Court Rules
Common questions about Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas rules

Are courtesy copies required in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for exhibits. Parties must provide copies of exhibits to the trial judge at the time of trial.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Rule 5103.1 Civil Division Custody of Exhibits. Special Provisions

Does Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas rules set a pre-motion procedure for discovery motions. Unless compelling circumstances exist, parties must conduct a meaningful meet and confer before presenting a contested motion to the Discovery Motions Judge.

View ruleSource: page 24, section Discovery Motions Judge — Presentation

What page or word limits apply to pretrial statement in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas' rule states these limits: 200 words. A party electing the opportunity to make a voir dire statement must include verbatim text of 200 words or fewer in its pre-trial statement.

View ruleSource: page 34, section Local Rule 212.2 Pre-Trial Statement (b)(i)

What page or word limits apply to brief in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas' rule states these limits: 10 pages. A brief generally may not exceed ten double-spaced pages, but the limit does not apply in complex or class-action cases or when a court order permits an exception.

View ruleSource: page 116, section Local Rule 1028(c) Procedures for the Disposition of Preliminary Objections — General Docket and Arbitration Docket Cases

What formatting rules apply to filings in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas' formatting rule includes letter paper and oversized exhibits and large photographs exceeding 8 ½ x 11 inches must be reduced in size and/or photographed so that the copy or photograph can be photocopied or scanned onto 8 ½ x 11 inch paper for filing.. Oversized exhibits and large photographs must be reduced or photographed so they can be copied or scanned onto 8½-by-11-inch paper for filing.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Rule 5103.1 Civil Division Custody of Exhibits. Special Provisions

What must be included with cover sheet filings in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. 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.

View ruleSource: page 14, section Local Rule 205.2(b) Cover Sheet

What must be included with petition for conservator filings in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

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

View ruleSource: page 105

How may parties contact Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

The rule addresses email communications with the clerk. The rule lists email Civilgenmotions@alleghenycourts.us. If the court order sets no argument date, any party may, after the deposition-completion deadline, file a praecipe and email a copy to Civilgenmotions@alleghenycourts.us to schedule final argument before the General Motions Judge.

View ruleSource: page 20, section Local Rule 206.4(c) Procedures for the Disposition of Petitions

How does Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas handle sealed or redacted filings?

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. When an exhibit offered into evidence contains confidential information or documents, the proponent must file a copy of the exhibit and a required certification with the Department of Court Records.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Rule 5103.1 Civil Division Custody of Exhibits. Special Provisions

How do I request an adjournment or extension in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. In an arbitration case, filing preliminary objections or scheduling argument after the arbitration hearing does not continue the hearing unless the moving party obtains a continuance under Local Rule 208.3(d).

View ruleSource: page 116, section Local Rule 1028(c) Procedures for the Disposition of Preliminary Objections — General Docket and Arbitration Docket Cases

Is electronic filing required in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Beginning November 13, 2023, all legal papers must be filed through the DCR electronic filing system unless an exception or court order applies.

View ruleSource: page 16, section Local Rule 205.4. Electronic Filing of Legal Papers in Allegheny County.

Are filing fees or waivers addressed in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

A fee is required for covered filings. A filing lacking sufficient funds or authorization for credit card, debit card, or other payment cannot be cured under the electronic-filing rejection procedure.

View ruleSource: page 19, section Local Rule 1930 Electronic Filing

When is a filing treated as filed in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. 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.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Rule 5102.1 Civil Division Custody of Exhibits. General Provisions

What rule applies to service by publication in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas?

Proof of service is required for the covered service rule. Details: method: service by 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.

View ruleSource: page 9, section Local Rule 2 Notice by Publication
Complete rules summary for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

Parties must provide copies of exhibits to the trial judge at the time of trial.

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.

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.

Oversized exhibits and large photographs must be reduced or photographed so they can be copied or scanned onto 8½-by-11-inch paper for filing.

A reduced copy of an oversized exhibit must be clear and capable of further reproduction into digital media.

A proponent must ensure that a digital exhibit entered into the record uses a court-acceptable format.

When an exhibit offered into evidence contains confidential information or documents, the proponent must file a copy of the exhibit and a required certification with the Department of Court Records.

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.

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

Exceptions may not be filed to a Hearing Officer recommendation labeled “interim.”

At least 10 days before the View, the petitioner must provide the Viewers with a written certification of service, advertisement, and posting of the petition and scheduling order.

Within 20 days after the View, the Viewers must determine awards for each parcel and submit an itemized initial report.

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.

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

Footnotes in pleadings, petitions, motions, and other legal papers must be single-spaced.

Attachments, supporting documents, and exhibits must be on 8.5-by-11-inch paper when filed with the Department of Court Records.

A smaller reproduced document should, if possible, be reproduced on 8.5-by-11-inch paper.

A larger document must be reduced to 8.5-by-11 inches only if it remains legible.

When a legible photocopy cannot be obtained because of a document's characteristics or limitations, the filing party must present the original material to the Department of Court Records with one cover sheet for stamping, docketing, and filing.

An illegible reproduced document must be replaced by an exact typed recitation, or by agreed material sections, on white 8.5-by-11-inch paper in 12-point type, double-spaced with one-inch margins.

Counsel for the filing party must certify the accuracy of the retyped document.

Every preliminary objection, petition, or motion must include a proposed order as its last page.

Any pleading, petition, motion, or other legal paper must begin with the prescribed cover sheet; a second cover-sheet page is permitted if needed and must be numbered "Cover Sheet 2" at the bottom.

Cover-sheet lettering must be at least 12 points or equivalent and substantially follow the prescribed cover-sheet format.

The cover sheet must state, in capital letters from the left to right margins, “IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.”

The cover sheet must list the complete names of all parties in capital letters, although an appropriate shortened caption may be used when the filing party previously appeared.

The cover sheet must identify the specific court division.

The cover sheet must include the docket number.

The cover sheet must include the issue number, if assigned, and the trial-listing date, if assigned.

The cover sheet must state the pleading's name in bold capital letters.

More Judges in Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

Alan D. Hertzberg
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Arnold I. Klein
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Chelsa L. Wagner
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Daniel D. Regan
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John T. McVay Jr.
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Mary C. McGinley
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Matthew V. Rudzki
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Michael E. McCarthy
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