Centre County Court of Common Pleas Document Filing Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed legal paper

By electronically filing a legal paper, the filing party certifies that its hard copy was properly signed and, when applicable, verified, and makes the certification required by Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1(c).

The electronic filing of a legal paper constitutes a certification by the filing party that a hard copy of the legal paper was properly signed and, where applicable, verified; and a certification as provided by the signature to a legal paper under Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1(c), the violation of which shall be subject to the sanction provided by Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1(d).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request

Transcript requests must use the form available at the Court Administrator's Office or on its website.

Transcript requests shall be made on the form provided at the Court Administrator's Office or on the website: centrecountypa.gov

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Agreed order and parenting plan

When the parties resolve all issues by agreement, the conciliator must forward the agreed Order and Parenting Plan to the Court for approval.

If the parties reach an agreement resolving all the issues raised, the conciliator shall forward an agreed upon Order and Parenting Plan to the Court for approval.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

A cited unpublished opinion must be attached to the brief.

A copy of any unpublished opinion which is cited must accompany the brief as an attachment.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Discovery motion

Must include

certificate of conference

A discovery motion must include a statement certifying the good-faith conference and, if issues were partly resolved, identifying the resolved and unresolved issues.

Counsel for movant in a discovery motion shall file as part of the motion a statement certifying that counsel has conferred with counsel for the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve by agreement the issues raised by the motion without the intervention of the court. If part of the issues raised by the motion have been resolved by agreement, the statement shall specify the issues so resolved and the issues remaining unresolved.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for special relief

A petition for special relief must be a separate document with the required heading, comply with applicable Pa.R.C.P. 1915.15 requirements, and allege facts clearly specifying the danger to the child’s welfare.

The petition for special relief must be presented as a separate document headed “Petition for Special Relief.” The petition shall conform to the requirements of Pa.R.C.P. 1915.15, as may be applicable, and must allege facts which clearly specify the clear and present danger to the welfare of the child(ren).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

local rule certificate

A motion filed before trial must include counsel’s certification that concurrence was sought from each party and was either given or denied.

shall contain a certification by counsel for the movant that he or she has sought concurrence in the motion from each party, and that it has been either given or denied.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition and rule

A request for a stay of execution pending disposition of a petition to open a default judgment must be clearly set forth in both the petition and the rule.

A request for a stay of execution pending disposition of a petition to open a default judgment shall be clearly set forth in the petition and rule.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

A brief may not incorporate all or any portion of another brief by reference.

No brief may incorporate by reference all or any portion of any other brief.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

Briefs must contain complete citations to all relied-upon authorities and, whenever practicable, citations to both official and unofficial reports.

Briefs shall contain a complete citations of all authorities relied upon, including whenever practicable, citations both to official and unofficial reports.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court order

An order denying, modifying, or vacating a waiver must state the reason and that the party has 30 days to pay or the action will be terminated without further notice.

If the court denies an application, or modifies or vacates an order previously granting an application, the court shall state in its order: - (i) the reason for its decision; and - (ii) that the party has 30 days to pay the filing fees or the action will be terminated without further notice.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Every motion must be accompanied by a form of order that would grant the requested relief if approved.

Every motion shall be accompanied by a form of order which, if approved by the court, would grant the relief sought in the motion.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Memorandum of understanding

Should the parties consent to mediation and successfully reach an agreement, the mediator shall prepare a Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum of Understanding shall be forwarded to the Court.

Should the parties consent to mediation and successfully reach an agreement, the mediator shall prepare a Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum of Understanding shall be forwarded to the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Each motion must include a scheduling order for the assigned judge to complete and a proposed order specifying the requested relief.

All motions shall include a scheduling Order which will be completed by the Judge assigned to that motion, as well as a proposed Order specifying the relief sought by the moving party.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Recommended interim custody order

The conciliator's recommended interim custody order must be submitted to the court for approval, signature, and entry of record.

The recommended interim custody order of the conciliator prepared in accordance with Rule 1915.4-3 (I)(3) shall be submitted to the court for approval, signature, and entry of record.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Custody case removal

A custody case may be removed from the custody conciliation conference, pre-trial schedule, or custody trial list only by written party agreement or Court order.

A custody case will be removed from the custody conciliation conference, pre-trial schedule and/or the custody trial list only upon written agreement of the parties or Court order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request

A party requesting a transcript must file a written request with the Office of the District Court Administrator.

The party requesting a full or partial transcript of a trial or other proceeding shall file the written request with the Office of the District Court Administrator.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Physical evidence

Bring all physical evidence you intend to present to the proceeding in the courtroom.

Have all physical evidence (papers, text messages, photographs, medical records, etc.) you desire to present at the proceeding with you in the courtroom.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Signed hard copy

The filing party must retain the signed hard copy for two years after the latest of the specified case or issue dispositions.

The filing party shall maintain the signed hard copy of the document filed for two (2) years after the later of: the disposition of the case; the entry of an order resolving the issue raised by the legal paper; or, the disposition by an appellate court of the issue raised by the legal paper.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pre trial conference

Both parties and their counsel must appear before the Court at the pre-trial conference to present issues and discuss settlement and disposition of matters referred to the Court.

Both parties and their respective counsel shall appear before the Court for presentation of the issues and discussion of possible settlement and disposition of any matters referred to the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Conciliator written report

If the parties do not resolve all issues, the conciliator must file a written report containing the attendance, conference results, interim-order recommendation, specified evaluation and counseling determinations, expedited-hearing recommendations, mediation-orientation determination, and pre-trial recommendations.

If the parties do not reach an agreement resolving all issues raised, the conciliator shall file a written report with the Court that recites the following: (1) the parties and attorneys that attended the custody conciliation conference; (2) the results of the custody conciliation conference; (3) a recommended interim custody order as to legal and physical custody matters which will govern, pending further proceedings with the Court; (4) an initial determination, subject to ultimate approval by the Court, as to the use of psychological evaluations, home study evaluations, drug and alcohol evaluations and/or treatments, co-parenting counseling, reunification counseling, the appointment of a guardian ad litem, and/or the appointment of counsel for the child(ren); (5) any recommendations regarding the need for an expedited hearing in emergency and relocation cases; (6) whether a party should not be compelled to attend a mediation orientation session because a party, or a child of a party, is or has been the subject of domestic violence or child abuse allegedly perpetrated by an opposing party at any time within the preceding twenty-four (24) months; and (7) a recommendation that the case be scheduled for a pre-trial conference and the estimated number of trial days needed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

A brief may address only one motion, except for cross-motions for summary judgment.

A brief may address only one motion, except in the case of cross motions for summary judgment.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

The moving party’s brief must include the case’s procedural history, facts, questions involved, and argument.

The brief of the moving party shall contain a procedural history of the case, a statement of facts, a statement of questions involved, and argument.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Filing

If a filing references more than one case number, an original document must be filed for each case number.

Where there is more than one case number referenced on a filing, an original document must be filed to each case number.

CRITICALCivil cases

A brief longer than 15 pages must include a page-referenced table of contents and a table of cited authorities with page references.

The brief of each party, if more than fifteen (15) pages in length, shall contain a table of contents, with page references, and table of citations of the cases, statutes, and other authorities referred to therein, with references to the pages at which they are cited.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for special relief

A request for evaluations made after the initial conference must be brought by Petition for Special Relief alleging specific facts and reasons, unless made at the pre-trial conference or entered by stipulation.

Any request by the parties for evaluations made after the initial conference and not made at the pre-trial conference or entered by stipulation must be made by Petition for Special Relief alleging specific facts and reasons for the request.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion or request for relief

Must include

proposed order

Each motion or other request for relief must be accompanied by a proposed order.

A proposed order shall accompany each motion or other request for relief,

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Legal papers

All filed legal papers must be accompanied by a civil cover sheet in the form provided in the rule.

All legal papers filed shall be accompanied by a civil cover sheet in a form as contained in this Rule.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Brief or motion

Exhibits must be submitted with the brief or motion to which they relate.

Exhibits to a brief or motion shall accompany the brief or motion

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed legal paper

An electronically filed legal paper is deemed the original, and the Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts must maintain a hard copy.

A legal paper filed electronically shall be deemed the original document. The Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts shall maintain a hard copy of the document filed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Initial filing

The filing party must include the statewide cover sheet with the initial filing.

As required by Pa.R.C.P. 205.5, the filing party shall include the statewide cover sheet with the initial filing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Attorney signed filing

An attorney-signed filing must list the attorney’s name, contact details, and bar identification number under the signature line, using the state’s postal abbreviation as the number’s prefix.

Any document signed by an attorney for filing shall contain under the signature line the name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address (if applicable) and Pennsylvania or other state bar identification number. When listing the bar identification number, the state’s postal abbreviation shall be used as a prefix (e.g., PA 12345, NY 246810).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Filed document

Original documents must be marked “original,” and copies must be marked “copy.”

All original documents shall be marked “original.” All copies shall be marked “copy.”

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request

A party requesting a full or partial transcript must file a written request with the Court Administrator's Office.

The party requesting a full or partial transcript of a trial or other proceeding shall file the written request with the Court Administrator's Office.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed document

An electronically filed document is deemed signed by the filer if it bears the filer’s facsimile or typographical signature.

An electronically filed document shall be deemed to have been signed by the filer if it bears a facsimile or typographical signature of the filer, e.g. /s/ John Doe.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Verification

The required verification regarding criminal record or abuse history must be completed before the conference if not already filed, and filed of record afterward.

The conciliator shall review the court file before the custody conciliation conference to ensure that all pleadings and documents have been properly filed by all parties, including a verification regarding any criminal record or abuse history. If a party has not filed the verification, then the conciliator shall have that party complete the verification before commencing the custody conciliation conference, and the conciliator shall ensure that the verification is filed of record after the conference.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pre trial conference submission

At the pre-trial conference, both parties must submit the documents and information required by the Custody Scheduling Order.

At the time set for the pre-trial conference, both parties shall submit documents and information required by the Court’s Custody Scheduling Order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Signed hard copy

Any other party at any time may serve upon the filing party a notice to produce for inspection the signed hard copy within fourteen (14) days of service of the notice. The Court upon motion may grant appropriate sanctions for failure to produce the signed hard copy pursuant of the notice.

Any other party at any time may serve upon the filing party a notice to produce for inspection the signed hard copy within fourteen (14) days of service of the notice. The Court upon motion may grant appropriate sanctions for failure to produce the signed hard copy pursuant of the notice.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

If the opposing party does not file counterstatements of facts or questions involved, the moving party’s statements are deemed adopted.

If counter statements of facts or questions involved are not filed, the statements of the moving party will be deemed adopted.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Motions should include a brief statement of the applicable authority.

All motions should include a brief statement of the applicable authority.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion for reconsideration

After a significant change in circumstances that cannot be resolved by agreement, either party may file a motion to reconsider an interim custody order before the pre-trial conference; the motion must state pertinent supporting facts and be verified by the filing party.

Should a significant change in circumstances arise after entry of an interim custody order and before the pre-trial conference necessitating a modification of the interim custody order, which modification cannot be amicably agreed upon pending the pre-trial conference, either party may file a motion for reconsideration of the interim order, setting forth all pertinent facts in support thereof and verified by the filing party.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed document

Scanned signatures are accepted as originals.

Scanned signatures will be accepted as originals.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Interim order and parenting plan

By mutual consent, parties with a temporary custody agreement who do not want a custody trial may request that the conciliator forward an agreed interim Order and Parenting Plan to the Court for review and entry.

If the parties do not reach a final agreement resolving all issues raised but have reached a temporary custody agreement and do not want to proceed to a custody trial, by mutual consent of the parties, they may request the conciliator forward an agreed upon interim Order and Parenting Plan to the Court for review and entry.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

The opposing party may include counterstatements of facts and questions involved and a counter history of the case.

The brief of the opposing party may contain a counter statement of the facts and of the questions involved and a counter history of the case.