Pennsylvania Court Rules (2026)
We publish 13 Pennsylvania rule sets totaling 2754 rules. Pennsylvania court rules are promulgated by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and published in the Pennsylvania Code. Coverage includes civil and criminal procedure, evidence, appellate procedure, Orphans' Court rules, and juvenile court procedure, each with Official Notes, Comments, and amendment history. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules.
Pennsylvania Court Rules & Rules of Practice
How this jurisdiction's courts and rules are organized, written for lawyers new to it: the court system, every ruleset a litigator touches, and how a case actually moves. Last verified September 24, 2026. For informational purposes only.
- Court System Overview
- The Ruleset Map
- Civil Litigation Mechanics
- Criminal Practice Mechanics
- Evidence
- Appellate Mechanics
- Rules of Professional Conduct
- Attorney Discipline & Enforcement
- Newcomer Orientation Notes
- Sources & Verification
Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure
Rules governing civil litigation in Pennsylvania courts, including actions, service of process, pleadings, discovery, judgment, and special proceedings such as divorce, custody, and support.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure
Rules governing criminal proceedings in all Pennsylvania courts, covering investigations, pretrial procedures, summary cases, trial procedures, post-trial motions, and post-conviction proceedings.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure
Rules governing appeals to the Supreme Court, Superior Court, and Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, including procedures for interlocutory appeals and judicial review of government determinations.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure
Rules governing juvenile court proceedings in Pennsylvania, covering both delinquency matters and dependency matters.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Orphans' Court Rules
Rules governing proceedings in the Orphans' Court divisions of Pennsylvania courts of common pleas, including estates, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, and related matters.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Rules of Evidence
Rules governing the admission and exclusion of evidence in Pennsylvania courts, modeled on the Federal Rules of Evidence with Pennsylvania-specific modifications.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Minor Court Civil Rules
Civil practice before the magisterial district judges — the court most Pennsylvania litigants actually meet — 165 rules in eight chapters, published as 246 Pa. Code. Chapter 100 establishes the magisterial district judge offices and their minimum standards, along with the judges' bonds, seal, facsimile signature and temporary assignments; Chapter 200 carries the citation, definitions, computation of time and the purpose and construction of the rules. Chapter 300, the largest at 31 rules, is the civil action itself, from venue and commencement through the form of complaint; Chapter 400 the execution of judgments; Chapter 500 the action for recovery of possession of real property, which is the landlord-tenant proceeding. Chapter 800 governs minors and incapacitated persons as parties — who may be one, how the complaint is entitled and served, and the guardian who represents and supervises. Chapter 1000 is the appeal to the court of common pleas, and Chapter 1200 emergency protective relief: who may seek it, the hearing, the protection order and its duration, and certification to the court of common pleas. Seven rules are rescinded, reserved or renumbered and are shown as such.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Rules of Judicial Administration
How the Pennsylvania judiciary administers itself, 101 rules in twelve chapters, published as 201 Pa. Code. Rule 101 provides that they are cited as 'Pa.R.J.A.' Chapter 1 holds the general provisions, including the procedure for adopting, filing and publishing rules and the principles of construction; Chapter 2 reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and the courts' language access plans; Chapter 3 the Judicial Council of Pennsylvania; Chapter 5 the Court Administrator and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts; Chapter 6 the certification and continuing-education requirements for magisterial district judges; Chapter 7 the assignment of judges and judicial leave; Chapter 17 the single rule on a judge appearing as a character witness. Chapter 19, at 19 rules the largest, is the miscellaneous chapter and carries some of the most-consulted provisions here — prompt disposition and termination of inactive cases, broadcasting and photography in the courtroom, prohibited communication with jurists, continuity-of-operations and emergency action plans, court security, and the in forma pauperis application to waive fees and costs. Chapter 21's two surviving rules cover the Orphans' Court Division and proceedings under the Abortion Control Act; Chapter 40 is the uniform rules for court reporting and transcripts; Chapter 51 the custody of exhibits. Chapter 50 has been rescinded in its entirety — all five of its rules — and nine further rules are rescinded or reserved; all fourteen are shown that way.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct
The Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct govern the ethical duties of lawyers practicing in Pennsylvania. Codified at 204 Pa. Code Chapter 81, they cover the client-lawyer relationship, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, duties to the tribunal and to opposing parties, law firm responsibilities, advertising, and professional misconduct.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement
The Pennsylvania Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement govern the lawyer discipline system, at 204 Pa. Code Chapter 83: how complaints are made and investigated, the role of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the Disciplinary Board, the sanctions available, disbarment and suspension, reinstatement, and proceedings involving disability.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Bar Admission Rules
The Pennsylvania Bar Admission Rules, at 204 Pa. Code Chapter 71, govern admission to the bar: the Board of Law Examiners, the bar examination, admission without examination for lawyers licensed elsewhere, limited admissions, and pro hac vice appearances.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Code of Judicial Conduct
The ethical rules for Pennsylvania's judges, adopted by the Supreme Court and published as 207 Pa. Code Chapter 33. They bind the justices and judges of the Supreme, Superior, Commonwealth and common pleas courts, the Philadelphia Municipal Court outside its Traffic Division, and senior judges; Canon 4, on political and campaign activity, also binds every candidate for judicial office. The Code opens with a Preamble, a Terminology section that defines the terms the rules use, such as impartiality, impropriety and the third degree of relationship, and an Application section saying whom it covers. The rules sit under four Canons: Canon 1, upholding the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary; Canon 2, performing judicial duties impartially, competently and diligently, including the rule on disqualification, Rule 2.11; Canon 3, personal and extrajudicial activities, such as civic and charitable organizations, fiduciary activities, the practice of law and the acceptance of gifts; and Canon 4, political and campaign activity. Every rule carries the Supreme Court's own Comment.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowsePennsylvania Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges
The ethical rules for Pennsylvania's magisterial district judges and the judges of the Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division, who are not covered by the Code of Judicial Conduct, published as 207 Pa. Code Chapter 51. They follow the same plan as that Code: a Preamble, a Terminology section defining the terms the rules use, an Application section, and 39 rules under four Canons, on the independence and integrity of the judiciary, the duties of judicial office, personal and extrajudicial activities, and political and campaign activity. Where they differ, they reflect a magisterial district judge's office, for instance on communication in an official capacity. Every rule carries the Supreme Court's own Comment.
Updated 2026 Edition
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