Rule 7.3 Motion for Summary Judgment

Any party in an Orphans' Court case can ask the judge to decide the case, or part of it, without going to a full hearing. This is called a motion for summary judgment. It can only be filed after the main court documents, called pleadings, have been submitted, and it must be filed early enough that it does not slow down the case.

If someone files this motion against you, you have the right to respond. Both sides follow the same procedural rules used in regular Pennsylvania civil court cases. The judge then reviews both sides and decides whether to grant or deny the motion.

A summary judgment motion is basically a way of saying, "The facts are clear enough that the judge can decide this now, without needing a full hearing." If the judge agrees, the case or part of it can be resolved more quickly.