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

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

Courtesy-copy rule applies for briefs, memorandas, pleadings, and filings. Details: 1 copy, delivery when fully briefed. Parties must provide the Court Administrator’s Office with copies of all subsequent pleadings, filings, briefs, and memoranda related to the summary-judgment motion; no cover letter is required.

View ruleSource: page 1, section RULE 1035.2(a) – MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT — PROCEDURES FOR DISPOSITION

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

Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas rules set a pre-motion procedure for summary judgment. If the assigned judge determines that three-judge panel argument is advisable, the assigned judge and Court Administrator’s Office must make the necessary scheduling arrangements.

View ruleSource: page 1, section RULE 1035.2(a) – MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT — PROCEDURES FOR DISPOSITION

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

Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas' formatting rule includes file format PDF. Electronically filed legal papers must be submitted in PDF format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Format

What must be included with proposed order filings in Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The proposed order must authorize the petitioner to enter a settlement and release, state the total settlement amount, and completely describe the distribution of those funds as proposed in the petition.

View ruleSource: page 2, section RULE 2206: PETITIONS FOR APPROVAL OF WRONGFUL DEATH AND SURVIVAL SETTLEMENTS

What must be included with preliminary objections filings in Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A request for discovery needed to dispose of Preliminary Objections must be included in the Preliminary Objections or the answer, and the Assigned Judge must address it in the scheduling order.

View ruleSource: page 2, section RULE 1028(c) – PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS—PROCEDURES FOR DISPOSITION

How may parties contact Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas?

The rule addresses phone communications. The filing attorney or self-represented party must promptly notify the Deputy Civil Court Administrator’s Office by telephone or email once a special-relief or emergency-custody petition will be filed and provide an estimated filing date and time.

View ruleSource: page 2, section e. Attorney or self-represented party notification

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

Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas rules set procedures for sealed or redacted filings. After a judge signs the Divorce Decree, the Prothonotary must remove the Divorce Information Sheet from the public file and keep it confidential.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1920.77 DIVORCE INFORMATION SHEET

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

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. A late continuance motion must be presented in open court before the business court judge or trial judge, with reasonable advance notice to opposing counsel.

View ruleSource: page 1, section RULE 106. CONTINUANCES

Does Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas require motion papers to be bundled?

No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. A filing of record may be cited in a later filing but may not be attached to it.

View ruleSource: page 1, section RULE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 575 -- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER LEGAL PAPERS

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

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Electronic filers must register with CountySuite Portal according to its user manual.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Registration

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

A fee is required for covered filings. The reduced-fee scale assigns 100 percent of the allocated fee at or above median income, 75 percent for 1–25 percent below median income, 50 percent for 26 percent below median income through above 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and $15 per hour below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

View ruleSource: page 2, section (h) FEES

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

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Within five business days after court proceedings conclude, the Court Crier must file all documentary exhibits and related photographs with the records office.

View ruleSource: page 1, section (b) After Court Proceedings before Judge. (1)(ii)

What rule applies to service for notice of relocation in Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. A relocating party must send a Notice of Relocation and Counter-Affidavit to every other person with custodial rights.

View ruleSource: page 1, section RULE 1915.17 RELOCATION – CHANGE OF ADDRESS WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIR THE ABILITY OF A NON-RELOCATING PARTY TO EXERCISE CUSTODIAL RIGHTS.
Complete rules summary for Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas

The proposed order must authorize the petitioner to enter a settlement and release, state the total settlement amount, and completely describe the distribution of those funds as proposed in the petition.

A request for discovery needed to dispose of Preliminary Objections must be included in the Preliminary Objections or the answer, and the Assigned Judge must address it in the scheduling order.

A party filing a Certificate of Readiness must use the most current form, and failure to do so will result in rejection.

A self-represented Entry of Appearance must be included when the filing party is unrepresented by counsel.

The Divorce Information Sheet must be filed with the Prothonotary at the same time as either the Praecipe to Transmit Record under Pa.R.C.P. 1920.42 or the Motion for Appointment of Hearing Officer under Pa.R.C.P. 1920.51.

The Divorce Information Sheet must contain the parties’ Social Security numbers and information needed for the Prothonotary to submit required Pennsylvania vital statistics.

After a judge signs the Divorce Decree, the Prothonotary must remove the Divorce Information Sheet from the public file and keep it confidential.

Every unrepresented self-represented party in a family-law matter must file a written entry of appearance at each pending case docket.

A Petition for Payment of Attorney’s Fees must state the hourly rate charged by the attorneys seeking payment.

Financial account numbers generally may not appear in a filing, but the last four digits may be used when the active account is the subject of the case and cannot otherwise be identified.

The original pleading or legal paper should be stapled in the upper-left corner.

Every motion, answer, or response must be accompanied by a proposed order or alternative orders.

A motion is deemed contested when concurrence is denied or a party does not respond to the concurrence inquiry within a reasonable time.

An original and one copy of a Certificate of Readiness must be filed with the Prothonotary according to the Annual Court Calendar timelines.

For an exhibit containing confidential information or documents, the proponent must provide the appropriate confidential-information form to the Court Crier/Clerk when introducing the evidence.

The most current Certificate of Readiness form must be used, and an outdated form will be rejected.

During court proceedings, the Court Crier/Clerk must maintain each party's Index of Exhibits using the court-administration form and specified format.

Each self-represented party in a non-family-law civil action must file a written Self Represented Party Entry of Appearance under Pa.R.C.P. 1012.

Within five business days after court proceedings conclude, the Court Crier must file all documentary exhibits and related photographs with the records office.

After court proceedings, the Court Crier must file the Index of Exhibits with the exhibits in the records office.

In proceedings before a Divorce Hearing Officer or Juvenile Hearing Officer, the Hearing Officer must prepare the Index of Exhibits and file it with the exhibits in the records office.

For confidential exhibits in Divorce Hearing Officer or Juvenile Hearing Officer proceedings, the Hearing Officer must ensure that the appropriate confidential-information form is completed and filed with the exhibit.

For oversized documentary exhibits, the Court Crier must receive an 8-1/2 x 11-inch copy, while the larger item may be used for illustration during the proceeding.

A proponent presenting a media deposition at trial must retain the media and simultaneously submit a transcript as an exhibit.

A digital-format exhibit entered into the record must be provided to the Court Crier on a portable external hard drive.

The external hard drive for digital exhibits must be submitted with the Exhibits and Index of Exhibits when filing with the records office.

A relocating party must send a Notice of Relocation and Counter-Affidavit to every other person with custodial rights.

Every Custody Agreement or Parenting Plan must include the specified paragraph directing the relocating party to follow the procedures under 23 Pa.C.S. §5337 and Rule of Civil Procedure 1915.17.

Exhibit A must be attached to every Custody Agreement or Parenting Plan and is available on the Dauphin County Self-Help Center webpage.

Copies of civil post-trial motions must be filed with the Prothonotary, delivered to the trial judge, and served upon all adverse parties.

More Judges in Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas

Andrew H. Dowling
Judge
Courtney Powell
Judge
Deborah E. Curcillo
Judge
Edward Marsico Jr.
Judge
Jeffrey B. Engle
Judge
John F. Cherry
Judge
John Joseph McNally
Judge
Katherine E. McShane
Judge