Legal Guides and FAQs From the Berks County Bar Association
The Berks County Bar Association posts legal guides and plain language answers to everyday legal questions on its website at berksbar.org, under Downloadable Resources & FAQs. The material comes from the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Berks County Bar Association and explains, in everyday terms, the legal issues people need to consider during the major milestones, mishaps and challenges of life.
Two versions of a Guide to Legal Services are posted, one in English and one in Spanish. There is also a download on recognizing and reporting child abuse. It explains that child abuse, according to the Pennsylvania Child Protective Service Law, includes any recent act or failure to act by a perpetrator that causes nonaccidental serious physical injury or nonaccidental serious mental injury to a child under 18 years of age, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child under 18 years of age, and serious neglect. "Recent" means an abusive act within two years from the date ChildLine is called, and sexual abuse has no time limit.
The FAQ section answers questions such as what you need to know about buying a house, what to consider when planning your financial future, and how to avoid being a victim of identity theft. You click a subject to read more. The subjects listed are arbitration and mediation, auto accidents and insurance, bringing suit before a magisterial district judge, buying a home, child custody, collaborative law, criminal law, divorce and separation, education rights for mentally gifted students, education rights for students with disabilities, estate planning, how a lawyer can help you, inventor beware, issues on aging, legal guide for senior citizens, living wills and health care powers of attorney, know your credit rights, protection from abuse, recognizing and preventing identity theft, renting a home, traffic violations and summary offenses, unemployment compensation, understanding when grandparents and others can seek custody, and workers' compensation. The page also links to a legal name change intake form and to more information on the legal name change process.
For people who feel they cannot afford an attorney, the page points to MidPenn Legal Services, a separate organization, at 35 N. 6th Street, Mezz. Suite 101, Reading, PA 19601. MidPenn may assign an attorney at no fee to people who qualify, and the page says to call MidPenn at 1-800-326-9177 for an appointment to determine your eligibility. MidPenn's website is midpenn.org. If your dispute is with your own attorney over fees, the Bar Association's Legal Fee Dispute Resolution page has more information.
The Bar Association office is at 544 Court Street, P.O. Box 1058, Reading, PA 19603, open Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For general questions, the phone number is 610-375-4591 and the email is info@berksbar.org.
The page does not say whether the downloads and FAQs cost anything, so ask when you call. The login and member center parts of the site are for Berks County Bar members; the guides and FAQs are listed on the site under public resources.
Source: berksbar.org, read September 18, 2026.
The details
In Berks County Bar Association’s words
Our lives are filled with everyday legal questions and the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Berks County Bar Association have answers to many of them. We explain – in everyday terms – what legal issues all of us need to consider during the major milestones, mishaps, and challenges of life.
En español: la página del proveedor →
Organization
Berks County Bar Association
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This listing summarizes publicly available information from berksbar.org. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.