Finding a Lawyer

In Berks County, you are entitled to have a Lawyer represent you, but you are not required to have a Lawyer. 

Lawyer Referral – Mid Penn Legal Services 

If you want to hire an attorney but need to locate one who is experienced in the type of legal case you have, you can contact the Berks County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Program at 544 Court Street, Reading, PA, 19601, telephone number 610-375-4591.  If you believe you qualify economically for free or reduced fee representation, you can contact Mid-Penn Legal Services at 35 N. 6th Street, Mezzanine Suite 101, Reading, PA, 19601, telephone 1-800-326-9177.  If you choose to represent yourself you can find on-line forms and instructions by going to the Administrative Office of PA Courts Website at www.pacourts.us. 

Referencia de Abogados – Servicios Legales de Mid Penn

Si desea contratar a un abogado, pero necesita encontrar uno con experiencia en su caso legal, puede comunicarse con el Programa de Referencia de Abogados del Colegio de Abogados del Condado de Berks en 544 Court Street, Reading, PA, 19601, teléfono 610-375-4591. Si considera que cumple con los requisitos económicos para recibir representación gratuita o con honorarios reducidos, puede comunicarse con Servicios Legales de Mid Penn en 35 N. 6th Street, Mezzanine Suite 101, Reading, PA, 19601, teléfono 1-800-326-9177. Si decide representarse usted mismo, puede encontrar formularios e instrucciones en línea en el sitio web de la Oficina Administrativa de los Tribunales de Pensilvania: www.pacourts.us.

Although the state website has some forms and instructions to assist you with representing yourself, the use of these forms is NOT a substitute for professional legal advice. No one in the Courts, Law Library, Prothonotary's Office or any other Court or County office can give you legal advice, tell you which form(s) you should file or help you fill out/complete the forms.

For statewide Custody and Divorce forms and instructions that can be used by someone who chooses not to hire a Lawyer, click on pacourts.us/learn/representing-yourself to go to the Administrative Office of PA Courts (AOPC) web page. In addition to the forms on the AOPC website, below is some local Berks County information to assist you if you choose to represent yourself.

Litigant Forms

Please understand that self-represented litigants are held to the same standards as attorneys admitted to the bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Representing yourself does not exempt you from understanding and following statewide and local Rules of Court.

READ THE RULES

There are procedural rules that govern custody proceedings. Those rules instruct on who must do what and where and when at different stages of a custody proceeding. The rules are the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure (Pa.R.Civ.P.) and can be found in Title 231, Chapter1915 and Chapter1930 of the Pennsylvania Code.

You should review these rules before completing or filing any form or appearing in court. If there is any difference between what is instructed on this webpage and the rules, the rules will prevail.

Service is the delivery of court papers to a plaintiff or a defendant. Court papers may be served by mail, but you must follow very specific rules. Court papers may be served by personal service - handing a copy of the paper to the other party – but not by you or a person related to you. Proof of Service, called Affidavit of Service or Certificate of Service, is a form you must file with the court explaining how court papers were delivered to the other party. A court will not act on your case unless you have served the court papers and filed proof that you followed the Rules of Court.

Pa. R.C.P. 1930.4 states the options for service of original process, the custody or divorce complaint. Pa. R.C.P. 440 states the options for service of legal papers other than original process.

To serve a custody complaint, please use the appropriate affidavit of service form for the mode of service you will use.  If you use hand deliver service, perhaps by a deputy sheriff or someone else not you or related to you, use the below form titled Affidavit of Service - personal service.

In addition to the statewide forms, please also file the Berks County Family Court Cover Sheet with all Custody and Divorce filings and file the Scheduling Order with all Custody Complaints or Petitions to Modify. Include one or more of the Appendixes below as appropriate with Custody Orders/Agreements/Stipulations.

Filing Office

Name:

Berks County Prothonotary’s Office 

Address:

Berks County Prothonotary
Berks County Courthouse
2nd Floor 633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601 

Phone: 610-478-6970 

Office Hours: 

Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Closed:

Federal Holidays, Good Friday, General Election Day, and the Day After Thanksgiving

Local Legal Services Provider:

LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE OF THE BERKS COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
544 Court Street
Reading, Pennsylvania 19601

(610) 375-4591

Method of Filing

Custody and Divorce documents can be filed by mail or in person at the Prothonotary's Office. Lawyers can also electronically file those documents. Self-represented litigants will be permitted or required to electronically file those documents after August 1, 2026 - Notice accordingly will be posted on the Prothonotary's website.

Filing Fees For the current Prothonotary Fee Bill click here.

Where to File

You should file your completed documents in the Prothonotary's Office or online.