Title 42, JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

Process may be served or executed on any day of the week except at any church, synagogue, meetinghouse or any place of worship. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Dec. 19, 1984, P.L.1089, No.218, eff. imd.; June 25, 1997, P.L.293, No.28, eff. imd.; June 18, 1998, P.L.6…

(a) Constitutional restriction.--The person of a debtor, where there is not strong presumption of fraud, shall not be continued in prison after delivering up his estate for the benefit of his creditors in such manner as shall be provided or prescribed by law. (b) Statutory restri…

1980 Repeal. Section 5110 was repealed October 5, 1980, P.L.693, No.142, effective in 60 days. The subject matter is now contained in Chapter 85 of this title.

1980 Repeal. Section 5111 was repealed October 5, 1980, P.L.693, No.142, effective in 60 days. The subject matter is now contained in Chapter 85 of this title.

(a) General rule.--The existence of any of the following relationships between a person and this Commonwealth shall constitute a sufficient basis of jurisdiction to enable the tribunals of this Commonwealth to exercise general personal jurisdiction over such person, or his person…

The tribunals of this Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction over land situated within this Commonwealth whether or not the persons owning or claiming interests therein are subject to the jurisdiction of the tribunals of this Commonwealth. Cross References. Section 5302 is referred…

The tribunals of this Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction over chattels situated within this Commonwealth whether or not the persons owning or claiming interests therein are subject to the jurisdiction of the tribunals of this Commonwealth. Cross References. Section 5303 is refe…

The tribunals of this Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction over documents situated within this Commonwealth whether or not the persons owning or claiming interests therein are subject to the jurisdiction of the tribunals of this Commonwealth. (Dec. 20, 1982, P.L.1409, No.326, eff…

The tribunals of this Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction, whether or not the persons owning or claiming interests in the shares or share certificates are subject to the jurisdiction of the tribunals of this Commonwealth: (1) Over shares in a corporation incorporated under the l…

The tribunals of this Commonwealth shall have jurisdiction over obligations owed by persons who are subject to the jurisdiction of the tribunals of this Commonwealth whether or not the persons to whom the obligations are owed are subject to the jurisdiction of the tribunals of th…

The judicial jurisdiction over status granted to the courts of this Commonwealth by the Constitution and statutes of this Commonwealth may be exercised: (1) to the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, except as limited by the Constitution and laws of this Co…

The tribunals of this Commonwealth may exercise jurisdiction under this subchapter only where the contact with this Commonwealth is sufficient under the Constitution of the United States. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days) 1978 Amendment. Act 53 added section 5308. Cro…

This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Uniform Interstate and International Procedure Act." Cross References. Section 5321 is referred to in section 2576 of Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations).

(a) General rule.--A tribunal of this Commonwealth may exercise personal jurisdiction over a person (or the personal representative of a deceased individual who would be subject to jurisdiction under this subsection if not deceased) who acts directly or by an agent, as to a cause…

(a) Manner of service.--When the law of this Commonwealth authorizes service of process outside this Commonwealth, the service, when reasonably calculated to give actual notice, may be made: (1) By personal delivery in the manner prescribed for service within this Commonwealth. (…

(a) General rule.--A court of record of this Commonwealth may order service upon any person who is domiciled or can be found within this Commonwealth of any document issued in connection with a matter in a tribunal outside this Commonwealth. The order may be made upon application…

(a) General rule.--A deposition to obtain testimony or documents or other things in a matter pending in this Commonwealth may be taken outside this Commonwealth: (1) On reasonable notice in writing to all parties, setting forth the time and place for taking the deposition, the na…

2012 Repeal. Section 5326 was repealed October 24, 2012, P.L.1459, No.183, effective in 60 days.

(a) Notice.--A party who intends to raise an issue concerning the law of any jurisdiction or governmental unit thereof outside this Commonwealth shall give notice in his pleadings or other reasonable written notice. (b) Materials to be considered.--In determining the law of any j…

(a) Domestic record.--An official record kept within the United States, or any state, district, commonwealth, territory, insular possession thereof, or the Panama Canal Zone, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or an entry therein, when admissible for any purpose, may be …

Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, this subchapter does not repeal or modify any law of this Commonwealth: (1) Authorizing the exercise of jurisdiction on any basis other than the bases specified in section 5322 (relating to bases of personal jurisdiction over perso…

This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act.

This subchapter shall apply to any civil action or proceeding in a foreign jurisdiction where discovery is sought in this Commonwealth.

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Foreign jurisdiction." A state other than Pennsylvania. "Foreign subpoena." A subpoena issued under authority of a c…

In applying and construing this subchapter, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

(a) General rule.--To request issuance of a subpoena under this section, a party must submit a foreign subpoena to a prothonotary in the jurisdiction in which the person who is the subject of the order resides, is employed or regularly transacts business in person. A request for …

The Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure and any statutes relating to service of subpoenas and compliance with subpoenas shall apply to all subpoenas issued under this subchapter. Such rules shall include, but are not limited to, the following: No. 4009.21 (relating to Subpoena …

(a) General rule.--An application to a court for a protective order or to enforce, quash or modify a subpoena issued by a prothonotary under section 5335 (relating to issuance of subpoena) must comply with the rules and statutes of this Commonwealth and be submitted to the court …

(a) General rule.--An action, proceeding or appeal must be commenced within the time specified in or pursuant to this chapter unless, in the case of a civil action or proceeding, a different time is provided by this title or another statute or a shorter time which is not manifest…

(a) General rule.--The time within which a matter must be commenced under this chapter shall be computed, except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) or by any other provision of this chapter, from the time the cause of action accrued, the criminal offense was committed or the…

(a) General rule.--A matter is commenced for the purposes of this chapter when a document embodying the matter is filed in an office authorized by section 5103 (relating to transfer of erroneously filed matters) or by any other provision of law to receive such document. (b) Imple…

(a) General rule.--Except as provided in section 1722 (c) (relating to time limitations) or in subsection (b) of this section, the time limited by this chapter shall not be extended by order, rule or otherwise. (b) Fraud.--The time limited by this chapter may be extended to relie…

Except as otherwise provided or prescribed by law, a court upon notice to the parties may modify or rescind any order within 30 days after its entry, notwithstanding the prior termination of any term of court, if no appeal from such order has been taken or allowed. Cross Referenc…

(a) Short title of section.--This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Uniform Statute of Limitations on Foreign Claims Act." (b) General rule.--The period of limitation applicable to a claim accruing outside this Commonwealth shall be either that provided or prescribe…

(a) Notice prerequisite to action against government unit.-- (1) Within six months from the date that any injury was sustained or any cause of action accrued, any person who is about to commence any civil action or proceeding within this Commonwealth or elsewhere against a govern…

The following actions and proceedings must be commenced within one year: (1) An action for libel, slander or invasion of privacy. (2) An action upon a bond given as security by a party in any matter, except a bond given by a condemnor in an eminent domain proceeding. (3) An actio…

The following actions and proceedings must be commenced within two years: (1) An action for assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, malicious prosecution or malicious abuse of process. (2) An action to recover damages for injuries to the person or for the death of an …

2013 Unconstitutionality. Act 152 of 2004 was declared unconstitutional. Commonwealth v. Neiman, 84 A.3d 603 (Pa. 2013). The unconstitutionality took effect March 17, 2014.

(a) General rule.--Except as provided for in subsection (b), the following actions and proceedings must be commenced within four years: (1) An action upon a contract, under seal or otherwise, for the sale, construction or furnishing of tangible personal property or fixtures. (2) …

The following actions and proceedings must be commenced within five years: (1) An action for revival of a judgment lien on real property. (2) An action for specific performance of a contract for sale of real property or for damages for noncompliance therewith. (3) An action to en…

(a) Eminent domain.-- (1) (i) If a condemnor has filed a declaration of taking, a petition for the appointment of viewers for the assessment of damages under 26 Pa.C.S. (relating to eminent domain) must be filed within six years from the date on which the condemnor first made pay…

(a) Adverse possession.--Title to real property may be acquired after no less than 10 years of actual, continuous, exclusive, visible, notorious, distinct and hostile possession of the real property. (b) Contiguous lots.-- (1) Where an additional lot abuts and is contiguous to re…

(a) General rule.--Record owners, their heirs, successors and assigns shall have the right to seek any mesne profits in an action in ejectment filed in response to the notice served under section 5527.1 (relating to ten year limitation) or waive the right to such recovery. (b) Li…

The defendant in the ejectment action under section 5527.1 (relating to ten year limitation) shall have the right to recover such costs for maintenance, improvements, repairs, renovations, taxes or other such expenses to benefit the real property as the defendant can prove by a p…

Except as otherwise provided by section 17 (relating to periods of limitation) of the act of August 9, 1971 (P.L.286, No.74), known as the "Disposition of Abandoned and Unclaimed Property Act," an action for escheat, or for payment into the State Treasury without escheat, must be…

(a) Execution against personal property.--An execution against personal property must be issued within 20 years after the entry of the judgment upon which the execution is to be issued. (b) Instruments under seal.-- (1) Notwithstanding section 5525(7) (relating to four year limit…