Small Claims, Landlord Tenant and Traffic Cases at Berks County District Courts
The Berks County magisterial district courts hear civil claims where the disputed amount is less than $12,000.00, landlord and tenant disputes, and summary offenses, meaning traffic and non-traffic offenses. The same judges hold preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases. This is the court a person uses for a small money dispute, an eviction case or a traffic ticket.
Magisterial district judges also grant emergency relief under the Protection From Abuse Act and the Older Adult Protective Service Act. They issue arrest warrants, conduct preliminary arraignments, set and accept bail, issue search warrants, and perform marriage ceremonies.
There are seventeen magisterial district judges and two centralized magisterial district courts in Berks County, all under the supervision and administrative control of the President Judge. Each magisterial district judge is elected to serve within his or her magisterial district for a six-year term, so a case goes to the district court for the area involved. To find the right court, berkspa.gov/departments/magisterial-district-judges offers a County Map and a City Map showing the physical areas of the magisterial districts within Berks County, and an MDJ Listing with information specific to each magisterial district court. For information on boundaries and magisterial district court offices throughout Pennsylvania, the page links to the AOPC Public Locator Map at experience.arcgis.com.
The two centralized courts are both on the 1st floor of the Berks County Courthouse. The Berks County Central Arraignment Court serves as an after-hours emergency duty court, insuring the availability of at least one issuing authority in the Twenty-third Judicial District. The Reading Central Court was established to efficiently dispose of preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases filed in any of the five magisterial districts within the City of Reading.
Forms for filing actions in the district courts can be found on the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's website at pacourts.us/forms. The page does not say how or where a completed form is filed, so ask the district court that covers the area involved.
A returned check fee is $50.00. The page does not say what it costs to file a case or what other court fees are.
Special Courts Administration provides administrative support to the magisterial district judges by preparing the operating budget, administering facility and equipment needs, assisting in personnel management, providing staff training and professional development, and assisting with case management. Its general-questions number is 610-478-6456, and its office is at the Berks County Courthouse, 1st Floor, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601, open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. This is an administrative office rather than the court that hears a case.
Office hours for the individual magisterial district courts vary and are posted under a separate notice, "ATTENTION: Magisterial District Court Office Hours," linked from the magisterial district judges page and from its left navigation, so check there before going to a court office. The county courthouse building is open 8 AM to 5 PM and is closed on holidays.
Source: berkspa.gov/departments/magisterial-district-judges, read November 3, 2026.
The details
- Forms for filing actions in the district courts can be found on the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's web site at Forms
- Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (pacourts.us)
In Berks County Magisterial District Courts’s words
Magisterial district judges have jurisdiction over civil claims where the disputed amount is less than $12,000.00, landlord/tenant disputes, summary offenses (traffic and non-traffic offenses), and hold preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases. They grant emergency relief under the Protection From Abuse Act and the Older Adult Protective Service Act. Additionally, magisterial district judges issue arrest warrants, conduct preliminary arraignments, set and accept bail, issue search…
Organization
Berks County Magisterial District Courts
About this listing
This listing summarizes publicly available information from berkspa.gov/departments/magisterial-district-judges. Last recorded review: November 3, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.