Rule 1065 Specific Averments

When someone files a lawsuit to establish who owns a piece of land in Pennsylvania, they must describe that land in their complaint. This description tells the court and other parties exactly which property the case is about.

If the lawsuit involves underground rights, like rights to minerals, oil, or natural gas beneath the surface, the rules are a bit more specific. The person filing the case must attach a summary of the ownership history for those underground rights. If the relevant documents are not kept at the courthouse, they must include the full ownership history instead.

The filing must also include a statement of how many acres are involved, along with a metes and bounds description if one exists. A metes and bounds description uses measurements and landmarks to define the exact boundaries of the land. If that type of description is not available, any other description that clearly identifies the property will work.