Berks County Child Sexual Abuse Lawyer | Survivor Rights

Legal update reviewed November 5, 2026: Pennsylvania has not opened a retroactive civil lookback window for previously time-barred child sexual-abuse claims. Proposed bills are not current law. Filing deadlines depend on individual facts and should be assessed by counsel.

Berks County survivor legal information

Berks County’s county seat is Reading. This guide is for survivors and families in Reading, Wyomissing, Kutztown, Birdsboro, Boyertown, Shillington, Hamburg, Temple, and surrounding Berks County communities. A person’s residence or the place where an event occurred does not by itself establish where a civil case may be filed. Venue, potential defendants, evidence, and applicable deadlines require individual review.

Pennsylvania civil filing periods

Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 5533(b)(2)(i), an individual who was under 18 when the cause of action accrued has 37 years after attaining age 18 to commence an action for damages. Section 5533(b)(2)(i.1) separately addresses an individual who was at least 18 but under 24 when the cause of action occurred, allowing an action until age 30. This is a general summary, not a deadline calculation. The general limitation periods in 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524 and other legal issues do not resolve every survivor’s claim.

No retroactive lookback window is open

As of November 5, 2026, no retroactive civil lookback window for previously time-barred child sexual-abuse claims has taken effect. The official histories for House Bill 462 and House Bill 464 show that both remained in the Senate and that discharge resolutions were dropped from the calendar on June 23, 2026. A legislative proposal is not an enacted law. This guide will be updated if the law changes.

Berks County civil court resources

The Berks County Prothonotary is the chief clerk and record keeper for civil case filings. Its office is on the second floor of the Berks County Courthouse, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. The county reports that its CourtPro e-filing and case-management system has launched, and that users need to register in CourtPro; credentials from the prior system do not work in the new system. The Berks County Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania’s general trial court for the county’s judicial district, is at the same courthouse. Check the county’s current instructions before filing or seeking records.

• Berks County Prothonotary and CourtPro information
• Prothonotary forms, records, and resources
• Berks County Court of Common Pleas
• Berks County Court Administration
• Pennsylvania State Archives county-seat and courthouse directory

Information survivors may want to preserve

Some survivors choose to make a private timeline with approximate dates, locations, and people who may have information. Preserve original records, messages, photographs, and other documents without altering them. A lawyer can evaluate potential claims and defendants, deadlines, and whether more records should be requested. Do not assume a claim is timely or barred based only on age or a short online summary.

Experience representing survivors

Sean Logue has represented hundreds of survivors of abuse connected to the Boy Scouts of America and children abused in Pennsylvania detention centers. Each person’s circumstances are different. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship; representation begins only after a conflict check and a signed agreement. Please do not include sensitive details in an online form.

Read the statewide Pennsylvania survivor-rights and filing-deadline guide. This page provides general information, not legal advice. The law can change, and deadlines require individual review.