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ALERT! In observance of the holiday: County of Berks offices and buildings will close to the public from 12 PM, December 24, 2024, through December 25, 2024 (reopening 8 AM, December 26, 2024) and 12 PM, December 31, 2024, through January 1, 2025 (reopening 8 AM, January 2, 2025).

Please note – 24/7 operations at the county courthouse and services center will remain operational.

Genealogy

Genealogy

Welcome!

Below you will find a list of the types of records we have in the office, and what information you can expect to find in them. For the genealogist, these are rich resources for you to explore

The data you are searching on this site consists of over 1,000,000 records held by the Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans' Court offices in the Berks County Services Center (Courthouse). The indexes were compiled by the staff of these offices and volunteers over a period of eight (8) years. The records were typed either from the indexes themselves or, for those records not indexed, from the actual documents.

    1. Marriage Records (County of Berks-1885 thru present)- You will receive a copy of the actual marriage listing:
      • Name, age, address, birth date, birthplace, occupation, and previous marriage information for each applicant
      • Name, residence, occupation, and birthplace of each applicant's parents
      • Date and place of marriage including name, title and address of officiant
    2. Marriage Records (City of Reading-1876-1884)
      • Name, age, occupation, residence, and birthplace of each applicant
      • Date, place, and officiant of marriage ceremony
    3. Birth Records (County of Berks- 1894-1906)
      • Name, year recorded, place of birth, parents' names, father's occupation
    4. Birth Records (City of Reading- 1876-1906)
      • Name, date of birth, place of birth, parents' names, father's occupation, physician/midwife's name
    5. Death Records (County of Berks- 1894-1906)
      • Name, occupation, age, year recorded, place of death, cause of death, date of burial, place of burial, marital status, parents' names
    6. Death Records (City of Reading- 1873-1905)
      • Name, occupation, age, date of death, cause of death, place of birth, residence, date of burial, place of burial, parents' names, attending physician, other informant
    7. Estate Records (County of Berks- 1752 thru present)
      • Includes orphans' court records; can contain estates (both with or without wills), inventories, accounts, guardianships, or any other type of miscellaneous file ordered to this division of the courts