Berks County, Pennsylvania Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Berks County, Pennsylvania are collected by the Berks County Orphans' Court in Reading according to Pennsylvania's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. Pennsylvania's court structure — Court of Common Pleas (civil/family/orphans') / Magisterial District Court (small claims) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Berks County Orphans' Court operates as a high-volume court with structured calendars. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full Pennsylvania court filing fee schedule, see our Pennsylvania Court Filing Fees.

• Filing fees in Berks County are based on Pennsylvania's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $50–$150 (Orphans' Court Division — varies by county)
• civil complaints and appearances — $200–$350 (Court of Common Pleas) / $60–$100 (Magisterial District Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $200–$350 (Court of Common Pleas — Family Division)
• small claims filings — $60–$100 (Magisterial District Court). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Berks County Orphans' Court in Reading may include additional local charges.

As a high-volume jurisdiction, Berks County may assess higher local surcharges than smaller counties, reflecting the greater administrative cost of operating a busy court in Reading.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Berks County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in Pennsylvania), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Berks County, request the full fee schedule from the Berks County Orphans' Court clerk in Reading before initiating the proceeding.

Pennsylvania is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Berks County Orphans' Court in Reading likely participates in the state system — represented parties in civil and family matters may be required to file electronically.

Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies. For full statewide e-filing details, see our Pennsylvania Court Filing Fees.

• Berks County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under Pa.
• R.C.P.
• No. 240.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Berks County Orphans' Court clerk's office in Reading at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Berks County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in Pa.
• R.C.P.
• No. 240 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Berks County Orphans' Court clerk in Reading for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Berks County Orphans' Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Berks County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.