Pennsylvania Court Rules Guide
Quick Navigation
Overview
Pennsylvania state courts operate under the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure (Pa.R.C.P.), Pennsylvania Appellate Procedure Rules (Pa.R.A.P.), and county-level local rules. Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System (UJS) includes Courts of Common Pleas in all 67 counties, with Philadelphia and Allegheny County having the most extensive local rule systems.
Important: Pennsylvania uses "Preliminary Objections" rather than a motion to dismiss. This is a critical distinction — improper use of the wrong procedural vehicle can waive rights.
Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure (Pa.R.C.P.)
Key Rules
- • Pa.R.C.P. 106: Computation of time
- • Pa.R.C.P. 1007: Commencement of action
- • Pa.R.C.P. 1026: Time for filing pleadings
- • Pa.R.C.P. 1028: Preliminary objections
- • Pa.R.C.P. 1035: Summary judgment
Pleading Deadlines
- • 20 days: Answer or preliminary objections
- • 20 days: Answer to counterclaim/cross-claim
- • 30 days: Most motion responses
- • 30 days: Notice of appeal (Pa.R.A.P. 903)
Service Extensions
| Service Method | Additional Time | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Service | None | Pa.R.C.P. 402 |
| First-Class Mail | +3 calendar days | Pa.R.C.P. 440(b) |
| Email / Electronic | +1 calendar day | Pa.R.C.P. 440(d) |
| Overnight Delivery | +1 calendar day | Pa.R.C.P. 440(c) |
Pennsylvania Appellate Procedure (Pa.R.A.P.)
Key Appellate Deadlines
- • Pa.R.A.P. 903: Notice of appeal — 30 days from order
- • Pa.R.A.P. 1113: Petition for allowance of appeal — 30 days
- • Pa.R.A.P. 2185: Brief filing deadlines
- • Pa.R.A.P. 2111: Content of appellate brief
Appellate Court Structure
- • Superior Court: Civil and criminal appeals from Courts of Common Pleas
- • Commonwealth Court: Cases involving the Commonwealth or government agencies
- • Supreme Court: Discretionary review; mandatory jurisdiction in some matters
Electronic Filing in Pennsylvania
PACFile System
- • Statewide e-filing portal (PACFile)
- • Mandatory for appellate courts
- • Courts of Common Pleas — check locally
- • Filing deadline: 11:59 PM on due date
- • PDF format required
Philadelphia & Allegheny County
- • Both counties have local e-filing systems
- • Philadelphia First Judicial District portal
- • Allegheny County separate filing system
- • Verify local requirements before filing
Pennsylvania Statutes of Limitations
Personal Injury
- • General negligence: 2 years
- • Medical malpractice: 2 years
- • Wrongful death: 2 years
- • Products liability: 2 years
Contract Disputes
- • Written contracts: 4 years
- • Oral contracts: 4 years
- • UCC sales: 4 years
- • Judgments: 5 years (revival)
Real Property
- • Ejectment: 21 years
- • Adverse possession: 21 years
- • Mortgage foreclosure: 20 years
- • Residential landlord-tenant: varies
Key Local Court Rules
Philadelphia (First Judicial District)
- • Complex litigation center (CLC)
- • Commerce court program
- • Mass tort litigation procedures
- • Mandatory arbitration <$50,000
- • Compulsory arbitration program
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)
- • Arbitration: civil cases under $35,000
- • Case management program
- • Complex case track
- • Strict motion practice rules
- • Pretrial conference requirements
Official Resources
Calculate Pennsylvania Deadlines Now
Use our free calculator to compute court deadlines under Pa.R.C.P. and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules.
Open Pennsylvania Calculator