Rule 1920.17. Discontinuance. Withdrawal of Complaint.

(a) The plaintiff may withdraw the divorce complaint and discontinue the 

divorce action by praecipe that includes a certification that:

(1) no ancillary claims or counterclaims have been asserted by

either party; and

(2) grounds for divorce have not been established.

(b) A party may withdraw a claim of equitable distribution only:

(1) by written consent of both parties filed with the court, or

(2) after filing and serving on the other party a written notice that 

the party intends to withdraw the claim of equitable distribution 20 days after 

service of the notice.

(c) The notice required in subdivision (b) above shall be substantially in 

the following form:

(Caption)

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO WITHDRAW CLAIM FOR EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION

TO: ________________________________________

(PLAINTIFF) (DEFENDANT)

(Plaintiff) (Defendant) intends to withdraw (his) (her) pending claim for 

equitable distribution of property twenty days after the service of this notice. 

Unless you have already filed with the court a written claim for equitable 

distribution, you should do so within twenty days of the service of this notice, or 

you may lose the right to assert a claim for equitable distribution. If a decree in 

divorce is entered and you have not filed a claim for equitable distribution, you 

will forever lose the right to equitable distribution of property.

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU 

DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH 

BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING 

A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY 

BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY 

OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO 

FEE.

_______________________________
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(Name)

_______________________________

(Address)

_______________________________

(Telephone)

(d) In the event one party dies during the course of the divorce 

proceeding, no decree of divorce has been entered and grounds for divorce have 

been established, neither the complaint nor economic claims can be withdrawn 

except by the consent of the surviving spouse and the personal representative of 

the decedent. If there is no agreement, the economic claims shall be determined 

pursuant to the Divorce Code. If no personal representative has been appointed 

within one year of the decedent’s death, then, upon motion of the surviving party, 

the court may allow the withdrawal or dismissal of the complaint and/or any

pending economic claims.

Note: To the extent that Tosi v. Kizis, 85 A.3d 585 (Pa. Super. 2014) holds that 23 Pa.C.S. 

§3323(d.1) does not prevent the plaintiff in a divorce action from discontinuing the 

divorce action following the death of the defendant after grounds for divorce have been 

established, it is superseded.

* * *

Rule 1920.31. Joinder of Related Claims. Child and Spousal Support. Alimony. 

Alimony Pendente Lite. Counsel Fees. Expenses.

(a) (1) [Within thirty days after the service of the pleading or petition 

containing a] When either party has raised a claim for alimony or counsel fees, costs 

and expenses, each party shall file a true copy of the most recent federal income tax 

return, pay stubs for the preceding six months, a completed Income Statement in the 

form required at Rule 1910.27(c)(1) and a completed Expense Statement in the form 

required by Rule 1910.27(c)(2)(B). A party may not file a motion for the 

appointment of a master or a request for court action regarding alimony, alimony

pendente lite or counsel fees, cost and expenses until at least 30 days following 

the filing of that party’s tax returns, Income Statement and Expense Statement. 

The other party shall file the tax returns, Income Statement and Expense 

Statement within 20 days of service of the moving party’s documents. If a claim 

for child support, spousal support or alimony pendente lite is raised in a divorce 

complaint, no expense form is needed in a support action that can be decided pursuant 

to the support guidelines unless a party claims unusual needs or unusual fixed 

expenses or seeks deviation pursuant to Rule 1910.16-5 or apportionment of expenses 

pursuant to Rule 1910.16-6. 
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* * *

Rule 1920.33. Joinder of Related Claims. Distribution of Property.

Enforcement.

(a) [Within ninety days after service of a pleading or petition containing 

a claim for determination and distribution of property under Section 3502 of the 

Divorce Code, e]Each party shall file an inventory specifically describing all property 

owned or possessed at the [time the action was commenced] date of separation. A

party may not file a motion for the appointment of a master or a request for court 

action regarding equitable distribution until at least 30 days following the filing of 

that party’s inventory. The other party shall file the inventory within 20 days of 

service of the moving party’s inventory. The inventory shall set forth as of the date 

of [the filing of the complaint] separation:

(1) a specific description of all marital property in which either or both 

have a legal or equitable interest individually or with any other person and the name of 

such other person and all marital liabilities; [and]

(2) a specific description of all property [in which a spouse has a 

legal or equitable interest which is claimed to be excluded from marital property] 

or liabilities that are claimed to be non-marital and the basis for such [exclusion] 

claim[.]; and

(3) the estimated value of each item of marital and non-marital 

property and the amount of each marital and non-marital liability.

Note: Subdivision (c) of this rule provides sanctions for failure to file an inventory as required by 

this subdivision. An inventory [filed within the ninety day period] may be incomplete where 

the party filing it does not know of all of the property involved in the claim for equitable 

distribution. Consequently, the rule does not contemplate that a party be precluded from 

presenting testimony or offering evidence as to property omitted from the inventory. The 

omission may be supplied by the pre-trial statement required by subdivision (b). 

(b) Within the time required by order of court or written directive of the master 

or, if none, at least sixty days before the scheduled hearing on the claim for the 

determination and distribution of property, each party shall file and serve upon the other 

party a pre-trial statement. The pre-trial statement shall include the following matters, 

together with any additional information required by special order of the court: 

(1) a list of assets, which may be in chart form, specifying 

(i) the marital assets, their value, the date of the valuation, 

whether any portion of the value is non-marital, and any liens or encumbrances thereon; 

and 
4

(ii) the non-marital assets, their value, the date of the valuation, 

and any liens or encumbrances thereon; 

(2) the name and address of each expert whom the party intends to 

call at trial as a witness. A report of each expert witness listed shall be attached to the 

pre-trial statement. The report shall describe the witness’s qualifications and 

experience and state the substance of the facts and opinions to which the expert is 

expected to testify and a summary of the grounds for each opinion; 

(3) the name, address and a short summary of the testimony of each 

person, other than the party, whom the party intends to call at trial as a witness; 

(4) a list of all of the exhibits which the party expects to offer in 

evidence, each containing an identifying mark. Any exhibits that do not exceed three 

pages shall be attached to the pre-trial statement, and any exhibits which exceed three 

pages shall be described; 

(5) the party’s gross income from all sources, each payroll deduction, 

and the party’s net income, including the party’s most recent state and federal income 

tax returns and pay stubs; 

(6) if the party intends to offer any testimony as to his or her expenses, 

an Expense Statement in the form required by Rule 1910.27(c)(2)(B); 

(7) the value of a pension or retirement benefits, the marital portion 

thereof, and the facts and documentation upon which the party relies to support the 

valuation; 

(8) if there is a claim for counsel fees, the amount of fees to be 

charged, the basis for the charge, and a detailed itemization of the services rendered; 

(9) where there is a dispute, the description and value of any items of 

tangible personal property, the method of evaluating each item, and the evidence, 

including documentation, to be offered in support of the valuation; 

(10) a list of marital debts including the amount of each debt as of the 

date of separation, the date on which the debt was initially incurred, the initial amount of 

the debt and its purpose, the amounts and dates of payments made since the date of 

separation, and the evidence that will be offered in support of the claim; 

(11) a proposed resolution of the economic issues. 

(c) If a party fails to file either an inventory as required by subdivision (a) or a 

pre-trial statement as required by subdivision (b), the court may make an appropriate 

order under Rule 4019(c) governing sanctions. 
5

(d) (1) A party who fails to comply with a requirement of subdivision (b) of 

this rule shall, except upon good cause shown, be barred from offering any testimony or 

introducing any evidence in support of or in opposition to claims for the matters not 

covered therein. 

(2) A party shall, except upon good cause shown, be barred from 

offering any testimony or introducing any evidence that is inconsistent with or which 

goes beyond the fair scope of the information set forth in the pre-trial statement. 

(e) An order distributing property under Section 3502 of the Divorce Code 

may be enforced as provided by the rules governing actions for support and divorce, 

and in the Divorce Code.

* * *

Rule 1920.42. Affidavit and Decree under § 3301(c) or § 3301(d)(1) of the Divorce 

Code. Notice of Intention to Request Entry of Divorce Decree in § 3301(c) and §

3301(d)(1)(i) Divorces. Counter-affidavit.

(a) If a complaint has been filed requesting a divorce on the ground of 

irretrievable breakdown and 

(1) both parties have filed an affidavit under § 3301(c) of the Divorce 

Code substantially in the form prescribed by Rule 1920.72(b), or 

(2) either party has filed a § 3301(d) affidavit under § 3301(d) of the 

Divorce Code substantially in the form prescribed by Rule 1920.72(d) and has served 

it upon the other party along with a form counter-affidavit [the averments of 

which] and the other party has admitted or failed to deny the averments of the §

3301(d) affidavit, the prothonotary on praecipe in the form prescribed by Rule 

1920.73(b) shall transmit the record to the court, which shall review the record and enter 

the appropriate decree. No master shall be appointed. 

* * *

(d)(1) Except as provided in (e), no decree shall be entered by the court under §

3301(c) or § 3301(d)(1)(i) of the Divorce Code unless a notice of intention to request 

entry of divorce decree, substantially in the form prescribed by Rule 1920.73(a), was 

mailed or delivered to the attorney of record of the party against whom the decree is to 

be entered or, if there is no attorney of record, to the party, along with a form counteraffidavit if none has been filed, at least twenty days prior to the date of the filing of the 

praecipe to transmit the record. A copy of [T]the praecipe, which shall state the date 

and manner of service of the notice, [a copy of which] shall be attached. 

(2) [If the party against whom the decree is to be entered has no 

attorney of record, the notice required by subdivision (d)(1) shall be accompanied 
6

by a form counter-affidavit substantially in the form prescribed by Rule 

1920.72(e).] The affidavit required under § 3301(d) of the Divorce Code shall be 

filed with the prothonotary and served upon the other party, along with a form 

counter-affidavit. The moving party must wait a minimum of 20 days after service 

of the § 3301(d) affidavit before serving the Notice of Intention to File Praecipe to 

Transmit the Record and another form counter-affidavit or filing the waiver of 

notice pursuant to Rule 1920.72(c).

(e) Notice of intention to request entry of divorce decree shall not be required 

prior to entry of a divorce decree 

(1) where the parties have executed and filed with the prothonotary a 

waiver of notice substantially in the form set forth in Rule 1920.72(c); or 

(2) under § 3301(d) where the court finds that no appearance has been 

entered on defendant’s behalf and that defendant cannot be located after diligent 

search.

Note: This counter-affidavit will be filed only if the party against whom the decree is to be 

entered has not previously denied the allegations of the other party’s affidavit or has not 

previously claimed economic relief by counterclaim or petition.

* * *

Rule 1920.54. Hearing by Master. Report. Related Claims.

(a) If claims for child support, alimony pendente lite, or counsel fees and 

expenses have been referred to a master pursuant to Rule 1920.51(a), the master’s 

report shall contain separate sections captioned ‘‘Child Support,’’ ‘‘Alimony Pendente 

Lite,’’ or ‘‘Counsel Fees and Expenses’’ as appropriate. The report may be in narrative 

form stating the reasons for the recommendation and shall include a proposed order 

stating 

(1) the amount of support or alimony pendente lite; 

(2) by and for whom it shall be paid; and 

(3) the effective date of the order. 

[The Income and Expense Statements shall be attached to the report.]

* * *

Rule 1920.55-2. Master’s Report. Notice. Exceptions. Final Decree.

(a) After conclusion of the hearing, the master shall: 
7

(1) file the record and the report within 

(i) twenty days in uncontested actions or; 

(ii) thirty days [after] from the last to occur of the receipt of 

the transcript by the master or close of the record in contested actions; and 

(2) immediately serve upon counsel for each party, or, if 

unrepresented, upon the party, a copy of the report and recommendation and written 

notice of the right to file exceptions. 

(b) Within twenty days of the date of receipt or the date of mailing of the 

master’s report and recommendation, whichever occurs first, any party may file 

exceptions to the report or any part thereof, to rulings on objections to evidence, to 

statements or findings of fact, to conclusions of law, or to any other matters occurring 

during the hearing. Each exception shall set forth a separate objection precisely and 

without discussion. Matters not covered by exceptions are deemed waived unless, prior 

to entry of the final decree, leave is granted to file exceptions raising those matters. 

(c) If exceptions are filed, any other party may file exceptions within twenty 

days of the date of service of the original exceptions. The court shall hear argument on 

the exceptions and enter a final decree. 

(d) If no exceptions are filed, the court shall review the report and, if 

approved, shall enter a final decree. 

(e) No Motion for Post-Trial Relief may be filed to the final decree.

Explanatory Comment—1995

The amendments created alternative procedures for appeal from the recommendation of 

a master in divorce. Rule 1920.55-1 states that, if the court chooses to appoint a master, the 

exceptions procedure set forth in Rule 1920.55-2 will be used unless the court has, by local rule, 

adopted the alternative procedure of Rule 1920.55-3.

Explanatory Comment—2006

The time for filing exceptions has been expanded from ten to twenty days. The purpose 

of this amendment is to provide ample opportunity for litigants and counsel to receive notice of 

the report and recommendation, to assure commonwealth-wide consistency in calculation of 

time for filing and to conform to applicable general civil procedural rules.

* * *
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Rule 1920.71. Form of Notice.

The notice required by Rule 1920.12(c) shall be substantially in the following form:

NOTICE TO DEFEND AND CLAIM RIGHTS

You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in 

the following pages, you must take prompt action. You are warned that if you fail to do 

so, the case may proceed without you and a decree of divorce or annulment may be 

entered against you by the court. A judgment may also be entered against you for any 

other claim or relief requested in these papers by the plaintiff. You may lose money or 

property or other rights important to you, including custody [or visitation] of your 

children. 

* * *

Rule 1920.72. Form of Complaint. Affidavit under § 3301(c) or § 3301(d) of the 

Divorce Code. Counter-affidavit. Waiver of Notice of Intention to Request Decree 

under § 3301(c) and § 3301(d).

* * *

(e)(1) The counter-affidavit prescribed by Rule 1920.42(d)(2) shall be 

substantially in the following form in a § 3301(c) divorce: 

(Caption)

COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT UNDER § 3301(c) OF THE

DIVORCE CODE

I wish to claim economic relief which may include alimony, division of property, 

lawyer’s fees or expenses or other important rights. 

I understand that I must file my economic claims with the prothonotary in writing 

and serve them on the other party. If I fail to do so before the date set forth on the 

Notice of Intention to Request Divorce Decree, the divorce decree may be entered 

without further notice to me, and I shall be unable thereafter to file any economic claims. 

I verify that the statements made in this counter-affidavit are true and correct. I 

understand that false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. 

§4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.

Date: ________________________ __________________________________

(PLAINTIFF) (DEFENDANT) 
9

NOTICE: IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO CLAIM ECONOMIC RELIEF, YOU SHOULD NOT 

FILE THIS COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT.

(2) The counter-affidavit prescribed by Rule 1920.42(d)(2) shall be 

substantially in the following form in a § 3301(d) divorce: 

(Caption)

COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT

UNDER § 3301(d) OF THE DIVORCE CODE

1. Check either (a) or (b): 

□(a) I do not oppose the entry of a divorce decree. 

□(b) I oppose the entry of a divorce decree because (Check (i), (ii), (iii) or 

[both] all): 

□(i) The parties to this action have not lived separate and apart for a 

period of at least two years. 

□(ii) The marriage is not irretrievably broken.

□(iii) There are economic claims pending.

(2) Check [either] (a), (b) or [(b)] (c) : 

□(a) I do not wish to make any claims for economic relief. I understand that I 

may lose rights concerning alimony, division of property, lawyer’s fees or expenses if I 

do not claim them before a divorce is granted. 

□(b) I wish to claim economic relief which may include alimony, division of 

property, lawyer’s fees or expenses or other important rights. 

[I understand that in addition to checking (b) above, I must also file all of 

my economic claims with the prothonotary in writing and serve them on the other 

party. If I fail to do so before the date set forth on the Notice of Intention to 

Request Divorce Decree, the divorce decree may be entered without further 

notice to me, and I shall be unable thereafter to file any economic claims.]

I UNDERSTAND THAT IN ADDITION TO CHECKING (b) ABOVE, I MUST 

ALSO FILE ALL OF MY ECONOMIC CLAIMS WITH THE PROTHONOTARY IN 

WRITING AND SERVE THEM ON THE OTHER PARTY. IF I FAIL TO DO SO 

BEFORE THE DATE SET FORTH ON THE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO REQUEST 

DIVORCE DECREE, THE DIVORCE DECREE MAY BE ENTERED WITHOUT 

FURTHER NOTICE TO ME, AND I SHALL BE UNABLE THEREAFTER TO FILE ANY 

ECONOMIC CLAIMS.
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□(c) Economic claims have been raised and are not resolved.

I verify that the statements made in this counter-affidavit are true and correct. I 

understand that false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. 

§ 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.

Date: _______________________________ _______________________________

(PLAINTIFF/DEFENDANT) 

NOTICE: IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO OPPOSE THE ENTRY OF A DIVORCE DECREE 

AND YOU DO NOT WISH TO MAKE ANY CLAIM FOR ECONOMIC RELIEF, YOU 

SHOULD NOT FILE THIS COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT.

* * *

Rule 1920.75. Form of Inventory.

The inventory required by Rule 1920.33(a) shall be substantially in the following form:

(Caption)

INVENTORY

OF

_____________________________________________

(Plaintiff) (Defendant) files the following inventory of all property owned or possessed by 

either party at the [time this action was commenced] date of separation and all 

property transferred within the preceding three years. 

(Plaintiff) (Defendant) verifies that the statements made in this inventory are true and 

correct. (Plaintiff) (Defendant) understands that false statements herein are made 

subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to 

authorities.

______________________________

(Plaintiff) (Defendant) 

ASSETS OF THE PARTIES
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(Plaintiff) (Defendant) marks on the list below those items applicable to the case at bar 

and itemizes the assets on the following pages.

( ) 1. Real Property 

( ) 2. Motor vehicles 

( ) 3. Stocks, bonds, securities and options 

( ) 4. Certificates of deposit 

( ) 5. Checking accounts, cash 

( ) 6. Savings accounts, money market and savings certificates 

( ) 7. Contents of safe deposit boxes 

( ) 8. Trusts 

( ) 9. Life insurance policies (indicate face value, cash surrender value and current 

beneficiaries) 

( ) 10. Annuities 

( ) 11. Gifts 

( ) 12. Inheritances 

( ) 13. Patents, copyrights, inventions, royalties 

( ) 14. Personal property outside the home 

( ) 15. Business (list all owners, including percentage of ownership, and officer/director 

positions held by a party with company) 

( ) 16. Employment termination benefits—severance pay, worker’s compensation 

claim/award 

( ) 17. Profit sharing plans 

( ) 18. Pension plans (indicate employee contribution and date plan vests) 

( ) 19. Retirement plans, Individual Retirement Accounts 

( ) 20. Disability payments 
12

( ) 21. Litigation claims (matured and unmatured) 

( ) 22. Military/V. A. benefits 

( ) 23. Education benefits 

( ) 24. [Debts due, including loans, mortgages held] Accounts receivable, 

including loans and mortgages payable to a party

( ) 25. Household furnishings and personalty (include as a total category and attach 

itemized list if distribution of such assets is in dispute) 

( ) 26. Other 

MARITAL PROPERTY

(Plaintiff) (Defendant) lists all marital property in which either or both spouses have a 

legal or equitable interest individually or with any other person as of the date [this 

action was commenced] of separation:

Item Description of Names of Estimated Value

Number Property all Owners at Date of Separation

NON-MARITAL PROPERTY

(Plaintiff) (Defendant) lists all property in which a spouse has a legal or equitable 

interest which is claimed to be excluded from marital property:

Item Description of Reason for Estimated Value Estimated Value

Number Property Exclusion at Date of Marriage at Date of Separation

PROPERTY TRANSFERRED

Item Description of Date of Consider- Person to Estimated Value

Number Property Transfer ation Whom Transferred at Date of Separation

LIABILITIES

Item Description of Names of Names of Estimated Amount

Number Property all Creditors all Debtors at Date of Separation

* * *