Montgomery County 38-1-20 Magisterial District Court

The date’s fast approaching for your appearance in Montgomery County Magisterial District Court. You may be worried or anxious about what you might face in that courtroom. It’s critical that you have an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side. Your lawyer can answer questions and represent you in court.

The Law Offices of Amato Sanita has represented clients in Pennsylvania’s Magisterial Courts hundreds of times. Our goal is to provide our clients with with wise counsel and a solid defense.

Your summons tells you to appear Montgomery County Magisterial District Court 38-1-20 in Collegeville. If that’s the case, you will appear before Magisterial District Judge, Cathleen Kelly Rebar. The notice may be to appear for a traffic citation, preliminary arraignment, preliminary hearing, bench warrant, or non-jury trial.

Collegeville is home to Magisterial District Court 38-1-20. This town is 30 miles northwest of Central Philadelphia. This Magisterial District Court covers the following election districts: Collegeville Borough, Trappe Borough, Lower Providence Township, and Upper Providence Township’s Voting District Oaks.

Collegeville’s Magisterial District Court is classified as a minor court in Pennsylvania’s court system. This court decides all traffic and non-traffic citations, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil cases with claims less than $12,000. The Montgomery County Magisterial District Court also handles all preliminary arraignments and hearings for criminal charges.

Magisterial District Courts in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Magisterial District Courts in Montgomery County have jurisdiction over all summary offenses. A summary offense is Pennsylvania’s least serious criminal charge. Some examples of summary offenses include criminal mischief, underage drinking, driving with a suspended license, harassment, disorderly conduct, and first offense retail theft of merchandise under $150.

The magisterial judges that preside in Pennsylvania’s Magisterial District Courts can perform marriages and administer oaths.

Montgomery County has 30 Magisterial District Courts within its borders. All criminal cases start at the magisterial level. Both misdemeanor and felony cases require preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings. These preliminary proceedings happen in the Magisterial District Courts. After the preliminary proceedings are done, the cases move to the next level, the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.

Get an experienced criminal defense attorney to stand with you in court. Depending on the details surrounding your case, the attorney can recommend many defenses to help you in court. Don’t face a traffic or criminal charge by yourself.

A single conviction for a summary offense could create a lot of big problems for you or your loved one. That conviction could earn you up to 90 days in jail and a fine up to $300. If you have a prior conviction, the punishment could be up to 180 days in jail.

Here’s Why You Need an Attorney at your side in that Collegeville Courtroom

In a quiet moment, you may think it’s better to just get the whole thing behind you. Plead guilty and let things move on. You might also be thinking you can handle your own defense. However, the outcome of the charges can be extremely important for your future.

You could go to jail. This will totally disrupt your life and might cost you your job. If you can’t pay the rent, you may lose your home. And with a criminal record, you find it difficult to find another job or a place to rent.

An experienced criminal defense attorney can defend you against the summary offense charges. Your lawyer is an essential element in attaining a positive outcome. Your attorney has experience in a Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court. You will get sound advice. In some cases, the attorney can get the charges lowered or even dismissed.

Let’s say you are charged with driving under a suspended license. Your attorney will look at whether you were properly notified of the suspension or if you were driving in an emergency. That information will help you mount a solid defense in court.

Call the Law Offices of Amato Sanita today!