Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 499 rules apply across Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 193
  • Applies to
    Index of exhibits

    Custodians filing exhibits must include an index identifying each exhibit by the proponent’s number or letter, whether admitted or rejected, and by description or identification.

  • Applies to
    Cover sheet

    The cover sheet must contain the completed statement identifying the party on whose behalf the filing is made and that party's relationship to the case.

  • Applies to
    Petition for conservator
    Must include
    proposed order

    A petition for appointment of a conservator must include a proposed order of court.

Service

All 118
  • Service
    Publication

    When notice must be published in a newspaper, an affidavit by the owner, publisher, or designated agent proving publication must be filed before entry of a final order, decree, or judgment.

  • Service
    Publication

    All newspaper-advertised legal notices must also be published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal.

  • Service
    Electronic service to all parties

    After an accepted electronic filing, the DCR automatically notifies and may electronically serve prior electronic filers with verified email addresses, while the filing party must serve everyone else as required by the rules.

Filing Timing

All 71
  • Deadline
    5 business days

    After court proceedings conclude, the custodian must file documentary exhibits and specified photographs with the Department of Court Records within five business days unless the court directs otherwise.

  • The DCR electronic filing system generates a printable acknowledgement and sends an initial email confirming receipt and the receipt date and time.

  • After processing an electronic filing, the DCR emails the filing party the acceptance date and time or the reasons for non-acceptance.

E-Filing

All 36
  • Beginning November 13, 2023, all legal papers must be filed through the DCR electronic filing system unless an exception or court order applies.

  • All legal papers and exhibits must be filed through the DCR electronic filing system available on the DCR website.

  • Applies to
    Petition to strike or open default judgment

    All petitions to strike or open a default judgment or judgment of non-pros must be filed electronically under Local Rule 205.4.

About Judge Chelsa L. Wagner

**Chelsa L. Wagner** is listed as a current judicial officer of the [Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Civil Division](https://www.alleghenycourts.us/civil/judicial-chambers-operating-procedures/). The court's chambers directory records this officer as Civil Division.

**Current assignment** **Division or department:** Civil Division **Chambers:** 704 City-County Building **Phone:** 412.350.0390 **Official sources** - [Judicial directory and chambers operating procedures](https://www.alleghenycourts.us/civil/judicial-chambers-operating-procedures/) - [Published chambers operating procedures](https://www.alleghenycourts.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Standard-Operating-Procedures-9-4-25-Wagner.pdf)

Common questions about Judge Chelsa L. Wagner's rules

Does Judge Chelsa L. Wagner require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Chelsa L. Wagner's rules set a pre-motion procedure for responses. No oral argument or oral presentation will occur if no written opposition response has been filed by the deadline.

View ruleSource: page 4, section 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Chelsa L. Wagner?

Judge Chelsa L. Wagner's formatting rule includes file format paper and text messages, emails, and photos submitted as exhibits must be printed and submitted in accordance with the rules of evidence.. Text messages, emails, and photos submitted as exhibits must be printed and comply with the Rules of Evidence.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 6. TRIALS/HEARINGS

What must be included with motion filings before Judge Chelsa L. Wagner?

The rule requires proposed order. The motion email must include the complete motion, a separately attached proposed order in Word format, and counsel or pro se party's telephone and email addresses.

View ruleSource: page 4, section 5. REGULAR MOTIONS (Presentation by an Attorney)

How may parties contact Judge Chelsa L. Wagner's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Chelsa L. Wagner's chambers. Emails to the court ordinarily must copy all parties and include the case number in the subject line, except when no other party email address is available online or on the docket.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT

Is electronic filing required before Judge Chelsa L. Wagner?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All Housing Court motions must be filed with the Housing Court Help Desk.

View ruleSource: page 3, section 4. HOUSING COURT

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Chelsa L. Wagner?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. After obtaining a date and time from the Housing Court Help Desk, the motion must be filed with the Department of Court Records.

View ruleSource: page 3, section 4. HOUSING COURT

What rule applies to service for motion before Judge Chelsa L. Wagner?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party. The court will not act on a motion unless it has been served or proper notice has been given to the opposing party.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 3. SELF-REPRESENTED PERSONS
Complete rules summary for Judge Chelsa L. Wagner

Use wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us as the first point of contact for scheduling and administrative matters, email ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us for court-procedure questions, or call chambers at 412.350.0390.

Email ayatsko@alleghenycourts.us to ask the judge’s law clerk about court procedure, with a response generally expected on the same business day.

For urgent matters not adequately described by email, the law clerk may be contacted by cell phone at 412-760-7848 or by text message, but the cell phone should not be abused.

Emails to the court ordinarily must copy all parties and include the case number in the subject line, except when no other party email address is available online or on the docket.

After filing, email the filing to wagnerchambers@alleghenycourts.us; filing alone does not deliver the document to chambers.

The motion email must include the complete motion, a separately attached proposed order in Word format, and counsel or pro se party's telephone and email addresses.

The court will not act on a motion unless it has been served or proper notice has been given to the opposing party.

Self-represented litigants must email their name, docket number, cell phone number, and email address to chambers, and all parties appearing before Judge Wagner must submit their email addresses.

All Housing Court motions must be filed with the Housing Court Help Desk.

After obtaining a date and time from the Housing Court Help Desk, the motion must be filed with the Department of Court Records.

Housing Court motion arguments are conducted by telephone on a shared line, and participants must remain silent until their case is called and wait until the pending motion concludes to raise issues.

Each party has a total of ten minutes to argue its motion.

All pro se litigants must visit and become familiar with the court's website before directing inquiries to chambers.

All motions must be emailed to the court on the same day notice is given to the opposing party.

Each motion must be served and emailed to all other parties at least seven days before the scheduled motions day, and the motion must notify them of the date on which it will be considered.

The motion must notify the opposing party that any written opposition must be filed with the court by noon on the day before motions day.

All written responses must be emailed to the court at the two listed email addresses.

A copy of the motion must be emailed to the court at the two listed email addresses.

Motion sign-up must be completed by email, with no exceptions.

An opposing party must submit a written response explaining its position by noon on the day before the scheduled motions date.

Oral argument is the default option for motions, and the judge must grant oral argument to any requesting party.

No oral argument or oral presentation will occur if no written opposition response has been filed by the deadline.

Further replies or responses are not permitted after a motion and response are submitted unless the court grants permission.

The court files the original order by email unless otherwise noted, while attorneys must file the original motion and responses.

Emergency motions must be emailed to the Court at the listed email addresses and should be submitted only for true emergencies.

Counsel must notify chambers by telephone when submitting an emergency motion.

Weekday emergency motions submitted before noon may receive same-day decision, and responses are due by 3 p.m. that day.

Emergency motions submitted after noon will not receive a same-day decision or be decided before the end of the next business day, and responses are due by noon the next business day.

Consent motions and proposed orders must be emailed to the Court at the listed address.

The Court will review consent motions as soon as it is able to do so.

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