Court of Common Pleas of York County, Pennsylvania Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition

The small-estate petition must substantially follow the form set forth after the rule, in addition to the requirements of Pa.R.O.C.P. 5.50.

(b) Contents. In addition to the requirements outlined in Pa.R.O.C.P. 5.50, the Petition shall be substantially in the form as set forth after this Rule.

CRITICAL

Copies provided to the court and opposing parties must have staples securely covered with no sharp or protruding edges.

(v) Copies of any documents to be provided to the court and opposing parties shall have staples securely covered with no sharp or protruding edges of any kind.

CRITICAL

Margins

top 3 in

Documents presented to and filed with the Court must have a three-inch top margin on the first page and at least a two-inch top margin on each later page.

(vi) The first page of any document to be presented to and filed with the Court shall have a three inch margin at the top of the first page pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 204.1, and each subsequent page shall have at least a two inch margin at the top of the page.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Exhibit tracking index

Proponents must not include information on exhibit tracking indexes that would require the indexes to be designated confidential under the Public Access Policy.

(3) Proponents shall not include any information on the indexes that would require designation of the indexes as confidential documents pursuant to the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania: Case Records of the Appellate and Trial Courts.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

To the extent practicable, documents shall be formatted in accordance with the applicable rules governing formatting of paper documents, and in such other and further format as the court may require from time to time. All electronic filings shall be in PDF format.

To the extent practicable, documents shall be formatted in accordance with the applicable rules governing formatting of paper documents, and in such other and further format as the court may require from time to time. All electronic filings shall be in PDF format.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Electronic evidence

Electronic evidence presented in a proceeding or submitted into the record must comply with the Rule or it will not become part of the case record.

(2) All electronic evidence to be presented in a court proceeding or submitted into the record for the York County Court of Common Pleas shall comply with the requirements of this Rule. Any electronic evidence that does not comply with this rule will not become a part of the record of the case.

CRITICAL

Original filings and responses, other than Court-preprinted forms, must be securely fastened in a document cover and may not be stapled.

The original of all pleadings, applications, documents and affidavits, and any responses thereto, except forms pre-printed by the Court, to be presented to and filed with the Court, shall be securely fastened in a document cover. No original document shall be fastened with staples.

CRITICAL

Briefs must be typewritten on letter-size paper, with a three-inch top margin on the first page and at least a two-inch top margin on each later page, and must contain complete and accurate citations.

All briefs shall be typewritten on 8 1/2" by 11" paper and shall contain complete and accurate citations of all authorities. The front page of a brief shall have a three inch margin at the top for court stampings and notations, and each subsequent page shall have at least a two inch margin at the top.

CRITICAL

Originals presented to and filed with the Court, except preprinted Court forms, must be backed with colored paper or a document backer and secured with binder clips; staples may not be used.

(i) The originals of all pleadings, applications, documents and affidavits, and any responses thereto, except forms preprinted by the Court, to be presented to and filed with the Court, shall be backed by and securely fastened to a plain sheet of colored paper or to a document backer, using binder clips. No original document shall be fastened with staples.

CRITICAL

Files should, whenever possible, use file types published as acceptable by the court, and parties must provide software needed to open unique or proprietary file types.

(i) have files formatted to a file type, whenever possible, consistent with the acceptable file types periodically published by the court. When a file type is unique or proprietary, the party must provide the appropriate codex or other software to be able to open and view the file on any computer;

CRITICAL

Parties must file one original brief with the Prothonotary, backed by and securely fastened in a document cover using binder clips.

Parties shall file one original of a brief with the Prothonotary. The original shall be backed by and securely fastened in a document cover using binder clips.

CRITICAL

The moving party must file an original and one copy of both the motion and notice of presentment; the prothonotary distributes the copies to the motions court judge.

(2) The moving party shall file an original and one copy of the motion and an original and one copy of the notice of presentment with the prothonotary. The prothonotary shall time-stamp all documents, retain the original of the motion and the original of the notice of presentment for docketing, and provide the copy of the motion and the copy of the notice of presentment to the motions court judge.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Briefs must be typewritten and include complete citations, a procedural history, the questions involved, and argument; briefs over ten pages must also include an index.

(1) All briefs shall be typewritten, and shall contain complete and accurate citations of all authorities. Briefs shall contain a procedural history of the case, a statement of the questions involved, and argument. All briefs more than ten (10) pages in length shall contain an index.

CRITICALCriminal cases

A party introducing an exhibit that cannot readily be stored in a standard letter-sized folder must reproduce it in a storable form without impairing its visual quality.

(D) A party who introduces an exhibit which is not readily stored in a standard letter-sized folder shall cause the exhibit to be reduced in size, photographed, or otherwise reproduced so that the exhibit may be readily stored in such folder without impairment of its visual quality.

CRITICAL

Pleadings, applications, documents, and affidavits not covered by the stated exceptions must conform to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.

(1) All pleadings, applications, documents and affidavits which are not expressly regulated as to form by Act of Assembly or are forms or documents routinely used or prepared by the courts or court- related agencies, shall conform to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.

CRITICAL

Continuance requests must be submitted on the court-promulgated form.

All continuance requests shall be made on the application for continuance form promulgated by the court.

CRITICAL

The parties must file pre-trial statements with the prothonotary in chart form, listing assets by category in the master's memorandum's order.

The parties shall file pre-trial statements with the prothonotary. The pre-trial statement shall be in chart form with assets listed by category in the same order as found on the master's memorandum.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Electronic evidence

The submitting party must provide the clerk with the electronic evidence as amended through trial, on its submitted storage device, with data preserved in its native format.

(d) provide the clerk with the electronic evidence, as amended through trial, on its submitted storage device with data preserved in its native format that shall:

CRITICAL

A property claim must use the form prescribed by Pa.R.C.P. No. 3258.

(b) The property claim shall be in the form as set forth in Pa.R.C.P. No. 3258.

CRITICAL

The court accepts only media storage devices and file types periodically published on its public website.

(4) The court only accepts the media storage device and file types as periodically published by the court on its public website.

CRITICAL

Files must be provided on a secure and protected media storage device.

(iii) be provided on a secure and protected media storage device (see (4) below); and

CRITICAL

Applies to

Electronic evidence

The submitting party must know how to operate the device so the electronic evidence can be viewed.

(b) be familiar with how to operate the device so that the electronic evidence can be viewed;

CRITICAL

Applies to

Electronic evidence

The party submitting electronic evidence must provide a device that can display or play it and whose output is compatible with courtroom technology.

(a) provide a device by which the electronic evidence may be viewed or played which shall have an output which is compatible with the technology in the courtroom;

CRITICAL

Each storage device must be legibly labeled with the case caption, docket number(s), and, when applicable, disk number; if direct labeling is impractical, submit it in a labeled 8½” by 11” envelope.

(iv) be identified with a label that shall be affixed to each storage device legibly identifying the case caption (which may be abbreviated), docket number(s), and disk number (1 of 2, etc.) if there is more than one media storage device per case. If it is impractical to affix such label directly on the media storage device, the media storage device shall be submitted in an 8½” by 11” envelope which shall be labeled with all the above information.

WARNING

The payment request must use the form prescribed by the District Court Administrator in consultation with the Committee.

Within thirty days following the end of an arbitration period, the Arbitration Chairperson for the Board shall file a request for payment with the Prothonotary, in the form prescribed by the District Court Administrator in consultation with the Committee, along with a Chairperson’s Term Report specifying the number of cases

WARNING

Transcripts estimated at 50 pages or more must include a word list index, billed at the same page rate as the transcript's principal portion.

All transcripts with an estimated length of 50 pages or more shall include a word list index, which shall be billed at the same page rate as the principal portion of the transcript.

WARNING

The proposed order and accompanying document must not be fastened together.

An original proposed order, with a brief title describing the nature of the proposed order (as examples: “Order Scheduling Argument” or “Order Granting Motions for Sanctions”) shall accompany each document delivered to the Court Administrator for assignment, but shall not be fastened together.

WARNING

A party introducing an exhibit that cannot readily be stored in a standard letter-sized folder must reduce, photograph, or otherwise reproduce it so it can be stored without impairing its visual quality.

(e) A party who introduces an exhibit which is not readily stored in a standard letter-sized folder shall cause the exhibit to be reduced in size, photographed, or otherwise reproduced so that the exhibit may be readily stored in such folder without impairment of its visual quality.

WARNING

The judge’s signature line shall be on a page with at least some of the body of the

The judge’s signature line shall be on a page with at least some of the body of the

WARNING

Provide only the last four digits of the account number and use the CIF form.

No._______ (last 4 digits only, use CIF Form)

WARNING

Parties may not attach copies of pleadings or documents already filed in the record.

(c) Parties shall not attach copies of pleadings or documents already filed of record.

WARNING

A praecipe to list a matter for disposition before the court must substantially follow the prescribed form.

The praecipe to list a matter for disposition before the court shall be in substantially the following form:

WARNINGCriminal cases

If an applicant submits a proposed order with a motion, the order’s original must not be stapled to the motion’s original.

If a proposed order is submitted by the applicant with a motion for consideration by the court, the original of such order shall not be stapled to the original motion filed by a party.

WARNING

The prescribed notice of presentment form begins three inches from the top of the page.

{Beginning 3 inches from top of page. See Pa.R.C.P. 204.1}

WARNING

Pretrial memoranda must not contain copies of proposed exhibits, previously filed matters, or discovery materials.

Pre-trial memoranda shall not contain copies of proposed exhibits, copies of matters previously filed of record, or copies of discovery materials.

WARNING

(f) A party who introduces an exhibit which is not readily stored in a standard letter-sized folder or easily reduced to such size shall take sufficient photographs of the exhibit, or otherwise reproduce it, to accurately capture its likeness, using either film or digital medium and may be expected to substitute the photographs or other reproduction for the actual exhibit in the trial record.

(f) A party who introduces an exhibit which is not readily stored in a standard letter-sized folder or easily reduced to such size shall take sufficient photographs of the exhibit, or otherwise reproduce it, to accurately capture its likeness, using either film or digital medium and may be expected to substitute the photographs or other reproduction for the actual exhibit in the trial record.

WARNING

The cover sheet form begins three inches from the top of the page.

[Beginning 3 inches from top of page. See Pa.R.C.P. No. 204.1]

WARNING

Each file must be named consistently with how it will be referenced on the record.

(ii) have individual files with each file name consistent with how the file will be referenced on the record (e.g., “Commonwealth’s Exhibit 1”);

WARNING

Exhibit tabs are permitted but may be placed only at the bottom of the page.

(iii) The use of exhibit tabs is permitted but such tabs shall only be placed at the bottom of the page.

WARNING

A praecipe to place a case on the trial list must substantially follow the form set forth below.

The praecipe shall be in substantially the form as set forth below.

WARNING

Documents may not be sent by facsimile to a judge or the Court Administrator without leave of court.

(b) Documents shall not be sent by facsimile to a judge or to the Court Administrator without leave of court.

WARNING

Identify the minor’s account using only the last four digits of the account number and the minor’s initials.

Account / Certificate No. ____ (last 4 digits only, Use CIF Form) is entitled, _____________ (initials only), a Minor.

WARNING

Every pleading filed of record must be typewritten.

Every pleading filed of record shall be typewritten

WARNING

Plastic strips may not be used.

(ii) The use of plastic strips is prohibited.

WARNING

Any exhibit tabs must be placed at the bottom of the document.

Exhibit tabs, if any, shall be placed at the bottom of a document.

WARNING

A subsequent filing may refer to a filing already of record, but must not attach it to the original document being filed.

Filings already of record may be referenced in any subsequent document to be filed, but shall not be attached to the original document to be filed.

WARNING

If special software is needed to view electronically stored exhibits, the offering party may be required to provide it to the Court for trial.

(i) In the event special software is needed to view electronically stored exhibits, the party offering the exhibits may be required to provide such software to the Court for use during trial.

WARNING

The report and award must be substantially in the form of a jury verdict, but need not include facts or reasons for the board’s action.

The report and award shall be substantially in the form of a verdict of a jury, and need not contain a recital of facts, nor a statement of reasons for the action taken by the board.

WARNING

Use the minor’s initials in the caption and use CIF for the full name.

(Initials only, use CIF for full name)

WARNING

The affidavit must substantially follow the form set forth in York R.C.P. 2039.2(c).

The Affidavit shall be substantially in the form as set forth in York R.C.P. 2039.2 (c).

WARNING

Use initials only for the minor’s name and use the CIF form.

(Initials only, use CIF form)

WARNINGCriminal cases

(E) A party who introduces an exhibit which is not readily stored in a standard letter-sized folder or easily reduced to such size shall take sufficient photographs of the exhibit, or otherwise reproduce it, to accurately capture its likeness, using either film or digital medium and may be expected to substitute the photographs or other reproduction of the actual exhibit in the trial record.

(E) A party who introduces an exhibit which is not readily stored in a standard letter-sized folder or easily reduced to such size shall take sufficient photographs of the exhibit, or otherwise reproduce it, to accurately capture its likeness, using either film or digital medium and may be expected to substitute the photographs or other reproduction of the actual exhibit in the trial record.

WARNING

Hearings conducted by the board under the Private Road Act must be recorded in a manner that allows them to be transcribed in writing.

(d) Any hearings conducted by the board pursuant to the Private Road Act, shall be recorded in such manner so that the proceedings can be reduced to written transcript form.

WARNING

The praecipe must substantially follow the form set forth in York R.C.P. 214(h).

The praecipe shall be in substantially the same form as that set forth in York R.C.P. 214(h).

WARNING

Oral depositions must be taken in York County unless all parties agree otherwise or the Court directs otherwise.

Depositions by oral examination shall be taken in York County unless all parties agree or the Court directs otherwise.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Applies to

Trial list

The trial list must comply with the format prescribed by the district court administrator.

No later than ten business days prior to the first day of each week in which jury trials will be held, the district attorney shall provide to the district court administrator, in a format to be prescribed by the district court administrator, a written list of all cases the district attorney intends to call to trial in that week.

WARNING

Subsequent filings may reference filings already in the record but may not attach them to the original document being filed.

(iv) Filings already of record may be referenced in any subsequent document to be filed, but shall not be attached to the original document to be filed.

WARNINGCriminal cases

(H) In the event special software is needed to view electronically stored exhibits, the party offering the exhibits may be required to provide such software to the court for use during trial.

(H) In the event special software is needed to view electronically stored exhibits, the party offering the exhibits may be required to provide such software to the court for use during trial.

WARNING

A conciliation memorandum must substantially follow the form published on the York County website and available at the court self-help center.

The memorandum shall be substantially in the form published on the York County website and available at the court self-help center.

INFO

Parties are expected to convert large quantities of paper records or exhibits into commonly used electronic formats stored on CD or DVD for trial use and inclusion in the trial record.

(g) Parties are expected to reduce large quantities of paper records or exhibits to commonly used electronic formats, stored on compact disk (CD) or digital video disks (DVD), for use at trial and for inclusion in the trial record.

INFO

Attachments extraneous to the Court's consideration of applications requiring action are discouraged.

(3) Attachments such as exhibits, documentary evidence, and other matters extraneous to the consideration of applications requiring action by the Court are discouraged.

INFOCriminal cases

Parties are expected to convert large quantities of paper records or exhibits into commonly used electronic formats for trial and inclusion in the record.

(F) Parties are expected to reduce large quantities of paper records or exhibits to commonly used electronic formats for use at trial and for inclusion in the record.