Reading Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records for Reading start at the Magisterial District Court level where summary offenses are tried and felony preliminary hearings are held. After a preliminary hearing, felony cases move to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division at 633 Court Street, 4th Floor. The Clerk of Courts at that division maintains all files for criminal cases tried at Common Pleas. Both MDJ and Common Pleas dockets are searchable on the UJS Portal.
The Berks County Clerk of Courts criminal office can be reached at 610-478-6550. The office keeps criminal case files, records judgments, stores sentencing records, and tracks probation and parole violations within Berks County. You can search online for free or visit in person during business hours Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Mail requests are also an option for people who cannot come to the courthouse in Reading.
The Berks County courts portal image below shows the main online access point for criminal and civil court records from the Reading courthouse.
The Berks County court records portal covers all major court offices in Reading and Berks County, including criminal, civil, family, and estate records.
Reading Civil Court Records
Civil court records for Reading are filed with the Berks County Prothonotary on the 2nd Floor at 633 Court Street. The Prothonotary maintains the official docket for all civil cases filed in Berks County, including those from Reading residents. Cases include personal injury suits, contract disputes, mortgage foreclosures, and landlord-tenant appeals from MDJ courts. The Prothonotary can be reached at 610-478-6970.
Civil records at the Magisterial District Court level in Reading cover small claims under $12,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and similar minor civil matters. These cases are searchable through the UJS Portal by party name or docket number. For certified copies of civil judgments or other filed documents, contact the Prothonotary at the courthouse. Fees vary by document type; call 610-478-6970 before your visit to confirm current rates.
Note: Family court records in Reading including divorce, custody, and support cases are filed with the Family Court Administration at 633 Court Street, 6th Floor and are accessible by phone at 610-478-6208.
Accessing Reading Court Records
Reading court records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101) and the Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. Most docket information is available free online through the UJS Portal or the Berks County courts portal. Full document images, certified copies, and certain restricted records require an in-person visit or a written request.
Sealed records, juvenile records, and expunged cases are not publicly accessible in Reading or anywhere in Pennsylvania. If a record does not appear in an online search, it may be sealed, expunged, or filed under a different spelling of the party's name. Try alternate spellings when searching Reading court records by name on the UJS Portal.
For statewide criminal history checks covering Reading and all Pennsylvania courts, use PATCH at epatch.pa.gov. Each search costs $22 and provides official results from the Pennsylvania State Police.
Berks County Court Records
Reading is the county seat of Berks County, and all Reading court cases are filed through the Berks County court system. For more on county court offices, related records, and additional Berks County resources, visit the county court records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby Pennsylvania cities file court cases at their own county courthouse. Select a city below to find court record information for that area.