Court of Common Pleas of Erie County, Pennsylvania Filing Rules

The order directing the parties to appear must include the stated warning about possible sanctions for nonappearance or failure to bring required financial information.

The non-moving party must serve its responding brief on the assigned judge and the moving party.

A legal paper submitted without the required fee may be deemed accepted for filing on the date the payment is received.

The Master must grant a continuance request when both parties consent in writing; other requests are discretionary, and if the Master denies one, the parties may petition the Court, which may grant it.

A litigant without existing in forma pauperis status who seeks a transcript-cost waiver or reduction must file a petition on the case docket.

Requests for transcript copies may be made in person, by email, or by mail to the District Court Administrator at the stated courthouse address.

A child or spousal support claim raised in a divorce complaint, counterclaim, or petition must substantially follow the form in Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.27.

Attorneys and self-represented parties unable or unwilling to e-file may file and serve legal papers in physical paper format.

When an uncontested motion is filed by mail, a copy with a completed Motion Cover Sheet and Proposed Order must be mailed to the judge at the same time.

The required narrative explaining the delay in prosecuting the case may not exceed three pages.

The Court may not act on a motion under this section until all interested parties have had an opportunity to respond through argument.

Confidential exhibits covered by Pa. Access Policy §8.0 must use an AOPC-approved cover sheet so the records office can seal them.

A family exemption petition may be included in a petition for settlement of a small estate.