Dutko & Chwiecko

Dutko & Chwiecko is a law firm located at 15525 Kutztown Road, Suite B, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The practice operates as a two attorney partnership serving individuals and families throughout Berks County and the surrounding region of southeastern Pennsylvania. The firm handles matters that bring ordinary people into contact with the court system, with a concentration in criminal defense, driving under the influence cases, traffic and vehicle code matters, and family law issues such as divorce, custody and support.

The office sits along Kutztown Road on the corridor that connects Kutztown Borough with Route 222, placing it within a short drive of Kutztown University, Fleetwood, Topton, Maxatawny Township and the smaller communities of northeastern Berks County. Clients traveling from Reading, Allentown or the Lehigh Valley can reach the office by way of Route 222, and the location is roughly equidistant between the Berks County Courthouse in Reading and the courts of neighboring counties, which matters for clients whose cases are scheduled before district magistrates spread across the region.

Areas of Practice

Criminal defense forms a substantial share of the firm's caseload. That work spans the full range of charges filed in Pennsylvania courts, from summary offenses heard before a magisterial district judge to misdemeanor and felony matters that proceed through preliminary hearings, formal arraignment, pretrial motions and, when necessary, trial in the Court of Common Pleas. Typical matters include drug possession and distribution charges, firearms and weapons offenses, theft and property crimes, assault charges, probation and parole violations, and offenses arising from disputes that escalate into police involvement.

DUI defense is a closely related and frequently handled category. Pennsylvania grades DUI offenses by blood alcohol concentration tier and by the number of prior offenses, and the consequences vary widely depending on where a case falls within that structure. The firm works through the mechanics that determine outcomes in these cases: the legality of the traffic stop, the administration of field sobriety and chemical testing, chain of custody for blood samples, and eligibility for diversionary options. Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, commonly called ARD, is available to many first time offenders in Pennsylvania and can result in a case being dismissed and eventually expunged upon successful completion of the program. Evaluating whether a client qualifies, and pursuing admission where appropriate, is a routine part of the work.

The firm also represents clients in family law matters. Divorce in Pennsylvania may proceed on mutual consent grounds or, where one party does not agree, after a statutory period of separation, and contested cases often involve equitable distribution of marital property, spousal support and alimony. Custody matters are resolved under the statutory best interest factors, which courts weigh individually in each case. Support calculations follow statewide guidelines but frequently require careful attention to income documentation, earning capacity and shared custody adjustments. Family cases can extend across months or years when the opposing party is uncooperative or when property and custody issues are intertwined, and the firm handles long running disputes of that kind.

Related services commonly requested by clients in this part of Berks County include license suspension and restoration issues with PennDOT, expungement and record sealing petitions under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate framework, and representation at preliminary hearings for clients who have been charged but not yet formally arraigned.

The Attorneys and Staff

The practice carries the names of its two partners. Attorney Dutko and Attorney Corey Chwiecko each handle their own caseloads while collaborating on matters where a second perspective is useful. A small firm structure means clients typically work directly with the attorney handling the file rather than being routed through layers of associates, and the same person who takes the initial consultation is generally the person who appears in court.

Support staff play a visible role in the day to day operation of the office. Paralegals and receptionists handle scheduling, document collection, filings and the steady stream of questions that come up between hearings. In criminal and family matters, where court dates can be continued and discovery arrives in stages, the administrative side of a case often determines how informed a client feels while waiting for resolution.

Accessibility and Practical Information

The Kutztown office is wheelchair accessible throughout. The building offers an accessible entrance, accessible seating in the waiting area, an accessible restroom and an accessible parking lot, which allows clients with mobility needs to attend consultations without arranging alternative accommodations. The firm is also identified as LGBTQ+ friendly, a designation that is relevant for clients navigating family law matters, name and gender marker issues, or any legal question where they want assurance of respectful treatment.

The office can be reached by telephone at +1 484-648-4500, and additional information is available through the firm's website at dutkolaw.com. Prospective clients are generally advised to call as soon as possible after an arrest, citation or service of legal papers, since Pennsylvania imposes deadlines that can limit options if missed. Preliminary hearings are typically scheduled within a few weeks of a criminal charge, ARD applications have filing windows, and responses to divorce and custody complaints carry their own time limits.

When calling for a consultation, it helps to have the relevant paperwork on hand. For criminal and DUI matters, that means the criminal complaint, the citation, any bail paperwork and the notice of the next scheduled court date. For family law matters, useful documents include any filings already served, prior court orders, and basic financial information such as recent pay statements and tax returns.

Serving Berks County and Beyond

Because magisterial district courts in Pennsylvania are organized geographically, a case filed in Kutztown, Fleetwood, Hamburg or Boyertown may be heard in a different courtroom than one filed in Reading or Wyomissing, and local familiarity with prosecutors, judges and courthouse procedure carries practical weight. A firm based in northeastern Berks County appears regularly in these venues.

For residents of Kutztown, including students at Kutztown University who may face charges related to alcohol, controlled substances or disorderly conduct, the proximity of the office is a practical advantage. Summary and misdemeanor charges that seem minor can carry lasting consequences for employment, professional licensing, immigration status and financial aid eligibility, which is why early legal advice tends to matter more than the grading of the offense alone suggests.