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How to Find a Lawyer in Berks County for Your Problem

A decision guide that maps common legal problems to the kind of lawyer, the Berks County office that hears them, the fee rules, and the routes to a Bar referral or legal aid.

Berks Connect Blog|Published September 2, 2026
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Start with the problem, not the phone book. A custody fight, a car crash, a will, an eviction notice and a new LLC each call for a different kind of lawyer, and in Berks County each is heard in a different office, many of them in the county buildings at 633 Court Street in Reading.

There are three ways to reach the right one: the Berks County Bar Association's lawyer referral service at 610-375-4591, MidPenn Legal Services if your income qualifies, or a direct call to a practice in your problem area, which is what our lawyers in Berks County page is built for.

Which kind of lawyer handles which problem in Berks County.

Find your row, then read its section below for the phone number, the floor and what to bring.

Your problem Kind of lawyer Heard in Berks at Fee to ask about
Divorce, custody, support, protection from abuse Family law Family Court, 633 Court Street Hourly or flat; no fee tied to the divorce or the support amount (Rule 1.5(d))
Arrest, DUI, summary offense Criminal defense Magisterial district court, then Court of Common Pleas Ask for the flat or hourly basis in writing; no contingency (Rule 1.5(d))
Crash, fall, injury Personal injury Court of Common Pleas, via the Prothonotary Ask about a contingency fee; if offered, it must be in writing (Rule 1.5(c))
A will, a power of attorney, a death Estate planning or probate Register of Wills; Orphans' Court Flat or hourly; ask
Buying, selling, a deed transfer Real estate Recorder of Deeds Flat or hourly; ask
Starting a business Business Filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State Flat or hourly; ask
Debt you cannot pay Bankruptcy U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 201 Penn Street Flat or hourly; ask
Eviction, a deposit, a dispute up to $12,000 Landlord-tenant or civil, or none Your magisterial district court Hourly or flat; ask
Visa, green card, removal Immigration Federal; two Reading nonprofits Flat or hourly; ask
Hurt at work, unable to work Workers' compensation or disability State bureau; federal hearing office Ask; a contingency fee must be in writing (Rule 1.5(c))

Divorce and custody lawyers in Berks County: where the case is heard.

Family Court sits in the Services Center at 633 Court Street, 610-478-6208 ext. 5770, and the county's own self-help page says it is "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED" that you hire a lawyer for any custody or divorce action.

  • Child support: Domestic Relations, Services Center 6th floor, 610-478-2900.
  • Custody: a complaint goes first to a conciliation conference.
  • Protection from abuse: the PFA office, Services Center 1st floor, with filing hours 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; after filing hours, PFA staff help you apply through your magisterial district judge, and Reading Central Court takes emergency filings after 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends and holidays.

Under Rule 1.5(d) no lawyer may take a divorce or support matter on a fee contingent on securing the divorce or on the amount of alimony or support.

Criminal defense and DUI lawyers in Berks County: the courthouse and the public defender.

A charge starts at a magisterial district court, which holds the preliminary hearing in misdemeanor and felony cases and decides summary offenses. The prosecution is the District Attorney's office, Services Center 5th floor, 610-478-6000. Rule 1.5(d) bars a contingent fee for representing a defendant in a criminal case, so ask for the flat or hourly basis of the fee in writing.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, the Public Defender's office, Courthouse 12th floor, 610-478-6650, takes applications in person or online. Every applicant gives financial information on a written application under verification, and the office provides counsel once satisfied the person is indigent.

Personal injury lawyers in Berks County: the two-year clock and the contingency fee.

The clock is the first fact. Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524, "an action to recover damages for injuries to the person" must be commenced within two years, so gather the police report, photographs and medical bills early. Suits are filed with the Prothonotary, Courthouse 2nd floor, 610-478-6970.

Ask about a contingency fee, and know that Pennsylvania puts it in writing: Rule 1.5(c) requires the agreement to state the percentages for settlement, trial and appeal, which expenses come out of the recovery, and whether they are deducted before or after the fee is calculated; under Rule 1.8(e) the lawyer may advance court costs with repayment contingent on the outcome.

Wills, estates and probate lawyers in Berks County: the Register of Wills.

When someone dies, the estate opens at the Register of Wills, Services Center 2nd floor, 8:30 to 4:00 Monday through Friday. The clerks "are NOT permitted to give legal advice," and the county's own probate page prints the Bar's referral number, 610-375-4591. Orphans' Court handles estate audits and distributions, guardianships, adoptions and probate appeals.

For the planning side, the Modest Means Program lists estate planning among its covered matters, and our senior services guide for Berks County covers the elder law questions.

Buying or selling a house in Berks County: deeds and the Recorder of Deeds.

Deeds record at the Recorder of Deeds, Services Center 3rd floor, 610-478-3380, and the office's own page says that "since deeds are a legal document, we suggest you contact an attorney to prepare your new deed." A real estate lawyer reviews the agreement of sale, prepares or checks the deed, and sits at closing.

Business lawyers in Berks County: forming an LLC.

The Pennsylvania Department of State says a Certificate of Organization "is not required by law to be prepared by an attorney," then adds that "because of complex legal issues involved when starting any business, including tax considerations, it is advisable to seek legal counsel before filing." The state fee for the certificate is $125, per the Department's fee schedule. Our guide to starting a business in Berks County walks through the rest of the filings.

Bankruptcy lawyers in Berks County: the federal court on Penn Street.

Bankruptcy is federal, filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania at its Reading office, 201 Penn Street, Suite 103, (610) 208-5040; the Reading division serves Berks, Lehigh, Northampton and Lancaster counties. Bring every collection letter, your last tax returns and your pay stubs.

Landlord-tenant and small claims in Berks County: the $12,000 magisterial limit.

Evictions, security deposits and small money disputes go to the magisterial district court for your municipality, not the courthouse. Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 1515(a)(3) those courts hear civil claims "wherein the sum demanded does not exceed $12,000, exclusive of interest and costs," and you can file there yourself; our Berks County government guide walks through the claim step by step.

A tenant facing eviction has two doors: MidPenn's housing unit lists eviction, foreclosure and tenant rights, and the Modest Means Program covers landlord-tenant matters on the tenant's side. Over the limit, you are in Court of Common Pleas territory.

Immigration lawyers in Berks County: federal cases, two Reading nonprofits.

Immigration is entirely federal, so none of it runs through 633 Court Street. Two Reading nonprofits handle cases: ALDEA, The People's Justice Center, on Walnut Street, describes "low-cost legal services," and Catholic Charities of Allentown keeps a Reading office listed in a national nonprofit legal directory.

Workers' compensation and disability lawyers in Berks County: state and federal claims.

A work injury runs through the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation, helpline 800-482-2383. A condition that stops you from working at all may instead run through Social Security disability, federal, heard at an office you find through the Social Security Administration's hearing office locator. Bring the injury report and every denial letter, and let the first consultation sort out which system you are in.

How to use the Berks County Bar Association's lawyer referral service.

The Berks County Bar Association, which dates itself to 1867, runs the county's lawyer referral service from 544 Court Street in Reading, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Per the Bar's own pages:

  • Call 610-375-4591, submit the online client referral form, or come in by appointment.
  • What you get: a match with an attorney "conveniently located and qualified to handle your specific legal matter." Panel attorneys "are required to be licensed and actively engaged in the practice of law in Berks County."
  • What you do not get: the service "does not directly employ attorneys or provide free legal advice." The Bar publishes no consultation fee online, so ask what the first meeting costs when you call.
  • If you earn too much for legal aid: the Modest Means Program matches you with a Berks attorney at a discounted rate, for "applicants whose total income exceeds legal aid standards by 75%"; MidPenn Legal Services does the income screening. Covered matters include child support, custody, protection from abuse, uncontested divorce, bankruptcy, tenant-side landlord-tenant, estate planning and traffic violations.
  • If a fee dispute comes later: the Bar's Legal Fee Dispute Resolution Committee hears fee disputes (not ethics or quality questions) through volunteer impartial attorneys, voluntary for both sides, with "no filing or other fees."

MidPenn's legal aid is civil only and income-tested, and it starts with a phone call.

  • MidPenn Legal Services. Midpenn Legal Services is at 35 North Sixth Street, Mezzanine Suite 101, Reading, (610) 376-8656; intake runs through 1-800-326-9177, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eligibility for most services is set at 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Its units cover consumer debt and bankruptcy, housing, custody, protection from abuse, employment, taxes and public benefits.
  • PALawHelp.org and the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. The statewide guide to legal information and services, and the network's online application for legal aid.
  • The Public Defender. Criminal cases only, Courthouse 12th floor, 610-478-6650, after the written financial application.
  • Court self-help. The Family Court self-help page, and the Law Library on the Courthouse 5th floor, weekdays 8:00 to 4:30, which "is not staffed and cannot provide legal assistance."

How to check a Pennsylvania lawyer's license and record.

Before you sign, spend two minutes at the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania's attorney search, which shows "an attorney's status, contact information, and public disciplinary history."

  1. Search the lawyer's name.
  2. Read the status. "Active" means the lawyer "is permitted to practice law in Pennsylvania"; "Administrative Suspension" means the lawyer "has failed to pay the annual fee, failed to satisfy continuing legal education requirements, or failed to pay expenses"; suspended and disbarred lawyers are "prohibited from practicing law in Pennsylvania."
  3. Read the public disciplinary history, knowing records "may not be electronically available for discipline prior to 2003."
  4. Match the office address to the one you were given.

The Board takes complaints about conduct, but "fee disputes are not normally handled within the attorney disciplinary process"; per the Pennsylvania Bar Association, "Fee disputes are handled at the county bar level." Money lost to a lawyer's dishonesty goes to the Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security, established by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1982 to reimburse clients for misappropriated funds.

How lawyers charge, and what the written fee agreement must say.

Four fee structures, in plain words:

  • Hourly: you pay for the lawyer's time, plus costs.
  • Flat fee: one price for a defined job, such as a will.
  • Retainer: money paid up front, held in trust and drawn down; ask about the unused balance.
  • Contingency: a percentage of what is recovered; ask who covers costs.

Pennsylvania's Rules of Professional Conduct set the paperwork:

  • Rule 1.5(b): when a lawyer has not regularly represented you, "the basis or rate of the fee shall be communicated to the client, in writing, before or within a reasonable time after commencing the representation."
  • Rule 1.5(c): a contingent fee agreement "shall be in writing" and must state the percentages for settlement, trial or appeal, the expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether they come out before or after the fee is calculated.
  • Rule 1.5(d): no contingent fee in a domestic relations matter tied to securing a divorce or to the amount of alimony or support, and none for representing a defendant in a criminal case.

The written agreement names the structure, the rate or percentage, what counts as a cost and who pays it. Read it in the parking lot.

The questions to ask a lawyer in a first consultation.

A good lawyer has heard every one of these.

  • What share of your practice is matters like mine, and when did you last handle one in Berks?
  • Who does the day-to-day work on my file, and who do I call with a question?
  • How do you charge for this, and what will the written agreement say about costs?
  • What is the consultation arrangement today, and does it count toward the fee if I hire you?
  • What deadline am I already up against, and what do you need from me this week?

Finding a lawyer in Berks County.

Now the names. Our lawyers in Berks County page lists practices countywide with their reviews attached; four examples, one per kind of problem.

For an injury case, Kitay Law Offices is a personal injury firm on Penn Avenue in Wyomissing, and one reviewer wrote, "They kept me informed every step of the way." For debt, David W. Tidd, Attorney At Law is a bankruptcy practice in Spring Township with a Wyomissing address; one reviewer summed it up as "Not only was the bankruptcy process smooth, but it was affordable!"

For a divorce or custody matter, Law Office of Nikolas D. Capitano, The Leges Group LLC is a family law office in Spring Township, also with a Wyomissing address, and one reviewer wrote that the attorney "took the time to educate me in family law while working through my individual matter." For a will or an estate, Resolution Law Group / Law Offices of Scott G. Hoh is an estate planning practice on North 5th Street in Reading; one reviewer wrote that the attorney "was able to explain the process and put me at ease," and another described the process being completed in a hospital room.

Whichever route you take, bring every dated document, a one-page timeline you wrote yourself, and the questions above.

Questions people ask about finding a lawyer in Berks County.

How do I find a lawyer in Berks County?

Call the Berks County Bar Association's lawyer referral service at 610-375-4591, call MidPenn Legal Services at 1-800-326-9177 if your income is near the federal poverty guidelines, or pick a practice in your problem area from our lawyers page. Check the name at the Disciplinary Board before you sign.

Is the Berks County Bar Association's lawyer referral free?

The Bar publishes no consultation fee online and says the service does not provide free legal advice, so ask about the consultation arrangement when you call.

Can I get a free lawyer in Berks County?

For civil matters, MidPenn Legal Services in Reading serves people whose income falls within 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. For criminal charges, the Public Defender provides counsel to anyone the office finds indigent after a written financial application.

Do I need a lawyer for small claims court in Pennsylvania?

No. Magisterial district courts hear civil claims where the sum demanded does not exceed $12,000, exclusive of interest and costs, per 42 Pa.C.S. § 1515, and you can file and appear there yourself. A lawyer is worth a call when the other side has one.

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