Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Filing Timing and Cure Windows

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.

File all documentary exhibits, photographs, and photographs of non-documentary exhibits with the Department of Court Records office within five (5) business days of the conclusion of the court proceedings unless otherwise directed by the court.

An accepted electronic filing is deemed filed as of the date and time the DCR electronic filing system received it.

If the DCR accepts a filing, it shall be deemed to have been filed as of the date and time it was received by the DCR’s electronic filing system.

The DCR may reject and will not treat as filed a legal paper when sufficient funds are not maintained or card payment is not authorized.

A legal paper will not be considered filed if the DCR responds to the filing by notifying the filing party that they have not (i) maintained with the DCR sufficient funds to pay the fees and costs of the filing or (ii) authorized payment by credit or debit card of such fees and costs. The DCR is authorized to reject a filing of a legal paper submitted without the requisite payment.

If the DCR refuses a legal paper, it must email the reason and the paper is deemed not filed, subject to Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(e)(1).

If the DCR refuses to accept a legal paper for filing, the DCR shall transmit to the filing party an email specifying the reason. Subject to the provisions of Pa.R.Civ.P. 205.4(e)(1), a legal paper refused for filing shall be deemed as not having been filed.

Deadline

3 business days

A rejected filing must be resubmitted electronically within three business days with the identified defect cured, followed by an email notice to the DCR containing the submission identifiers, rejection reason, and explanation of the cure; the cure provision is encouraged when prejudice would otherwise result.

(1) Within three (3) business days, the filing party resubmits the legal paper through the electronic filing system curing the defect noted by the DCR in the rejection. (2) Once the legal paper is resubmitted, the filing party must notify the DCR of the resubmitted filing via an email to civil@alleghenycounty.us, identifying the original submission ID number of the rejected filing, the submission ID number of the resubmitted filing, the reason the DCR originally rejected the filing and a brief explanation how the defect was cured in the resubmitted filing. Both submission ID numbers can be found on the acknowledgment page provided by the DCR at the time of submission. Note: Parties are encouraged to use the cure provisions of subparagraph (A) in only those instances where the party will be prejudiced if the legal paper is not deemed to have been filed at the date and time it was originally received by the DCR’s electronic filing system.

A party that misses the three-business-day cure procedure may still cure and resubmit, but the accepted filing is deemed filed when the DCR’s electronic filing system received it.

(B) If the DCR refuses to accept a filing and the filing party fails to comply with subparagraph (A), the filing party may still cure the defect and resubmit the filing, but the accepted filing will be deemed to have been filed at the date and time it was received by the DCR’s electronic filing system.

Unless there is an emergency or all other parties consent, presentation must occur at least ten days after service of the petition and notice of the presentation date.

Except in cases of emergency or with the consent of all other parties, the date of presentation shall be at least ten (10) days after service of a copy of the petition and notice of the date of presentation.

When a rule to show cause is entered, the court order must establish deadlines for filing the answer and completing depositions.

(b) If, upon presentation of the petition, a rule to show cause is entered, the court order issuing the rule shall set the time within which the answer to the petition shall be filed and the time within which depositions shall be completed.

If the court order sets no argument date, any party may, after the deposition completion deadline, file and email a praecipe to schedule final argument before the General Motions Judge.

If the court order does not set an argument date, at any time after the date by which the depositions were to be completed, any party may order the cause for argument before the General Motions Judge by filing a praecipe to set a date and time for the final argument and transmitting a copy of the praecipe to the following email address: Civilgenmotions@alleghenycourts.us.

Applies to

Depositions and evidence

Depositions and other evidence the court may consider must be filed at least fourteen days before the final argument.

(c) Depositions and other evidence that a court may consider shall be filed at least fourteen (14) days before the argument date.

Applies to

Moving party brief

The moving party’s brief must be filed with the Department of Court Records and served on all other parties at least fourteen days before argument.

The brief of the moving party shall be filed with the Department of Court Records and served on all other parties at least fourteen (14) days prior to the argument.

Applies to

Opposition brief

The opposing party’s brief must be filed at least seven days before argument.

The brief of the party opposing the petition shall be filed at least seven (7) days prior to the argument.

The plaintiff's Case Summary Memorandum is due as soon as practical but no later than 60 days after the complaint is filed.

As soon as practical, but no later than 60 days after the filing of a complaint, the Plaintiff(s) shall complete and file the Case Summary Memorandum with the Department of Court Records.

Before electronically filing a Housing Court motion, the moving party must submit it to the Housing Court Help Desk email to request an argument date.

Prior to electronically filing the motion with the Department of Court Records, the moving party must request an argument date by submitting the motion to the Housing Court Help Desk email at HCHelpdesk@alleghenycourts.us.

A mediation certification must be filed no later than 45 days before commencement of the assigned trial term.

No later than 45 days prior the commencement of the assigned trial term (or 15 days prior to the scheduled trial date for asbestos cases), the Plaintiff and/or Plaintiff’s Counsel shall file a Certification indicating that:

The court-reporter certificate must be filed within ten days after the post-trial motion is filed, and failure to do timely file results in a conclusive presumption that the transcript is unnecessary and waived.

Such certificate shall be filed within a period of ten days from the filing of the Motion for Post–Trial Relief. Upon failure to file such certificate within the time prescribed, it shall be conclusively presumed a transcript of said testimony is not necessary and is waived.

The tax assessment appeal must be filed within thirty days of the Board's mailing of its notice.

An appeal from the decision of the Board of Property Assessment, Appeals and Review must be verified pursuant to Pa.R.Civ.P. 206.3 and electronically filed pursuant to Local Rule 205.4 with the Department of Court Records Civil/Family Division within thirty days of the date of mailing of the notice by the Board.

The transcript must be paid for and filed within 30 days of the Administrative Chair's letter; failure to file within that period results in a court order overruling the objections with prejudice.

the transcript must be paid for and filed within thirty (30) days of the date of the letter, and that if no transcript is filed within that time period, then a court order will be issued overruling the objections with prejudice. (FORMS 503(15A) and 503(15B))

If the support brief is not filed within 20 days after the transcript is filed, the Administrative Chair sends notice; failure to file within 20 days after that letter results in overruling the objections with prejudice.

If no brief is filed within twenty (20) days of the date the transcript is filed, the Administrative Chair of the Board of Viewer shall send the objecting party a letter, with copies to all counselor parties not represented by counsel, stating that if a brief is not filed within twenty (20) days of the date of the letter, then a court order will be entered overruling the objections with prejudice.

If no opposition brief is filed and served within 20 days, the Administrative Chair sends notice; a brief filed more than 20 days after that letter will not be considered for the decision.

If no Brief in Opposition is filed and served within twenty (20) days, the Administrative Chair of the Board of Viewers shall send the opposing party(ies) a letter, with copies to all counsel and parties not represented by counsel, stating that if an opposing brief is not filed within twenty (20) days of the date of the letter, the decision will be made without reference to any brief that you may file thereafter.

A party objecting to the Special Master’s Report must file its objections at the Civil Division Secondary Desk within ten days after receiving the Notice.

Any party objecting to the Report shall file Objections at the Secondary Desk of the Department of Court Records, Civil Division, on the First Floor of the City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, with ten (10) days of the receipt of this Notice.

An objecting party must obtain, pay for, and file the trial transcript within thirty days after the reminder letter’s date.

You must contact the court reporter and the transcript must be paid for and filed within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter.

Failure to pay for and file the transcript within thirty days of the reminder letter will result in an order overruling the objections with prejudice.

If the transcript has not been paid for and filed within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter, A COURT ORDER PURSUANT TO LOCAL RULE 503(15)(b) WILL BE ISSUED OVERRULING THE OBJECTIONS WITH PREJUDICE.

The objecting party’s brief must be filed and served within twenty days after the overdue notice, or the objections will be overruled with prejudice.

If it is not filed and served within twenty (20) days of the date of this letter, A COURT ORDER PURSUANT TO LOCAL RULE 503(16)(b) WILL BE ISSUED OVERRULING YOUR OBJECTIONS WITH PREJUDICE.

A brief in opposition must be filed and served within 20 days of the date of the letter or the decision will be made without considering a later-filed brief.

If no Brief in Opposition is filed and served within (20) days of the date of this letter, the decision will be made without reference to any brief that you may file thereafter.

A real estate tax exemption appeal must be verified under Pa.R.C.P. 206.3 and filed as a General Docket case with the Department of Court Records within 30 days after the Board mails its notice.

An appeal from the decision of the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review must be verified pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 206.3 and filed as a General Docket case with the Department of Court Records within thirty (30) days of the date of mailing of the notice by the Board.

If the Final Plan for Abatement is not presented at the initial hearing, it must be filed with Court Records and served on the parties at least 30 days before the Final Plan hearing.

(1) If a Final Plan for Abatement is not presented at the initial conservatorship hearing, the conservator shall file with the Department of Court Records and serve on the parties a Final Plan for Abatement no less than thirty (30) days prior to the Final Plan for Abatement hearing date.

Deadline

7 calendar days

An opposition brief on preliminary objections is due at least seven days before argument.

(ii) Any party opposing preliminary objections shall electronically file a brief in opposition to the preliminary objections at least seven (7) days prior to the argument.

Deadline

90 calendar days

Argument on preliminary objections raising specified issues of fact will not be scheduled sooner than 90 days after filing.

(c) (i) Where preliminary objections contain grounds raising issues of fact under Pa.R.Civ.P. 1028(a)(1), (5), or (6), they shall be titled on the cover sheet "Preliminary Objections Raising Questions of Fact"; shall be endorsed with a notice to plead; shall not have a brief attached; and will be scheduled for argument not sooner than ninety (90) days after filing.

Deadline

20 calendar days

Evidence for consideration on fact-based preliminary objections is due at least 20 days before argument.

(ii) All evidence that the parties wish the court to consider shall be electronically filed with the Department of Court Records at least twenty (20) days prior to the argument.

Deadline

14 calendar days

The filing party's brief on fact-based preliminary objections is due at least 14 days before argument, while opposing briefs are due at least 7 days before argument.

(iii) The party which filed the preliminary objections shall electronically file its brief at least fourteen (14) days prior to the argument; the parties opposing the preliminary objections shall file their briefs at least seven (7) days prior to argument.

A motion for judgment on the pleadings filed at least 42 days before the next argument list is placed on that list, while one filed less than 42 days before it is placed on the following list.

Motions for judgment on the pleadings filed on or before the forty second (42nd) day before the next argument list will be placed on that list. Motions filed less than forty-two (42) days before the date of the next argument list will be placed on the following argument list

The Notice of Intention to Appear must be submitted within 20 days from the date the court papers were mailed.

___ within TWENTY (20) days from the date these papers were mailed.

The defendant must respond to the complaint within 20 days or may face judgment for the amount claimed before the hearing.

NOTICE: You must respond to this complaint within twenty (20) days or a judgment for the amount claimed may be entered against you before the hearing.

The Housing Court Clerk assigns an arbitration hearing date when the Complaint is filed, and the case is heard by an arbitration panel.

(3) Arbitration: At the time the Complaint is filed, an arbitration hearing date is assigned by the Housing Court Clerk, and the case will be heard before an arbitration panel.

The custody confirmation complaint is deemed filed when notice of its presentation is given.

The complaint is deemed filed when notice of its presentation is given.

A petition for de novo review must be filed within 20 days of the Parenting Coordinator’s decision, specify the issues for review, and attach the decision.

Any party seeking judicial review of the Parenting Coordinator’s decision must file a Petition for de novo hearing within 20 days of the filing of the decision stating specifically the issue(s) to be reviewed and attaching a copy of the decision.

Within 10 days after payment of the fees, the master must give written notice of a hearing to occur no later than 30 days after that notice.

Within 10 days after the fees are paid into the court the master shall give written notice to the parties of a hearing to be held not more than 30 days thereafter.

Parties may file exceptions to the master’s report within 10 days after receiving notice that the report was filed.

Exceptions to the master’s report may be filed by the parties within 10 days after receiving notice of the filing of the master’s report.

Briefs must be filed and argument scheduled by court order after the period for filing exceptions expires.

Briefs shall be filed, and argument scheduled as provided by order of court after the period for filing exceptions has expired.

On the date a motion is presented, the presenting party must obtain any required hearing or conciliation date and file the motion with the resulting court order.

On the same date that the motion is presented, the party who presents a motion to the motions judge shall obtain any required hearing or conciliation date from the Family Division docket clerk and file with the Department of Court Records the motion and the court order entered by the court.

Preliminary objections must be scheduled on the next available Friday Support Exception Argument List occurring more than 13 days after filing.

Preliminary Objections shall be scheduled on the next available Friday Support Exception Argument List occurring more than 13 days after the Preliminary Objections are filed with the Department of Court Records and the Exceptions Clerk.

If the respondent files a brief in support of preliminary objections, it must reach the Exceptions Clerk at least seven days before argument.

If Respondent files a brief, it shall be filed with the Exceptions Clerk at least seven days prior to argument.

A motion for judgment on the pleadings or summary judgment must be scheduled on the next available Friday Support Exception Argument List occurring more than 41 days after filing.

Motions for Judgment on the Pleadings or Summary Judgment shall be scheduled on the next available Friday Support Exception Argument List occurring more than 41 days after the motion is filed.

Any respondent's answer and supporting opposing affidavits must be filed at least 21 days before argument.

Respondent’s Answer, if any, together with any opposing affidavits shall be filed at least 21 days prior to the argument date.

The movant must file a brief at least 14 days before argument.

Movant shall file a brief at least 14 days prior to argument.

If the respondent files a brief, it must be filed at least seven days before argument.

Respondent’s brief, if any, shall be filed at least seven days prior to argument.

Counsel of record must file proof of deposit with the Department of Court Records within 30 days.

Proof of deposit is to be filed with the Department of Court Records, Wills/Orphans’ Court Division within thirty days by counsel of record.

The guardian of the estate must file proof of surety bond with the Clerk of the Orphans' Court within 30 days.

Proof of surety bond is to be filed with the Clerk of the Orphans' Court within thirty (30) days by , guardian of the estate.

Deadline

3 business days

When a writ of execution is stayed after service or attempted service, the sheriff’s poundage is based on the writ’s face amount unless the plaintiff files an affidavit within three business days stating the actual cash or in-kind consideration.

when a writ of execution is stayed after the Sheriff has served or has attempted to serve the writ, the sheriff’s commission referred to as poundage will be calculated based on the face amount of the writ unless the plaintiff files an affidavit within three business days the actual amount paid or to be paid to the plaintiff in cash or in 165 ===== PAGE 166 ===== kind as consideration for staying the writ or satisfying the judgment.

The listed writs, orders, affidavits, notices, property descriptions, forms, envelopes, and sale-related materials must be filed with the Sheriff at least 25 days before the sale.

The following must be filed with the Sheriff, along with the writs and copies of orders, not less than twenty-five days before the date of sale:

The required IRS notice copy must be filed with the Department of Court Records before the date fixed for the sale.

a copy of such notice, certified by counsel to be a correct copy and indicating the date of service upon or delivery to the Internal Revenue Service, shall be filed with the Department of Court Records prior to the date fixed for the sale.

A plaintiff may not request placement on the next available trial list until 180 days after service of the original complaint on each continuing defendant.

This praecipe may not be filed earlier than one hundred eighty (180) days after the plaintiff served a copy of the original complaint on each defendant who continues to be a party in the case.

After the plaintiff seeks placement on the next available trial list, every other party must file its expert reports within 60 days.

After a plaintiff has filed a praecipe requesting that the case be placed on the next available trial list, each other party in the case shall file within sixty (60) days expert reports summarizing all expert testimony that will be offered by that party to support the defenses to the plaintiff's claims and to support any claims and defenses involving other parties.

Deadline

7 calendar days

A respondent’s brief must be filed with the Hearing Officer’s Secretary at least seven calendar days before argument.

If the respondent files a brief, it shall be filed at least seven calendar days prior to argument, with the Hearing Officer’s Secretary in room 616, City-County Building.

Deadline

7 calendar days

A cross-exceptant’s brief must be filed at least seven calendar days before argument and may respond to the first exceptant’s brief.

If cross-exceptions are filed, the cross-exceptant’s brief must be filed at least seven calendar days prior to argument and may respond to the first exceptant’s brief.

Deadline

4 calendar days

The first exceptant may file a responsive second brief at least four calendar days before argument.

The party filing the first exceptant’s brief may file a second brief, in response to the cross-exceptant’s brief, at least four calendar days prior to argument.

Deadline

45 calendar days

Applies to

Exceptions

Exceptions must be scheduled for argument within 45 days after filing.

Exceptions must be scheduled for argument no more than 45 days after exceptions are filed.

Deadline

5 calendar days

Applies to

Exceptions

Contempt exceptions must immediately be placed on the next Support Argument List occurring more than five days after filing.

If exceptions are filed to the Recommendation of Hearing Officer recommending that the exceptant be held in contempt, the exceptions shall immediately be placed on the next “Support Argument List” occurring more than five days after the filing of exceptions.

Deadline

3 calendar days

For contempt exceptions, the exceptant’s brief is due at least three days before argument and a respondent’s brief is due at least one day before argument.

For purposes of this subsection the exceptant shall file a brief at least three days 181 ===== PAGE 182 ===== prior to argument. If the respondent files a brief, it shall be filed at least one day prior to argument.

Deadline

5 business days

Documentary exhibits, exhibit photographs, and photographs of non-documentary exhibits must be filed with the Department of Court Records within five business days after the court proceeding concludes unless the court directs otherwise.

2. File all documentary exhibits, photographs, and photographs of non-documentary exhibits with the Department of Court Records office within five (5) business days of the conclusion of the court proceeding unless otherwise directed by the court;

The advisory schedule closes discovery 16 weeks before trial, sets plaintiffs' pre-trial statements 14 weeks before trial, sets all other parties' pre-trial statements 12 weeks before trial, and requires mediation to be completed 45 days before trial, subject to the published controlling dates.

Trial lists are generally published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal 6 months prior to commencement of the trial term. Pre-trial deadlines are generally as follows: 16 weeks prior to commencement of the trial term for the close of discovery; 14 weeks prior to commencement of the trial term for plaintiffs' pre-trial statements; 12 weeks prior to commencement of the trial term for all other parties' pre-trial statements; and 45 days prior to the commencement of the trial term for completion of mediation pursuant to Local Rule 212.7. The general schedule set forth in this Note is only advisory and may vary from the controlling dates and deadlines published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal.

Plaintiffs generally must fulfill the pre-trial statement requirements 45 days before the trial term, while all other parties generally must fulfill them 30 days before the trial term, with the controlling deadline published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal.

Note: The deadline for each party to file and serve its pre-trial statement is published with the trial list in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal. Generally, Plaintiffs are required to fulfill the requirements of Pa.R.C.P. 212.2 forty-five (45) days prior to the commencement of the trial term in which the case is listed, and all other parties are required to fulfill the requirements of Pa.R.C.P. 212.2 thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of the trial term in which the case is listed.

Objections to the Special Masters Report and Recommendation must be filed within 10 days of receipt if filed electronically.

The parties may electronically file objections to the Special Masters Report and Recommendation within ten (10) days of receipt of the Special Masters Report and Recommendation and Notice.

If no trial transcript is filed within 90 days after objections are filed, the Administrative Chair must send the objecting party and copies to counsel and unrepresented parties a letter concerning that fact.

If no trial transcript is filed within ninety (90) days of the date the Objections were filed, the Administrative Chair of the Board of Viewers shall send the objecting party a letter, with copies to all counsel and parties not represented by counsel, stating that

If the court reporter cannot meet the transcript e-filing deadline through no inaction by the objecting party, the objecting party may request an extension of time from the Administrative Chair.

If, through no inaction on the part of the objecting party the court reporter is unable to meet the deadline set e-filing of the transcript in the letter from the Administrative Chair, the objecting party may ask for an extension of time from the Administrative Chair.

On cases appearing on a published trial list, a motion for judgment on the pleadings may be placed on an argument list if filed in time for a list before the scheduled trial date.

On cases that have appeared on a published trial list, motions for judgment on the pleadings may be placed on an argument list if they are filed in time to be placed on an argument list prior to the scheduled trial date.

Family Division motions may be presented at 1:30 p.m. each court day unless the Pittsburgh Legal Journal publishes notice of a different schedule or no hearing.

Family Division motions may be presented to the motions judge at 1:30 p.m. on each court day, unless notice that motions will not be heard, or that motions will be heard at a different time, is published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal.

A supplemental expert report responding to an opposing expert report may be filed within 60 days after the opposing report is filed.

A party may file a supplemental expert report which responds to an opposing expert report within sixty (60) days after the opposing expert report was filed.

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

The DCR’s electronic filing system shall generate a printable acknowledgement page and shall transmit to the filing party an initial email confirming the electronic receipt of the legal paper and the date and time thereto.

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

Subsequently, after the DCR has processed the electronic filing, the DCR shall transmit, to the filing party, an email stating the date and time of acceptance of the filing or stating that the filing has not been accepted and the reasons for non-acceptance.