Court of Common Pleas of Venango County, Pennsylvania Service and Proof of Service Rules

CRITICALCivil cases

When counsel files a praecipe for appointment of the Board, opposing counsel must receive notice.

The Board of three members shall be appointed within ten (10) days after a case is at issue, or after filing of the Agreement of Reference upon praecipe filed by counsel for either party, with notice to the opposing counsel.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Service

Mail to all parties

Continuance notices must be mailed to the last known address of every party involved in the case, in compliance with Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 542.

All continuance notices shall be mailed to the last known address of all parties involved in a particular case and in compliance with Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 542.

CRITICALCivil cases

The Chairman must notify the parties or their counsel of the hearing’s time and place.

The Chairman shall give notice to the parties or their counsel of the time and place fixed for hearing.

CRITICALCriminal cases

The certification records service of the motion or petition and proposed order, the recipient, the service method, and the date.

A copy of this Motion/Petition and proposed Order have been served on: _____ by: Fax Mail E-Mail Personal Service on the _____ day of _____, 20____.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

Establishing an attorney account or authorizing a self-represented defendant to use PACFile constitutes consent to electronic filing and electronic service of documents filed there.

Establishment of an account by an attorney or authorization of a defendant proceeding without counsel in the PACFile system, to the extent permitted under this local rule and authorized by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, shall constitute consent to participate in electronic filing, including acceptance of service electronically of any document filed in the PACFile system.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Service

Mail

If the issuing authority is unavailable when the individual is arrested, the individual must be released and notified of the contempt proceeding by mail.

If upon arrest of the individual the issuing authority is unavailable, the individual shall be released and notified of the contempt of court proceeding by mail as previously described.

CRITICALCriminal cases

The defendant must be provided a copy of all documents prepared for the preliminary arraignment.

The defendant shall be provided a copy of all documents.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Original process

In equity, partition, prevent-waste, and specified declaratory-judgment actions, original process must be served within Pennsylvania by the sheriff or a competent adult.

With respect to all actions filed in Venango County, Pennsylvania, original process shall be served within the Commonwealth: - i. By the sheriff or a competent adult in the actions in equity, partition, prevent waste and declaratory judgment when declaratory relief is the only relief sought;

CRITICALCriminal cases

Service

Mail to all parties

Continuance notices must be mailed to every party’s last known address.

All continuances notices shall be mailed to the last known address of all parties involved in a particular case.

CRITICALCivil cases

If a party will not call a witness it previously indicated would be called, it must give opposing counsel three days’ notice.

If a party has indicated a witness will be called, three (3) days’ notice shall be given to opposing counsel if the witness will not be called for any reason.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Transcript request form

Copies of the transcript request must be served as provided by Pa.R.J.A. 4007(B).

Copies of this request must be served in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 4007(B).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Legal papers

Service

Electronic service

Electronic service of legal papers through PACFile is permitted for criminal cases in the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.

1) The electronic filing of legal papers and the electronic service of such papers through the PACFile system with the Venango County Clerk of Court for criminal cases in the Venango County Court of Common Pleas is permitted under the terms described in this Local Rule.

CRITICAL

The original transcript request must be filed with the appropriate filing office, and copies must be provided to the presiding judge, court reporter, district court administrator, and opposing counsel or party.

(B) The original request shall be filed in the appropriate filing office and the requesting party shall provide copies of the formal request to: - (1) the judge presiding over the matter; - (2) the court reporter; - (3) the district court administrator; and - (4) opposing counsel or party

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pre trial statement

Each party must serve the pre-trial statement on the other party.

Each party shall file and serve upon the other party a pre-trial statement in accordance with Pa. R.C.P. 1920.33(b) and deliver a copy to the Divorce Master prior to the preliminary conference.

CRITICAL

Any party who declines to participate in the PACFile electronic filing system, or who is unable to electronically file or accept service of legal papers which were filed electronically, or who is otherwise unable to access the PACFile system, shall be permitted to file legal papers in a physical paper format ('hard-copy') and shall be served legal papers in a physical paper format by the Clerk of Courts and other parties, whether electronically filed or otherwise, as required by Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.

Any party who declines to participate in the PACFile electronic filing system, or who is unable to electronically file or accept service of legal papers which were filed electronically, or who is otherwise unable to access the PACFile system, shall be permitted to file legal papers in a physical paper format ('hard-copy') and shall be served legal papers in a physical paper format by the Clerk of Courts and other parties, whether electronically filed or otherwise, as required by Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Original process

In all other actions filed in Venango County, original process must be served within Pennsylvania by the sheriff.

With respect to all actions filed in Venango County, Pennsylvania, original process shall be served within the Commonwealth: - ii. By the sheriff in all other actions;

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Subpoena

Parties serving subpoenas on witnesses must submit a Service of Process form to the Issuing Authority as proof of service.

Parties serving subpoenas upon witnesses shall submit a Service of Process form to the Issuing Authority to substantiate that service was made upon the witness.

CRITICAL

If the inventory and pre-trial statement are filed after the conciliator is appointed, a copy must be delivered to the conciliator.

(2) Conciliator will schedule conciliation only after at least one of the parties has filed both the inventory and a pre-trial statement as contemplated in Pa.R.C.P. 1920.33(b) and delivered a copy to the conciliator if filed after the conciliator is appointed.

CRITICAL

Service

Electronic service

Legal papers must be served electronically on attorneys and defendants participating in PACFile.

Service upon an attorney or defendant participating in the PACFile system shall be done electronically.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court orders and notices

The Sheriff, Adult Probation, Court Reporter, and Court Administration must be served with court orders and notices in accordance with Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.

The following offices must be served in accordance with Pa.R.Crim.P. 576: Sheriff, Adult Probation, Court Reporter, and Court Administration. This applies to the service of court orders and notices.

CRITICAL

Copies of a transcript request must be served as required by Pa.R.J.A. 4007(B).

Copies of this request must be served in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 4007(B).

WARNINGCriminal cases

At the Commonwealth attorney’s request, contempt proceedings may commence against a nonappearing subpoenaed witness if service of the subpoena can be substantiated.

Witnesses who have been subpoenaed and do not appear for a preliminary hearing may upon request of the attorney for the Commonwealth, have contempt proceedings commence against them if service of the subpoena can be substantiated.

WARNING

If a previously identified witness will not be called, the party must give opposing counsel three days' notice.

If a party has indicated a witness will be called, three (3) days' notice shall be given to opposing counsel if the witness will not be called for any reason.

INFOCriminal cases

Service

Mail

Notice of contempt proceedings may be sent by first-class or certified mail.

Notice of the contempt of court proceedings against them may be via first class mail or certified mail.

INFOCriminal cases

Service

Mail

A subpoenaed witness who fails to appear within ten minutes after a preliminary hearing begins may be notified by First Class and Certified Mail of contempt proceedings if service of the subpoena can be substantiated.

Witnesses who have been subpoenaed and do not appear within ten (10) minutes of the actual start time for a preliminary hearing may be notified via First Class Mail and Certified Mail of Contempt of Court proceedings against them, if service of the subpoena can be substantiated.