J

- A24010

- 21

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
KINGSLEY CHIN

Appellant

v.

KIM WALKER

- CHIN : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 641 EDA 2021 Appeal from the Order Entered February 17, 2021 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Civil Division at No(s): No. 191201586

BEFORE: LAZARUS, J., DUBOW, J., and PELLEGRINI, J. * MEMORANDUM BY LAZARUS, J.: FILED MAY 17, 2022 Kingsley Chin appeals from the order, entered in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, denying his motion to strike a judgment. After our careful review, we affirm on the well

- reasoned opinion authored by the
Honorable Joshua H. Roberts.
Jud ge Roberts set forth the relevant factual and procedural history of
this matter as follows: [T]his case has had a lengthy and contentious history in the Family Court Division and on appeal to the Superior Court. [] Chin and [] Walker

- Chin reached a divorce settlement on or about September 5, 2008. Since April 2014, the parties have been engaged in on

- again[,] off

- again enforcement and contempt proceedings in the Family Court Division related to the divorce settlement. [The Honorable Holly J.] Ford preside d over the

_________________ __________ ______ ____ _______

* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.J

- A24010

- 21

- 2

-

proceedings that ultimately resulted in the judgment that [] Walker

- Chin transferred to the civil judgment index. On June 29, 2018, Judge Ford granted [] Walker

- Chin’s motion to enforce property settlement. On April 18, 2019, Judge Ford entere d an order finding [] Chin in contempt for his failure to comply with her June 29, 2018 order. In her April 18, 2019 order, Judge Ford specifically stated “ [a] judgment shall be entered on the $1,238,164.46 due to [Walker

- Chin,] plus post

- judgment interes t of 6% in accordance with the statute. Execution of the judgment may commence immediately.” Further, Judge Ford stated that “[Chin] is ordered to pay [Walker

- Chin’s] additional attorney’s fees and expenses in the amount of $3,000.00 regarding this respe ctive petition, within thirty (30) days of the date of this order.” [] Chin appealed Judge Ford’s order to the Superior Court, which resulted in a recalculation of the amounts due. In an order dated June 27, 2019, Judge Ford noted that the applicable in terest rate on the stipulated debt should have been calculated at 4.5%, and not 6%. On December 10, 2019, [] Walker

- Chin, through counsel, filed a praecipe to transfer and index the judgment against [] Chin with the Office of Judicial Records in the amount of $1,222,426.16[,] plus 4.5% post

- judgment interest. * * * [Chin] filed a motion to strike the judgment, which, because the judgment had been docketed on the civil judgment index, was assigned to this court for disposition. Following briefing by both parties and oral argument, this court denied [] Chin’s motion to strike on February 17, 2021. [] Chin filed this timely appeal.
Trial Court Opinion, 6/3/21, at 1

- 3 (unnecessary capitalization omitted ; paragraphs reordered for clarity ).
Chin raises the following claims for our review: 1. Whether the [trial] court erred in denying [Chin’s] motion to strike praecipe to transfer and index judgment and strike/vacate any judgment entered thereon (“Motion to Strike”) where [Walker

- Chin] filed a “ Pr aecipe to Transfer and Index Judgment”J

- A24010

- 21

- 3

-

(“ Praecipe ”) and the Philadelphia Office of Judicial Records (“Office of Judicial Records”) entered judgment thereon without the authority of any rule or statute? 2. Whether the [trial] court erred in not striking th e Praecipe and judgment entered thereon due to Walker

- Chin’s violations of Philadelphia Family Division Administrative Regulation 97

- 1 (“Admin. Reg. 97

- 1”) (impounding Family Division Records and barring disclosure of same absent order permitting disclosur e), which violations justified striking Walker

- Chin’s Praecipe attaching impounded records of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Family Division (the “Family Division”), and the judgment entered upon such Praecipe ? 3. Whether the [trial] court erred i n denying the Motion to Strike, thereby permitting an intra

- county, interdivisional transfer of four Family Division orders . . . to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Civil Division (the “Civil Division”) without any authority for the transfer? 4. Wh ether the [trial] court erred in denying the Motion to Strike, which motion asserted that the Civil Division lacked subject matter jurisdiction over [the] four Family Division orders that Walker

Chin transferred to the Civil Division, where the four orders transferred to the Civil Division arose exclusively from a domestic relations matter, over which the Civil Division lacks subject matter jurisdiction? 5. Whether the [trial] court erred in denying the Motion to Strike, which motion asserted a lack of per sonal jurisdiction over [Chin] in the civil action Walker

- Chin initiated by filing the Praecipe . . ., where the undisputed record reflects that [Chin] did not reside in Pennsylvania, had no property in Pennsylvania, and conducted no business in Pennsylvan ia at the time that Walker

- Chin impermissibly transferred four Family Division orders to the Civil Division and entered judgment thereon in the Civil Division? 6. Whether the [trial] court erred in applying a discretionary standard in connection with deny ing [Chin’s] Motion to Strike, where the Motion to Strike did no t implicate the discretion of the [trial] court, but rather questions of law? Brief of Appellant, at 5

- 7 (unnecessary capitalization omitted). “A petition to strike a judgment operates as a demurrer to the record and must be granted whenever some fatal defect appearsJ

- A24010

- 21

- 4

-

on the face of the record.” First Union Nat. Bank v. Portside Refrigerated Servs., Inc. , 827 A.2d 1224, 1227 (Pa. Super. 2003) (qu oting PNC Bank v. Bolus , [] 655 A.2d 997, 999 ([Pa. Super.] 1995)). “When deciding if there are fatal defects on the face of the record for the purposes of a petition to strike a judgment, a court may only look at what was in the record when the judgment was entered.” Cintas Corp. v. Lee ’ s Cleaning Servs., Inc. , [] 700 A.2d 915, 917 ([Pa.] 1997) (citing Linett v. Linett , [] 254 A.2d 7, 10 ([Pa.] 1969)). “Importantly, a petition to strike is not a chance to review the merits of the allegations of a compla int. Rather, a petition to strike is aimed at defects that affect the validity of the judgment and that entitle the petitioner, as a matter of law, to relief.” City of Philadelphia v. David J. Lane Advertising , 33 A.3d 674, 677 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2011) (citing First Union Nat ’

l Bank , 827 A.2d at 1227). Importantly, “[a] petition to strike does not involve the discretion of the [trial] court.” Cintas Corp. , 700 A.2d at 919 (citing Dubrey v. Izaguirre , [] 685 A.2d 1391, 1393 ( [Pa. Super. 1996)). Oswald v. WB Pub. Square Associates, LLC , 80 A.3d 790, 793

– 94 (Pa. Super. 2013)

. Section 2731 of the Judicial Code provides that “ [i] n the first judicial district there shall be one prothonotary for the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County and the Philadelphia Municipal Court, who shall be known
as the ‘ Prothonotary of Philadelphia. ’ ” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 2731

. The office of the prothonotary has the power and duty to

. . . enter all civil judgments [.] ” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 2737(3) (emphasis added)

. “The prothonotary s h all immediately enter in the judgment index . . . a judgment, whether entered by the court, on order of court or on praecipe of a party .” Pa.R.C.P. 3021 (emphasis added)

. “[J]udgment means a judgment, order[,] or decree requiring the payment of money ent ered in any court which is subject to
these rules , including a final or interlocutory order for payment of costs,J

- A24010

- 21

- 5

-

except a judgment against the Commonwealth or a political subdivision.”
Pa.R.C.P. 3020 (emphasis added)

. Finally, s ection 4303(a) of the Judicial Code provides as follows: (a) Real property.

-- Any judgment or other order of a court of common pleas for the payment of money shall be a lien upon real property on the conditions, to the extent and with the priority provided by statute or prescrib ed by general rule adopted pursuant to section 1722(b) (relating to enforcement and effect of orders and process) when it is entered of record in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of the county where the real property is situated, or in the office of the clerk of the branch of the court of common pleas embracing such county. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 4303(a) (emphasis added)

. Here , we have reviewed the briefs of the parties, the relevant law, and the thorough and well

- written opinion authored by Ju dge Roberts. We agree with Judge Roberts that: (1) Judge Ford entered a valid, enforceable judgment against Chin pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 3502(e)(1) (granting court authority to enter judgment where party fail s to comply with equitable
distribution ord er); (2) the judgment index for the Philadelphia C ourt of
C ommon P leas as a whole is maintained by the Office of Judicial Records (formerly Office of the Prothonotary), see 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 2737(3) ; (3) there
is no fatal defect on the face of the record that would affect the validity of the judgment , see Oswald , supra ; and (4) at all times, the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia maintained personal jurisdiction over Chin and subject matter jurisdiction over the matter giving rise to the judgment in questio n
. See Trial Court Opinion, 6/3/21, at 4

- 10.J

- A24010

- 21

- 6

-

We further conclude that Philadelphia Family Court Administrative Regulation 97

- 1 does not act as a bar to the indexing , by praecipe of a party, of a duly entered judgment , issued by a Family Court judge, on the sole judgment index maintained in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. It is apparent that the purpose of Administrative Regulation 97

- 1 is to prevent the dissemination of the type of sensitive, personal, financ ial, and/or confidential
information that is inherent to domestic relations and other matters heard before the Family Court. Here, t he judgment in question contains no sensitive information of the type contemplated by Administrative Regulation 97

- 1.
Rath er, i t simply evidences the debt owed by Chin as a result of the judgment entered by Judge Ford . In this way, it is no different than any other judgment
entered in a civil matter. Because the trial court did not err as a matter of law, Oswald , supra ,
we a ffirm the order denying Chin’s motion to strike the judgment. The parties are instructed to attach a copy of Judge Roberts’ opinion in the event of further proceedings.
Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary
Date: 5/17/2022Circulated 04/28/2022 08:11 AM

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

TRIAL DIVISION CIVIL

KINGSLEY CHIN Superior Court Docket:

Plaintiff 641 EDA 2021

V. Trial Court Docket:

KIM WALKER-CHIN December Term 2019 No. 1586 Defendant

1925(a) OPINION

The matter before this Court originated as a domestic relations case in the
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Family Court Division. In the Family Court
Division, Judge Holly J. Ford considered a series of escalating enforcement and
contempt motions filed by the parties, which culminated in Judge Ford entering
judgment against Plaintiff Kingsley Chin ("Mr. Chin") and in favor Defendant Kim

Walker-Chin ("Ms. Walker-Chin").

On December 10, 2019, Ms. Walker-Chin, through counsel, filed the
appropriate papers to have the judgment transferred from the Family Court

Division and entered on the civil judgment index maintained by the Office of

Judicial Records in Philadelphia.

Mr. Chin filed a

Motion to Strike the judgment, which, because the judgment

had been docketed on the civil judgment index, was assigned to this Court for
disposition. Following briefing by both parties and oral argument, this Court

OPFLD-Chin Vs Walker-Chin

1 

# ÿýIINVIIVÿýIMIIIÿýINIÿý

19120158600025 C i rcu la t ed 04 /2 80202 2 08 1 1 A M



### I N T HE C O U R

T O F C O M M O N P LEAS O F P H I LAD E L P H I A C O U NTY FI R S T J U D I C I AL D I S

T R I C T O F P E N N S

YL V A NI A T R IAL D I VI S I O N - C I VI L
K I N G S L E Y C H I N
P l a i n t i ff

K I M 

### W A L KE R

- C H I N

D e fe n d a n t S u pe

r i o r C o u rt Doc

k e t : 

### 6 4 1 E D A 2 0 2 1 

### ; 

### ' 

### • ' 

## , ,. 

# -
c T r i a l Co u r t D o c k e

t : • c 2 

# ' G D e ce m b e r T e rm 2 0 1 9 

## • N o

. 1 5 8 6 >



# , 2 

## - ' 

## • c 

## • 1 9 2 5 6a ) OPI N I O N T h e m a t te r b e fo re t h i s Co u r t o r i gi n a

te d a s a d o m e s t i c r e l a t i o n s ca se i n t he
P h i l a d e l p h i a C o u r t o f C o m m o n P l e a s F a m i l y Co u rt D i v is i o n

. I n t h e F a m i l y C o u r t
D i vi s i o n , J u d g e H o l l y J

. F o r d co n s i d e re d a se r i e s o f e sc a l a t i n g e n fo rce

m e n t a n d

co n te m p t m o t i o n s fi l e d b y t h e p a r t i e

s , w h i c h c u l m i n a

te d i n J u d ge F o r d e

n t e r i n g j u d gm e n t a g a i n s t P l a i n t i ff K i n g s

l e y C h i n (" M r

. C h i n ") a

n d i n fa v o r D e fe n d a n t Ki m
W a l k e r - C h i n (" M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n " )

. O n D e c e m b e r 

### 1 0 , 2 0 1 9 , M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n , t h r o u g h co u n se l , fi l e d t h e

a p p ro p ri a t e p a p e r s to h a

v e t h e j u d g m e n t t r a

n s fe r re d f ro m t h e F a

m i l y C o u rt
D i vi s i o n a n d e n t e r e

d o n t h e c i v il j u d g m e

n t i n d e x m a i n ta i n e d b y t h e O ffi ce o f
J u d i c i a l Reco r d s i n P h i l a

d e l p h i a

. M r

. C h i n fi l e

d a M o t i o n to S t r i k e t h e j u d gm

e n t , w h i c h , be

c a u s e t h e j u d gm

e n t
h a d b ee n d oc k e te d o n t h e c i v i l j u d g m e

n t i n d e x , w a s a s s i g n e d to t h i s C o u rt fo r d i s po s i t i o n

. F o l l o

w i n g b r i e

fi n g b y bo t h p a rt i e s a n d o r a

l a r gu m e n t , t h i s Co u rt

O P F L D-C h i n V s W al k e r -C h i n

I 

# I I I A I 

# I L

1 9 1 2 0 1 586000

2 5 C i rcu la t ed 04 /2 80202 2 08 1 1 A M



### I N T HE C O U R

T O F C O M M O N P LEAS O F P H I LAD E L P H I A C O U NTY FI R S T J U D I C I AL D I S

T R I C T O F P E N N S

YL V A NI A T R IAL D I VI S I O N - C I VI L
K I N G S L E Y C H I N
P l a i n t i ff

K I M 

### W A L KE R

- C H I N

D e fe n d a n t S u pe

r i o r C o u rt Doc

k e t : 

### 6 4 1 E D A 2 0 2 1 

### ; 

### ' 

### • ' 

## , ,. 

# -
c T r i a l Co u r t D o c k e

t : • c 2 

# ' G D e ce m b e r T e rm 2 0 1 9 

## • N o

. 1 5 8 6 >



# , 2 

## - ' 

## • c 

## • 1 9 2 5 6a ) OPI N I O N T h e m a t te r b e fo re t h i s Co u r t o r i gi n a

te d a s a d o m e s t i c r e l a t i o n s ca se i n t he
P h i l a d e l p h i a C o u r t o f C o m m o n P l e a s F a m i l y Co u rt D i v is i o n

. I n t h e F a m i l y C o u r t
D i vi s i o n , J u d g e H o l l y J

. F o r d co n s i d e re d a se r i e s o f e sc a l a t i n g e n fo rce

m e n t a n d

co n te m p t m o t i o n s fi l e d b y t h e p a r t i e

s , w h i c h c u l m i n a

te d i n J u d ge F o r d e

n t e r i n g j u d gm e n t a g a i n s t P l a i n t i ff K i n g s

l e y C h i n (" M r

. C h i n ") a

n d i n fa v o r D e fe n d a n t Ki m
W a l k e r - C h i n (" M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n " )

. O n D e c e m b e r 

### 1 0 , 2 0 1 9 , M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n , t h r o u g h co u n se l , fi l e d t h e

a p p ro p ri a t e p a p e r s to h a

v e t h e j u d g m e n t t r a

n s fe r re d f ro m t h e F a

m i l y C o u rt
D i vi s i o n a n d e n t e r e

d o n t h e c i v il j u d g m e

n t i n d e x m a i n ta i n e d b y t h e O ffi ce o f
J u d i c i a l Reco r d s i n P h i l a

d e l p h i a

. M r

. C h i n fi l e

d a M o t i o n to S t r i k e t h e j u d gm

e n t , w h i c h , be

c a u s e t h e j u d gm

e n t
h a d b ee n d oc k e te d o n t h e c i v i l j u d g m e

n t i n d e x , w a s a s s i g n e d to t h i s C o u rt fo r d i s po s i t i o n

. F o l l o

w i n g b r i e

fi n g b y bo t h p a rt i e s a n d o r a

l a r gu m e n t , t h i s Co u rt

O P F L D-C h i n V s W al k e r -C h i n

I 

# I I I A I 

# I L

1 9 1 2 0 1 586000

2 5**denied Mr.** **Chin's motion** **to strike** **on February** **17, 2021.** **Mr. Chin** **filed this** **timely appeal.** **On appeal,** **Mr. Chin** **complains this** **Court erred** **in denying** **the motion** **to strike** **because (1)** **the judgment** **was not** **transferrable from** **the Family** **Court Division** **to the** **Civil Division;** **(2) the** **transfer of** **the judgment** **violated Family** **Division Administrative** **Regulation 97-1** **because documents** **ordinarily maintained** **under seal** **in the** **Family Court** **were transferred** **and filed** **of record** **in the** **Civil Division;** **(3) this** **Court lacked** **subject matter** **jurisdiction; (4)** **this Court** **lacked personal** **jurisdiction over** **Mr. Chin;** **(5) the** **Court improperly** **considered Ms.** **Walker-Chin's equitable** **arguments in** **denying the** **motion to** **strike; and** **(6) this** **Court improperly** **considered facts** **outside the** **face of** **the record.** **Upon reviewing** **the procedural** **history and** **the petition,** **this Court** **concluded that** **the judgment** **had been** **properly transferred** **to the** **civil judgment** **index, and** **this Court** **had jurisdiction** **over Mr.** **Chin. Thus,** **this Court's** **denial of** **the petition** **to strike** **was proper** **and this** **Court's Order** **should be** **affirmed. A.** **Procedural and** **Factual Background** **It is** **clear from** **the briefs** **and this** **Court's review** **of Judge** **Ford's Orders** **attached to** **those briefs** **that this** **case has** **had a** **lengthy and** **contentious history** **in the** **Family Court** **Division and** **on appeal** **to the** **Superior Court** **(Family Court** **Docket No.** **D07038460, Superior** **Court docket** **No. 2118** **EDA 2018).** **Mr. Chin** **and Ms.** **Walker-Chin reached** **a divorce** **settlement on** **or about** **September 5,** **2008. Since** **April 2014,** **the parties** **have been** **engaged in** **on-again off** **2**

d e n i e d M r C h i n' s m o t i o n to s t ri k e o n F e b r u a ry 1 7 , 2 0 2 1

. M r
. C h i n fi l e d t hi s t i m e l y

a p pe a l

. O n a p p e a l , M r
. C h i n co m p l a i n s t h i s C o u r t e r re d i n d e n y i n g t h e m o t i o n t o

s t r i k e be c a u se ( 1 ) t h e j u d g m e n t w a s n o t t r ans fe r r a b l e fr o m t h e F a m i l y Co u r t
D i v i s i o n to t h e C i v i l D i v is i o n ; ( 2 ) t h e t r a n s fe r o f t h e j u d g m e n t v i o l a te d F a m il y
D i v i s i o n A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Re gu l a t i o n 9 7

- 1 be c a u se d oc u m e n t s o r d i n a r i l y m a i n ta i n e d

u n d e r se a l i n t h e F a m i l y C o u r t w e r e t r a n s fe rr e d a n d fi l e d o f r e c o r d i n t h e C i v i l
D i v i s i o n ; ( 3 ) t h i s C o u r t l a c k e d s u b j e c t m a t te r j u r i s d i c t i o n ; ( 4 ) t h is C o u r t l a c k e d

pe r s o n a l j u r i sd i c t i o n o v e r M r
. C h i n ; ( 5 ) t h e C o u rt i m p ro p e r l y co n s i d e r e d M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n' s e q u i t a b l e a r gu m e n ts i n d e n y i n g t h e m o t i o n to s t r i k e ; a n d ( 6 ) t h is
Co u rt i m p ro p e r l y co n s i d e r e d fa c ts o u ts i d e t h e fa c e o f t h e re co rd

. U p o n re v i e w i n g t h e p roc e d u r a l h i s to ry a n d t h e p e t i t i o n , t h i s C o u r t co n c l u d e d

t h a t t h e j u d g m e n t h a d b e e n p r o p e r l y t r a n s f e r r e d to t h e c i v il j u d g m e n t i n d e x , a n d

t h i s Co u rt h a d j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r M r
. C h i n
. Th u s , t h i s Co u r t' s d e n i a l o f t h e p e t i t i o n

to s t r i k e w a s p r o p e r a n d t h i s C o u r t' s O r d e r s h o u l d be a ffi r m e d

.


### A

. P r o c e d u r a l a n d F a c t u a l B a c k g r o u n d

I t i s c l e a r f

r o m t h e b r i e fs a n d t h i s C o u r t' s re v i e w o f J u d g e F o r d ' s O rd e r s

a t t a c h e d to t h os e b r i e fs t h a t t h i s c a se h a s ha d a l e n gt h y a n d co n te n t i o u s h i s to ry i n

t h e F a m i l y C o u r t D i v i s i o n a n d o n a p pe a l to t h e S u p e r i o r Co u r t ( F a m i ly C o u r t
Doc k e t N o
. D 0 7 0 3 8 4 60 , S u p e r i o r C o u r t d oc k e t N o
. 2 1 1 8 E D A 2 0 1 8 )

. M r C h i n a n d M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n r e a c h e d a d i v o r ce s e t t l e m e n t o n o r a bo u t
Se p t e m be r 5 , 2 00 8

. S i n c e A p ri l 2 0 1 4 , t h e p a r ti e s h a v e b ee n e n g a g e d i n o n
- a g a i n o ff2 d e n i e d M r C h i n' s m o

t i o n to s t ri k e o n F e

b r u a ry 1 7 , 2 0 2 1

. M r

. C h i n fi l e d t hi s t i m e l y

a p pe a l

. O n a p p e a l , M r

. C h i n co

m p l a i n s t h i s C o u r t e r re

d i n d e n y i n g t h e m o

t i o n t o

s t r i k e be c a u se ( 1 ) t h e j u d g m e

n t w a s n o t t r ans

fe r r a b l e fr o m t h e F a

m i l y Co u r t
D i v i s i o n to t h e C i v i l D i v is i o n ; ( 2 ) t h e t r a n s fe r o f t h e j u d g m e

n t v i o l a te d F a m il y D i v i s i o n A d m i n i s

t r a t i v e Re gu l a t i o n 9 7

- 1 be

c a u se d oc u m e n t s o r d i n a r i l y m a

i n ta i n e d

u n d e r se a l i n t h e F a

m i l y C o u r t w e r e t r a

n s fe rr e d a n d fi l e

d o f r e c o r d i n t h e C i v i l
D i v i s i o n ; ( 3 ) t h i s C o u r t l a

c k e d s u b j e c t m a t te r j u r i s d i c t i o n ; ( 4 ) t h is C o u r t l a

c k e d
pe r s o n a l j u r i sd i c t i o n o v e r M r

. C h i n ; ( 5 ) t h e C o u rt i m p ro p e r l y co n s i d e r e d M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n' s e

q u i t a b l e a r gu m e

n ts i n d e n y i n g t h e m o

t i o n to s t r i k e ; a n d ( 6 ) t h is
Co u rt i m p ro p e r l y co n s

i d e r e d fa c ts o u ts i d e t h e fa c

e o f t h e re

co rd

. U p o n re v i e w i n g t h e p roc

e d u r a l h i s to ry a n d t h e p e

t i t i o n , t h i s C o u r t co n c l u d e d
t h a t t h e j u d g m e n t h a

d b e e n p r o p e r l y t r a

n s f e r r e d to t h e c i v il j u d g m e

n t i n d e x , a n d
t h i s Co u rt h a

d j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r M r

. C h i n

. Th u s , t h i s Co u r t' s d e n i a l o f t h e p e

t i t i o n
to s t r i k e w a s p r o p e r a

n d t h i s C o u r t' s O r d e r s h o u l d be a

ffi r m e d

. 

### A

. P r o c

e d u r a l a n d F a c t u a l B a c k g r o u n d
I t i s c l e a r f r o m t h e b r i e

fs a n d t h i s C o u r t' s re

v i e w o f J u d g e F o r d ' s O rd e r s

a t t a c h e d to t h os e b r i e fs t h a t t h i s c a se h a s ha d a l e n gt h y a

n d co n te n t i o u s h i s

to ry i n
t h e F a m i l y C o u r t D i v i s

i o n a n d o n a p pe a l to t h e S u p e r i o r Co u r t ( F a m i ly C o u r t
Doc k e t N o

. D 0 7 0 3 8 4 60

, S u p e r i o r C o u r t d oc

k e t N o

. 2 1 1 8 E D A 2 0 1 8 )

. M r C h i n a n d M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n r e

a c h e d a d i v o r ce s

e t t l e m e n t o n o r a

bo u t
Se p t e m be r 5 , 2 00 8

. S i n c e A p ri l 2 0 1 4 , t h e p a r ti e s h a v e b ee n e n g a g e d i n o n - a g a i n o ff 2**again enforcement** **and contempt** **proceedings in** **the Family** **Court Division** **related to** **the divorce** **settlement. Judge** **Ford presided** **over the** **proceedings that** **ultimately resulted** **in the** **judgment that** **Ms. Walker-Chin** **transferred to** **the civil** **judgment index.** **On June** **29, 2018,** **Judge Ford** **granted Ms.** **Walker-Chin's motion** **to enforce** **property settlement.** **On April** **18, 2019,** **Judge Ford** **entered an** **Order finding** **Mr. Chin** **in contempt** **for his** **failure to** **comply with** **her June** **29, 2018** **Order. In** **her April** **18, 2019** **Order, Judge** **Ford specifically** **stated "A** **judgment shall** **be entered** **on the** **$1,238,164.46 due** **to wife** **plus post-judgment** **interest of** **6% in** **accordance with** **the statute.** **Execution of** **judgment may** **commence immediately."** **Further, Judge** **Ford stated** **that "Husband** **is ordered** **to pay** **wife's additional** **attorney's fees** **and expenses** **in the** **amount of** **$3,000.00 regarding** **this respective** **petition, within** **thirty (30)** **days of** **the date** **of this** **Order." Mr.** **Chin appealed** **Judge Ford's** **Order to** **the Superior** **Court, which** **resulted in** **a recalculation** **of the** **amounts due.** **In an** **Order dated** **June 27,** **2019, Judge** **Ford noted** **that the** **applicable interest** **rate on** **the stipulated** **debt should** **have been** **calculated at** **4.5%, and** **not 6.0%.** **On December** **10, 2019,** **Ms. Walker-Chin,** **through counsel,** **filed a** **praecipe to** **transfer and** **index the** **judgment against** **Mr. Chin** **with the** **Office of** **Judicial Records** **in the** **amount of** **$1,222,426.16 plus** **4.5% post-judgment** **interest. Ms.** **Chin's Petition** **to Strike** **the judgment** **followed, which** **eventually led** **to this** **appeal. 3** 

a g a i n e n fo rce m e n t a n d co n te m p t p rocee d i n gs i n t h e F a m i l y C o u rt D i v is i o n re l a te d

to t h e d i v o rc e se t t l e m e n t

. J u d g e F o rd p re s i d e d o v e r t h e p roce e d i n g s t h a t u l t i m a te l y

r e s u l te d i n t h e j u d g m e n t t h a t M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n t r a n s fe r r e d to t h e c i v i l j u d g m e n t
i n d e x
. O n J u n e 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 , J u d g e F o r d gr a n te d M s. W a l k e r
- C h i n' s m o t i o n to e n fo rc e
p ro p e rt y se t tl e m e n t. O n A p r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 , J u d ge F o r d e n te re d a n O r d e r fi n d i n g M r
. C h i n i n co n te m p t fo r h is fa i l u re to co m p l y w i t h h e r J u n e 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 O r d e r
. I n h e r
A p r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 O r d e r , J u d ge F o r d s p ec i fi c a l l y s t a te d " A j u d gm e n t s h a ll b e e n te r e d

o n t h e $ 1 , 2 3 8 , 1 6 4

. 4 6 d u e to w i fe p l u s p o s t

- j u d gm e n t i n t e r e s t o f 6 % i n a cco r d a n ce

w i t h t h e s t a t u te. E x e c u t i o n o f j u d g m e n t m a y co m m e n ce i m m e d i a t e l y
. " F u r t h e r , J u d g e F o rd s t a t e d t h a t " H u s b a n d i s o r d e re d to p a y w i fe ' s a d d i t i o n a l a t t o r n e y' s fe e s

a n d e x pe n se s i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ 3 , 000

. 00 re g a r d i n g t h is r e s p e c t i v e p e t i t i o n , w i t h i n

t h i rt y ( 3 0 ) d a y s o f t h e d a te o f t h i s O r d e r
. "
M r. C h i n a p p e a l e d J u d g e F o r d ' s O rd e r to t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t , w h i c h re s u l te d
i n a re ca l c u l a t i o n o f t h e a m o u n ts d u e. I n a n O r d e r d a t e d J u n e 2 7 , 2 0 1 9 , J u d g e F o r d

n o t e d t h a t t h e a p p l i ca b l e i n te r e s t r a te o n t he s t i p u l a te d d e b t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n

ca l cu l a te d a t 4

. 5 % , a n d n o t 6

. 0 % , O n Dece m be r 1 0 , 2 0 1 9 , M s. W a l k e r
- C hi n , t h ro u g h co u n se l , fi l e d a p r a ec i pe to

t r a ns fe r a n d i n d e x t h e j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t M r
. C h i n w i t h t h e O ffi ce o f J u d i ci a l
R e co rd s i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ 1 , 2 2 2 , 4 2 6

. 1 6 p l us 4

. 5 % p o s t

- j u d g m e n t i n te re s t

. M s. C h i n' s P e t i t i o n to S t r ik e t h e j u d gm e n t fo l l o w e d , w h i c h e v e n t u a l l y l e d to

t h i s a p p e a l

3 a g a i n e n fo rce

m e n t a n d co n te m p t p rocee

d i n gs i n t h e F a

m i l y C o u rt D i v is i o n re l a te d
to t h e d i v o rc

e se t t l e m e n t

. J u d g e F o rd p re

s i d e d o v e r t h e p roce

e d i n g s t h a

t u l t i m a te l y

r e s u l te d i n t h e j u d g m e

n t t h a t M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n t r a

n s fe r r e d to t h e c i v i l j u d g m e n t
i n d e x

. O n J u n e 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 , J u d g e F o r d gr a n te d M s. W a

l k e r - C h i n' s m o

t i o n to e n fo rc e
p ro p e rt y se

t tl e m e n t. O n A p r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 , J u d ge F o r d e n te re d a n O r d e r fi n d i n g M r

. C h i n i n co n te

m p t fo r h is fa i l u re to co m p l y w i t h h e r J u n e 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 O r d e r

. I n h e r
A p r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 O r d e r , J u d ge F o r d s p ec i fi c a l l y s t a te d " A j u d gm

e n t s h a ll b e e n te r e

d

o n t h e $ 1 , 2 3 8 , 1 6 4

. 4 6 d u e to w i fe p l u s p o s t

- j u d gm e n t i n t e r e s t o f 6 % i n a cco r d a n ce

w i t h t h e s

t a t u te. E x e

c u t i o n o f j u d g m e n t m a y co m m e n ce i m m e

d i a t e l y

. " F u r t h e r , J u d g e F o rd s

t a t e d t h a t " H u s b a n d i s o r d e re

d to p a y w i fe ' s a

d d i t i o n a l a t t o r n e y' s fe e s

a n d e x pe n se s i n t h e a

m o u n t o f $ 3 , 000

. 00 re g a r d i n g t h is r e

s p e c t i v e p e t i t i o n , w i t h i n
t h i rt y ( 3 0 ) d a

y s o f t h e d a

te o f t h i s O r d e r

. "
M r. C h i n a

p p e a l e d J u d g e F o r d ' s O rd e r to t h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t , w h i c h re s u l te d
i n a re ca l c u l a t i o n o f t h e a m o u n ts d u e. I n a

n O r d e r d a

t e d J u n e 2 7 , 2 0 1 9 , J u d g e F o r d

n o t e d t h a t t h e a p p l i ca b l e i n te r e

s t r a te o n t he s

t i p u l a te d d e b t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n

ca l cu l a te d a t 4

. 5 % , a n d n o t 6

. 0 % , O n Dece m be r 1 0 , 2 0 1 9 , M s. W a

l k e r - C hi n , t h ro u g h co u n se l , fi l e d a p r a ec i pe to
t r a ns fe r a n d i n d e x t h e j u d g m e

n t a g a i n s t M r

. C h i n w i t h t h e O

ffi ce o f J u d i ci a

l
R e co rd s i n t h e a

m o u n t o f $ 1 , 2 2 2 , 4 2 6

. 1 6 p l us 4

. 5 % p o s t

- j u d g m e n t i n te

re s t

. M s. C h i n' s P

e t i t i o n to S

t r ik e t h e j u d gm

e n t fo l l o w e d , w h i c h e

v e n t u a l l y l e d to
t h i s a p p e a l

3**B. Standard** **of Review** **Mr. Chin** **contends that** **the judgment** **was improperly** **transferred from** **the Family** **Court Division** **to the** **civil judgment** **index. "A** **petition to** **strike a** **judgment is** **a common** **law proceeding** **which operates** **as a** **demurrer to** **the record."** **Resolution Trust** **Corp. v.** **Copley Qu-** **WayneAssocs, 683** **A.2d 269,** **273 (Pa.** **1996). A** **motion to** **strike is** **appropriate if** **the judgment** **that was** **entered contains** **a fatal** **defect or** **irregularity apparent** **from the** **face of** **the record** **and, as** **a result,** **the prothonotary** **lacked authority** **to enter** **the judgment.** **Id. The** **denial of** **a petition** **to strike** **a judgment** **is reviewed** **for an** **abuse of** **discretion or** **error of** **law. Vogt** **v. Liberty** **Mut. Fire** **Ins. Co.,** **900 A.2d** **912, 915** **(Pa. Super.** **2006). An** **abuse of** **discretion in** **this context** **means that** **this Court,** **in reaching** **its conclusion,** **exercised its** **judgment in** **a manifestly** **unreasonable manner,** **or demonstrated** **partiality, prejudice,** **bias or** **ill will,** **as shown** **by the** **evidence or** **the record.** **Smith v.** **Morrell Beer** **Distributors, Inc.,** **29 A.3d** **23, 25** **(Pa. Super.** **2011) (internal** **citation and** **quotation omitted).** **C. The** **Judgment Was** **Properly Transferred** **Judge Ford** **entered a** **valid enforceable** **judgment on** **the docket.** **Pursuant to** **23 Pa.C.S.** **§ 3502(e)(1):** **If, at** **any time,** **a party** **has failed** **to comply** **with an** **order of** **equitable distribution,** **as provided** **for in** **this chapter** **or with** **the terms** **of an** **agreement as** **entered into** **between the** **parties, after** **hearing, the** **court may,** **in addition** **to any** **other remedy** **available under** **this part,** **in order** **to effect** **compliance with** **its order:** **(1) enter** **judgment; ...** **4**

B

. S ta n d a r d o f R e v i e w
M r
. C h i n co n te n d s t h a t t h e j u d gm e n t w a s i m p ro p e r l y t r a n s fe rre d fr o m t h e
F a m i l y C o u rt D i v i s i o n to t h e ci v i l j u d g m e n t i n d e x
. A pe t i t i o n to s t r i k e a j u d g m e n t i s a c o m m o n l a w p roce e d i n g w h ic h o pe r a te s

a s a d e m u r r e r t o t h e re co r d. " 

### R e so l u t i o n Tr u s t C o r p
. v
. C o p l ey Q u
- Wa

y n e As s oc s , 68 3 A. 2 d 2 6 9 , 2 7 3 (P a. 1 99 6 ). A m o t i o n to s t r i k e i s a p p ro p r i a t e i f t h e j u d g m e n t t h a t

w a s e n te r e d co n t a i n s a f a t a l d e f e c t o r i r re g u l a r i t y a p p a re n t f ro m t h e f

a ce o f t h e

re co r d a n d , a s a r e s u l t , t h e p ro t h o n o t a ry l a c k e d a u t h o r i t y to e n te r t h e j u d g m e n t

. I d
Th e d e n i a l o f a p e t i t i o n to s t r ik e a j u d g m e n t i s r e v i e w e d fo r a n a b u se o f
d is cre t i o n o r e r ro r o f l a w
. Vo g t v
. 

### L i be r t y M uu t

. Fi r e 

### I ns
. C o
. , 900 A

. 2 d 9 1 2 , 9 1 5 (P a. S u p e r
. 2 006 )

. A n a b u s e o f d i sc re t i o n i n t hi s c o n te x t m e a n s t h a t t h i s Co u r t , i n

r e a c h i n g i t s co n c l u s i o n , e x e rc i s e d i ts j u d g m e n t i n a m a n i f e s t ly u n re a s o n a b l e

m a n n e r , o r d e m o n s t r a te d p a rt i a l i t y , p re j u d i ce , b i a s o r i l l w i l l , a s s h o w n b y t h e

e v i d e n ce o r t h e re co r d

. 

### S m i t h v
. M o r r e l l Be e r D i s t r i b u to r

s , I n e
. , 2 9 A. 3 d 2 3 , 2 5 ( P a
. S u p e r 2 0 1 1 ) ( i n t e r n a l c i t a t i o n a n d q u o ta ti o n o m i t te d )

.
C

. T h e J u d g m e n t W a s P r o p e r l y T r a n s fe r r e d
J u d g e F o r d e n te re d a v a l i d e n fo r c e a b l e j u d gm e n t o n t h e d oc k e t

. P u r s u a n t to
2 3 P a
. C

. S

. § 3 5 0 2 ( e ) ( l )

I f, a t a ny t im e , a p a rt y h a s fa il e d to co m p l y w i t h a n o r d e r o f e q u i ta b l e d i s t r i b u t i o n , a s p ro v i d e d f o r i n t h i s c h a p te r o r w i t h t h e t e r m s o f a n a gre e m e n t a s e n te re d i n to be t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s , a ft e r h e a r i n g, t h e co u rt m a y , i n a d d i t i o n to a n y o t h e r re m e d y a v a i l a b l e u n d e r t h i s p a r t , i n o r d e r to e ffe c t co m p l i a n c e w i t h i ts o r d e r : ( 1 ) e n t e r j u d g m e n t ;
.
4 B

. S ta n d a r d o f R e

v i e w
M r

. C h i n co

n te n d s t h a t t h e j u d gm

e n t w a s i m p ro p e r l y t r a

n s fe rre d fr o m t h e
F a m i l y C o u rt D i v i s

i o n to t h e ci v i l j u d g m e n t i n d e x

. A pe t i t i o n to s

t r i k e a j u d g m e

n t i s a c o m m o n l a

w p roce e d i n g w h ic h o pe

r a te s

a s a d e m u r r e r t o t h e re

co r d. " 

### R e so l u t i o n Tr u s t C o r p

. v

. C o p l ey Q u
- Wa

y n e As s oc s , 68 3 A. 2 d 2 6 9 , 2 7 3 (P

a. 1 99 6 ). A m o t i o n to s t r i k e i s a p p ro p r i a t e i f t h e j u d g m e n t t h a

t

w a s e n te r e d co n t a i n s a f a t a l d e f e c t o r i r re g u l a r i t y a

p p a re n t f ro m t h e f a

ce o f t h e

re co r d a n d , a s a r e s u l t , t h e p ro

t h o n o t a ry l a c k e d a u t h o r i t y to e n te r t h e j u d g m e n t

. I d
Th e d e n i a

l o f a p e t i t i o n to s

t r ik e a j u d g m e

n t i s r e v i e w e d fo r a n a b u se o f
d is cre t i o n o r e r ro r o

f l a w

. Vo g t v

. 

### L i be r t

y M uu t

. Fi r e 

### I ns

. C o

. , 900 A

. 2 d 9 1 2 , 9 1 5 (P a. S u p e r

. 2 006

)

. A n a b u s e o f d i sc re t i o n i n t hi s c o n te

x t m e a n s t h a t t h i s Co u r t , i n

r e a c h i n g i t s co n c l u s

i o n , e x e rc i s e d i ts j u d g m e

n t i n a m a

n i f e s t ly u n re a s o n a b l e

m a n n e r , o r d e

m o n s t r a te d p a rt i a l i t y , p re j u d i ce , b i a s o r i l l w i l l , a

s s h o w n b y t h e

e v i d e n ce o r t h e re

co r d

. 

### S m i t h v

. M o r r e l l Be e r D i

s t r i b u to r s , I n e

. , 2 9 A. 3 d 2 3 , 2 5 ( P

a

. S u p e r 2 0 1 1 ) ( i n t e r n a

l c i t a t i o n a n d q u o

ta ti o n o m i t te

d )

. C

. T h e J u d g m e

n t W a s P r o p e r l y T r a

n s fe r r e d
J u d g e F o r d e n te re

d a v a l i d e n fo r c e

a b l e j u d gm

e n t o n t h e d oc

k e t

. P u r s u a n t to
2 3 P a

. C

. S

. § 3 5 0 2 ( e

) ( l )
I f, a t a ny t im e , a p a rt y h a

s fa il e d to co m p l y w i t h a n o r d e r o f e q u i ta b l e d i s t r i b u t i o n , a

s p ro v i d e d f o r i n t h i s c h a

p te r o r w i t h t h e t e r m s o

f a n a gre e m e n t a s e n te re d i n to be t w e e n t h e p a r t i e

s , a ft e r h e a r i n g, t h e co u rt m a

y , i n a d d i t i o n to a n y o t h e r re m e d y a v a i l a b l e u n d e r t h i s p a

r t , i n o r d e r to e ffe c t co m p l i a n c e w i t h i ts o r d e r : ( 1 ) e n t e r j u d g m e n t ;

.
4**Thus, pursuant** **to Section** **3502(e)(1), Judge** **Ford was** **empowered to** **enter judgment** **against Mr.** **Chin. "The** **judgment represents** **a binding** **judicial determination** **of the** **rights and** **duties between** **the parties,** **and establishes** **their debtor-creditor** **relationship for** **all the** **world to** **notice when** **the judgment** **is recorded** **in a** **Prothonotary's Office.** **When entered** **of record,** **the judgment** **also operates** **as a** **lien upon** **all real** **property of** **the debtor** **in that** **county." In** **re Upset** **Sale, Tax** **Claim Bureau** **of Berks** **County, 479** **A.2d 940,** **943 (Pa.** **1984). Thus,** **in order** **to effectuate** **the purpose** **of Judge** **Ford's judgment,** **Ms. Walker-Chin** **was then** **permitted to** **transfer the** **judgment to** **the civil** **judgment index.** **See, e.g.,** **Mid-State Bank** **& Trust** **Co. v.** **Globalnet Intl,** **Inc., 710** **A.2d 1187,** **1192-94 (Pa.** **Super. 1998)** **(recognizing validity** **of lien** **or judgment** **pursuant to** **section 3502** **docketed in** **civil judgment** **index). Mr.** **Chin argues,** **without any** **support, that** **the judgment** **was not** **transferable to** **the civil** **judgment docket** **index. Mr.** **Chin similarly** **does not** **cite to** **any authority** **in any** **statute or** **rule providing** **for a** **special "family** **court division"** **judgment index** **that would** **accomplish the** **same purpose** **as the** **civil judgment** **index. Instead,** **the maintenance** **by the** **Prothonotary (or** **Office of** **Judicial Records)** **of a** **single common** **pleas judgment** **docket or** **index dates** **back well** **over 150** **years. See,** **e.g., Coral** **Gables, Inc.** **v. Kerl,** **6 A.2d** **275, 276** **(Pa. 1939);** **Russeck v.** **Shapiro, 84** **A.2d 514,** **515 (Pa.** **Super. 1951)** **(citing Act** **of March** **29, 1827,** **P.L. 154,** **section 3,** **17 P.S.** **§ 1903,** **and Act** **of April** **22, 1856,** **P.L. 532,** **section 3,** **17 P.S.** **§ 1922).** **The 5** 

Th u s , p u r s u a n t to Se c t i o n 3 5 0 2 ( e ) ( 1 ) , J u d ge F o rd w a s e m p o w e re d to e n t e r j u d gm e n t a g a i n s t M r C h i n
. "T h e j u d g m e n t r e p re se n t s a b i n d i n g j u d i c i a l
d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e r i g h ts a n d d u t i e s b e tw e e n t h e p a r t i e s , a n d e s t a b l i s h e s t h e i r
d e b to r
- c re d i to r r e l a t i o n s h i p fo r a l l t h e w o r l d to n o t i ce w h e n t h e j u d g m e n t i s

r e co r d e d i n a P r o t h o n o t a r y' s O ffi c e
. W h e n e n te r e d o f re co r d , t h e j u d g m e n t a l so

o p e r a te s a s a l i e n u p o n a l l r e a l p r o pe rt y o f t h e d e b to r i n t h a t c o u n t y
. " 

### I n re U p s e t
Sa le, 

### T ax C la i m B u r

e a u o f Be r k s C o u n t y , 4 7 9 A

. 2 d 9 4 0 , 9 4 3 (P a
. 1 9 8 4 )

. Th u s , i n o r d e r to e ffe c t u a te t h e p u rpo se o f J u d ge F o r d' s j u d g m e n t , M s
. W a l k e r
- C hi n w a s t h e n p e r m i t t e d to t r a n s fe r t h e j u d g m e n t to t h e c i v i l j u d gm e n t
i n d e x
. 

### Se e, e
. g. , M

i d- S t a te Ba n k 

### & Tr u s t C

o. v. 

### G l o b a l n e t I

n t' l , I n c
. , 7 1 0 A

. 2 d 1 1 8 7 , 1 1 9 2

- 9 4 ( P a
. S u p e r
. 1 99 8 ) ( r ec o gn i z i n g v a l i d i t y o f l i e n o r j u d g m e n t p u r s u a n t to

sec ti o n 3 5 0 2 d ock e te d i n c i v i l j u d gm e n t i n d e x )

. M r
. C h i n a rg u e s , w i t h o u t a n y

s u p p o r t , t h a t t h e j u d gm e n t w a s n o t tr a n s fe r a b l e to t h e c i v il j u d g m e n t d oc k e t i n d e x
. M r
. C h i n s i m i l a r l y d oe s n o t c i t e to a n y a u t h o ri t y i n a n y s t a t u te o r r u l e p ro v i d i n g fo r

a s p e c i a l " fa m i l y c o u r t d i v i s i o n" j u d g m e n t in d e x t ha t w o u l d a c co m p l i s h t h e s a m e
p u rpo s e a s t h e c i v il j u d g m e n t in d e x
. I n s t e a d , t h e m a i n te n a n ce b y t h e P r o t h o n o ta ry ( o r O ffi c e o f J u d i c i a l Re co r d s )

o f a s i n g l e co m m o n p l e a s j u d g m e n t d ock e t o r i n d e x d a te s b a c k w e l l o v e r 1 50 y e a r s
. 

### Se e , e
. g. , C o ra l G a b l es , I n c. v
. K e r l , 6 A. 2 d 2 7 5 , 2 7 6 ( P a
. 1 9 3 9 ) ; 

### R u sse c k v
. S ha p i r o , 8 4 A

. 2d 5 1 4 , 5 1 5 ( P a. S u p e r
. 1 9 5 1 ) ( c i t i n g Ac t o f M a rc h 2 9, 1 8 2 7 , P

. L. 1 5 4 , se c t i o n 3 , 1 7 P S

. 

### $ 1 90 3 , a n d Ae t o f A p r i l 2 2 , 1 8 56 , P

. L

. 5 3 2 , se c ti o n 3 , 1 7 P

. S

. 

### $ 1 9 2 2 )

. T h e

5 Th u s , p u r s u a

n t to Se c t i o n 3 5 0 2 ( e

) ( 1 ) , J u d ge F o rd w a

s e m p o w e re d to e n t e r j u d gm e n t a g a i n s t M r C h i n

. "T h e j u d g m e n t r e p re se n t s a b i n d i n g j u d i c i a

l
d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e r i g h ts a n d d u t i e s b e tw e e n t h e p a r t i e

s , a n d e s t a b l i s h e s t h e i r d e b to r - c re d i to r r e l a

t i o n s h i p fo r a l l t h e w o r l d to n o

t i ce w h e n t h e j u d g m e

n t i s

r e co r d e d i n a P r o

t h o n o t a r y' s O ffi c e

. W h e

n e n te r e d o f re co r d , t h e j u d g m e n t a l so

o p e r a te s a s a l i e n u p o n a l l r e a l p r o pe rt y o f t h e d e

b to r i n t h a

t c o u n t y

. " 

### I

n re U p s e t
Sa le, 

### T ax C la i m B u r e a u o

f Be r k s C o u n t y , 4 7 9 A

. 2 d 9 4 0 , 9 4 3 (P

a

. 1 9 8 4 )

. Th u s , i n o r d e r to e

ffe c t u a te t h e p u rpo

se o f J u d ge F o r d' s j u d g m e n t , M s

. W a l k e r - C hi n w a

s t h e n p e r m i t t e

d to t r a n s fe r t h e j u d g m e n t to t h e c i v i l j u d gm e n t
i n d e x

. 

### Se e, e

. g. , M

i d- S t a te Ba n k 

### & Tr u s t C

o. v. 

### G l o b a l

n e t I n t' l , I n c

. , 7 1 0 A

. 2 d 1 1 8 7 , 1 1 9 2

- 9 4 ( P

a

. S u p e r

. 1 99

8 ) ( r ec o gn i z i n g v a

l i d i t y o f l i e

n o r j u d g m e

n t p u r s u a

n t to

sec ti o n 3 5 0 2 d ock

e te d i n c i v i l j u d gm

e n t i n d e x )

. M r

. C h i n a rg u e

s , w i t h o u t a

n y

s u p p o r t , t h a

t t h e j u d gm

e n t w a s n o t tr a n s fe r a b l e to t h e c i v il j u d g m e n t d oc k e t i n d e x

. M r

. C h i n s

i m i l a r l y d oe

s n o t c i t e to a n y a

u t h o ri t y i n a

n y s t a t u te o r r u l e p ro

v i d i n g fo r

a s p e c i a l " fa m i l y c o u r t d i v i s

i o n" j u d g m e n t in d e

x t ha t w o u l d a

c co m p l i s h t h e s a m e
p u rpo s e a s t h e c i v il j u d g m e

n t in d e x

. I n s t e a d , t h e m a

i n te n a n ce b y t h e P r o

t h o n o ta ry ( o r O ffi c e o f J u d i c i a

l Re co r d s )

o f a s i n g l e co m m o n p l e

a s j u d g m e

n t d ock e t o r i n d e x d a te s b a c k w e l l o v e r 1 50 y e

a r s

. 

### Se e , e

. g. , C

o ra l G a b l es , I

n c. v

. K e r l , 6 A. 2 d 2 7 5 , 2 7 6 ( P

a

. 1 9 3 9 ) ; 

### R u sse c k v

. S

ha p i r o , 8 4 A

. 2d 5 1 4 , 5 1 5 ( P

a. S u p e r

. 1 9 5 1 ) ( c i t i n g Ac t o f M a rc h 2 9, 1 8 2 7 , P

. L. 1 5 4 , se c t i o n 3 , 1 7 P S

. 

### $ 1 90 3 , a n d Ae t o f A p r i l 2 2 , 1 8 56 , P

. L

. 5 3 2 , se

c ti o n 3 , 1 7 P

. S

. 

### $ 1 9 2 2 )

. T h e

5**purpose of** **such an** **index is** **to provide** **notice to** **purchasers, subsequent** **encumbrancers, and** **others in** **interest. Coral** **Gables, 6** **A.2d at** **276. The** **current version** **of the** **judgment index** **statute, 42** **Pa. C.S.** **§ 4303(a),** **provides (a)** **Real property.** **Any judgment** **or other** **order of** **a court** **of common** **pleas for** **the payment** **of money** **shall be** **a lien** **upon real** **property on** **the conditions,** **to the** **extent and** **with the** **priority provided** **by statute** **or prescribed** **by general** **rule adopted** **pursuant to** **section 1722(b)** **(relating to** **enforcement and** **effect of** **orders and** **process) when** **it is** **entered of** **record in** **the office** **of the** **clerk of** **the court** **of common** **pleas of** **the county** **where the** **real property** **is situated,** **or in** **the office** **of the** **clerk of** **the branch** **of the** **court of** **common pleas** **embracing such** **county. (b)** **Order of** **court as** **lien. Any** **other order** **of a** **court of** **common pleas** **shall be** **a lien** **upon real** **and personal** **property situated** **within any** **county embraced** **within the** **judicial district** **on the** **conditions, to** **the extent** **and with** **the priority** **provided by** **statute or** **prescribed by** **general rule** **adopted pursuant** **to section** **1722(b). (c)** **Transfer of** **domestic judgments** **and orders.** **An order** **of any** **court of** **this Commonwealth** **which is** **a lien** **on real** **or personal** **property situated** **within any** **county of** **this Commonwealth** **pursuant to** **subsection (a)** **or (b)** **shall be** **a lien** **upon real** **or personal** **property situated** **within any** **other county** **to the** **same extent** **as if** **resulting from** **an order** **of the** **court of** **common pleas** **of such** **other county** **upon compliance** **with such** **transfer and** **filing procedures** **as may** **be prescribed** **by general** **rule. The** **language in** **section (a)** **is clear** **and unequivocal:** **"[a]ny judgment** **or other** **order of** **a court** **of common** **pleas for** **the payment** **of money** **shall be** **a lien** **upon real** **property on** **the conditions** **...." The** **statute does** **not delineate** **between common** **pleas divisions.** **It applies** **to any** **judgment entered** **in the** **court of** **common pleas.** **6**



### p u rp o se o f s u c h a n i n d e x is 

### to p ro v i d e n o t i ce 

### to p urc h a se r s , s u b se q u e n t

e n c u m b r a n c e r s , a n d o t h e r s i n i n te re s t

. C o ra l G a b l e s , 

### 6 A

. 2 d a t 2 7 6

. T h e c u r re n t v e rs i o n o f t h e j u d g m e n t i n d e x s ta t u t e , 4 2 P a
. C

. S

. 

### $ 4 3 0 3 ( a ) , p ro v i d e s ( a ) Re a l p ro p e r t y
. A n y j u d g m e n t o r o t h e r o r d e r o f a co u rt

o f co m m o n p l e a s fo r t h e p a y m e n t o f m o n e y s h a l l b e a l i e n u p o n r e a l p r o p e r t y o n t h e co n d i t i o n s , to 

### t h e e x te n t a n d
w i t h t h e p r i o r i t y p ro vi d e d b y s t a t u te o r p re sc r i be d b y ge n e r a l r u l e a d o p t e d p u r s ua n t to 

### se c ti o n 1 7 2 2 ( ) ( re l a t i n g t o e n fo r ce m e n t a n d e ffe c t o f o r d e r s a n d p roce s s ) w h e n i t is 

### e n te r e d o f re c o r d m n 

### t h e o ffi c e o f t h e c l e r k o f t h e co u rt o f co m m o n p l e a s o f t h e co u n t y w h e re t h e re a l p ro p e r t y i s 

### s i t u a t e d , o r i n t h e o ffi c e o f t h e c l e r k o f t h e b r a n c h o f t h e co u r t o f c o m m o n p l e a s e m b r a c i n g s u c h co u n t y
. (b ) 

### O r d e r o f co u r t a s l i e n
. A n y o t h e r o r d e r o f a co u rt o f c o m m o n p l e a s s h a l l be 

### a l i e n u p o n r e a l a n d p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y s i t u a t e d w i t h i n a n y co u n t y e m b ra ce d w i t h i n t h e j u d i c i a l d i s t r i c t o n t h e co n d i t i o n s , to 

### t h e e x t e n t a n d w i t h t h e p r i o r i t y p ro v i d e d b y s t a t u t e o r p re sc ri b e d b y ge n e r a l
r u l e a d o p te d p ur s u a n t to 

### se c t i o n 1 7 2 2 ( )

. ( c ) T r a n s fe r o f d o m e s t i c j u d gm e n ts a n d o rd e r s
. A n o rd e r o f a n y co u rt o f t h is C o m m o n w e a l t h w h i c h i s a l i e n o n re a l
o r p e r s o n a l p ro p e rty s i t u a te d w i t h i n a n y co u n t y o f t h i s C o m m o n w e a l t h p u r s u a n t 

### to s u b se c t i o n ( a ) o r (b ) 

### s h a l l be a l i e n u po n re a l o r p e r so n a l p r o p e r t y s i t u a te d w i t h i n a n y o t h e r co u n t y to 

### t h e s a m e e x te n t a s 

### if re s ul t i n g f ro m a n o r d e r o f t h e c o u r t o f co m m o n p l e a s o f s u c h o t h e r co u n t y u p o n co m p l i a n ce w i t h s u c h t r a n s fe r a n d fi l i n g p roce d u re s a s m a y be p re scr i b e d b y g e n e r a l r u l e
. T h e l a n g u a ge i n s e c t i o n ( a ) is 

### cl e a r a n d u n e q u i v oc a l : " [ a ] n y j u d g m e n t o r o t h e r

o r d e r o f a co u r t o f co m m o n p l e a s fo r t h e p a y m e n t o f m o n e y s h a l l b e a l i e n u po n re a l

p ro pe r t y o n t h e co n d i t i o n s
. . , " T h e s ta t u te d oe s n o t d e l i n e a te be t w e e n co m m o n
p l e a s d i v i s io n s
. I t a p p l i e s to 

### a n y j u d gm e n t e n te r e d i n t h e co u r t o f co m m o n p l e a s
.

6 

### p u rp o se o

f s u c h a n i n d e x is 

### to p ro

v i d e n o t i ce 

### to p urc

h a se r s , s u b se q u e n t

e n c u m b r a

n c e r s , a n d o t h e r s i n i n te re

s t

. C o ra l G a b l e s , 

### 6 A

. 2 d a

t 2 7 6

. T h e c u r re n t v e rs

i o n o f t h e j u d g m e

n t i n d e x s ta t u t e , 4 2 P

a

. C

. S

. 

### $ 4 3 0 3 ( a

) , p ro v i d e s ( a ) Re a l p ro p e r t y

. A n y j u d g m e n t o r o t h e r o r d e r o

f a co u rt o f co m m o n p l e

a s fo r t h e p a

y m e n t o f m o n e y s h a l l b e a l i e n u p o n r e a l p r o p e r t y o n t h e co

n d i t i o n s , to 

### t h e e x te n t a n d w i t h t h e p r i o r i t y p ro

vi d e d b y s t a t u te o r p re

sc r i be d b y ge n e r a l r u l e a d o p t e d p u r s ua n t to 

### se c ti o n 1 7 2 2 ( ) ( re

l a t i n g t o e n fo r ce

m e n t a n d e ffe c t o f o r d e r s a

n d p roce s s ) w h e n i t is 

### e n te r e d o f re c o r d m n 

### t h e o

ffi c e o f t h e c l e r k o

f t h e co u rt o

f co m m o n p l e

a s o f t h e co u n t y w h e re t h e re a l p ro p e r t y i s 

### s i t u a t e d , o r i n t h e o

ffi c e o f t h e c l e r k o

f t h e b r a n c h o f t h e co u r t o f c o m m o n p l e

a s e m b r a c i n g s u c h co u n t y

. (b ) 

### O r d e r o

f co u r t a s l i e n

. A n y o t h e r o r d e r o f a co u rt o f c o m m o n p l e

a s s h a l l be 

### a l i e n u p o n r e

a l a n d p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y s i t u a

t e d w i t h i n a

n y co u n t y e m b ra

ce d w i t h i n t h e j u d i c i a l d i s t r i c t o n t h e co n d i t i o n s

, to 

### t h e e x t e n t a n d w i t h t h e p r i o r i t y p ro

v i d e d b y s t a t u t e o r p re

sc ri b e d b y ge n e r a l r u l e a d o p te d p ur s u a n t to 

### se c t i o n 1 7 2 2 ( )

. ( c ) T r a n s fe r o f d o m e s t i c j u d gm

e n ts a n d o rd e r s

. A n o rd e r o f a n y co u rt o

f t h is C o m m o n w e

a l t h w h i c h i s a l i e

n o n re a l o r p e r s o n a l p ro p e rty s

i t u a te d w i t h i n a

n y co u n t y o

f t h i s C o m m o n w e

a l t h p u r s u a

n t 

### to s u b se

c t i o n ( a ) o r (b ) 

### s h a

l l be a l i e n u po n re a l o r p e r so

n a l p r o p e r t y s i t u a

te d w i t h i n a

n y o t h e r co u n t y to 

### t h e s

a m e e x te n t a s 

### if re s ul t i n g f ro m a

n o r d e r o f t h e c o u r t o f co m m o n p l e a s o f s u c h o t h e r co u n t y u p o n co m p l i a

n ce w i t h s u c h t r a

n s fe r a n d fi l i n g p roce

d u re s a s m a y be p re scr i b e d b y g e n e r a l r u l e

. T h e l a n g u a ge i n s e c t i o n ( a ) is 

### cl e a r a n d u n e q u i v oc a l : " [ a ] n y j u d g m e n t o r o t h e r

o r d e r o f a co u r t o f co

m m o n p l e

a s fo r t h e p a

y m e n t o f m o n e

y s h a l l b e a l i e n u po n re a l
p ro pe r t y o n t h e co n d i t i o n s

. . , " T h e s ta t u te d oe s n o t d e l i n e a te be t w e e n co m m o n
p l e a s d i v i s io n s

. I t a p p l i e s to 

### a n y j u d gm

e n t e n te r e d i n t h e co u r t o

f co m m o n p l e

a s

.

6**There is** **a single,** **statutorily created** **judgment index,** **which provides** **the most** **efficient way** **to provide** **notice of** **a judgment** **or lien** **to potential** **creditors. This** **statute is** **derived from** **the longstanding** **principles applicable** **to judgments,** **and notice** **of judgments:** **The great** **weight of** **authority is** **that the** **entry of** **judgment is** **a ministerial** **or clerical** **act, required** **to be** **done by** **the clerk** **of the** **court.... and** **consists of** **placing a** **judgment previously** **rendered on** **the record,** **by which** **enduring evidence** **of the** **judicial act** **is afforded.** **While the** **term "entry** **of judgment"** **is sometimes** **used in** **a general** **sense so** **as to** **include rendition** **of judgment,** **it is** **most often** **used in** **a more** **limited and** **precise sense** **as meaning** **the ministerial** **act of** **spreading the** **judgment at** **large on** **the record** **as distinguished** **from the** **judicial act** **of giving** **or pronouncing** **judgment. There** **must be** **a compliance** **with statutes** **or rules** **of court** **regulating the** **entry of** **judgments. A** **judgment is** **entered when** **it is** **spread at** **large on** **the record,** **and under** **some statutes** **not until** **then. Under** **some statutes,** **however, a** **judgment is** **entered when** **a signed** **copy of** **it is** **delivered to** **the clerk** **and filed** **by him,** **although not** **actually transcribed** **on the** **record, or** **when the** **judgment is** **duly signed** **and filed** **by the** **clerk. So** **it has** **been held** **that a** **judgment is** **in law** **entered, at** **least for** **some purposes,** **at the** **time a** **proper entry** **thereof is** **formulated and** **given to** **the clerk** **to be** **entered of** **record. As** **a general** **rule, the** **decisions of** **all courts** **must be** **preserved in** **writing in** **some record** **provided for** **that purpose.** **Where a** **statute so** **requires, judgments** **should be** **entered, and** **for many** **purposes a** **judgment is** **not complete,** **perfect, and** **effective until** **it has** **been duly** **entered. Thus** **it has** **been broadly** **held that** **judgments take** **effect only** **from the** **date of** **entry, and** **that there** **is no** **judgment until** **it is** **entered of** **record. 7** 



### T h e re is 

### a s i n g l e , s ta t u t o r i l y c r e a te d j u d g m e n t i n d e x , w h i c h p ro v i d e s t h e m o s t

e ffi c i e n t w a y to p ro v i d e n o t i c e o f a j u d g m e n t o r l i e n to p o te n t i a l c r e d i to rs
. Th i s s t a t u te i s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e l o n g s t a n d i n g p r i n c i p l e s a p p l i c a b l e to


### J u d g m e n ts , a n d n o t i c e o f j u d g m e n ts :
T h e gr e a t w e i g h t o f a u t h o ri t y i s t h a t t h e e n t ry o f j u d gm e n t i s a m i n i s t e r i a l o r c l e r i c a l a c t , re q u i r e d to 

### b e d o n e b y t h e cl e r k o f t h e co u r t , . a n d co n s i s ts o f p l a c i n g a j u d gm e n t p r e v i o u s l y re n d e re d o n t h e r e co r d , b y w h i c h e n d u r i n g e v i d e n c e o f t h e j u d i c i a l a c t i s a ffo r d e d

. W h i l e t h e te r m " e n t ry o f

j u d g m e n t" i s s o m e t i m e s u se d i n a g e n e r a l se n se so a s t o i n c l u d e re n d i tio n o f j u d g m e n t , i t i s m o s t o ft e n use d i n a m o r e l i m i te d a n d p re c i s e se n s e a s m e a n i n g t h e m i n i s te r i a l a c t o f s p r e a d i n g th e j u d g m e n t a t l a r g e o n t h e re co rd a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d f ro m t h e j u d i c i a l a c t o f gi v i n g o r p ro n o u n c i n g j u d gm e n t. T h e r e m u s t b e a co m p l i a n ce w i t h s t a t u t e s o r r u l e s o f co u r t re g u l a t i n g t h e e n t r y o f j u d gm e n ts

. A j u d g m e n t i s e n te r e d w h e n i t i s s p r e a d a t l a r g e o n t h e re co r d , a n d u n d e r s o m e s t a t u t e s n o t u n t i l t h e n
. U n d e r so m e s t a t u te s , h o w e v e r , a j u d gm e n t i s e n te re d
w h e n a s i gn e d c o p y o f i t i s d e l i v e r e d to t h e c l e r k a n d fi l e d b y h i m , a l t h o u g h n o t a c t u a l l y t r a n s c r i b e d o n t h e r e co r d , o r w h e n t h e j u d g m e n t i s d u l y s i g n e d a n d fi l e d b y t h e c l e r k

. 

### So i t h a s be e n h e l d t h a t a j u d g m e n t i s i n l a w e n t e r e d , a t l e a s t fo r so m e p u rpo se s , a t t h e t i m e a p ro p e r e n t ry t h e r e o f i s f

o r m u l a te d a n d gi v e n to 

### t h e c l e r k t o be e n t e r e d o f r e co r d

. As 

### a g e n e r a l r u l e , t h e d e c is i o n s o f a l l co u r ts m u s t b e p re s e r v e d i n w r i t i n g i n so m e r e co r d p ro v i d e d fo r t h a t p u rp o s e
. W h e r e a s t a t u te so r e q u i r e s , j u d gm e n ts s h o u l d be 

### e n te r e d , a n d fo r m a n y p u rp os e s a j u d gm e n t i s n o t c o m p l e t e , p e r fe c t, a n d e ffe c t i v e u n t i l i t h a s b e e n d u l y e n te re d

. T h u s i t h a s b ee n b ro a d l y h e l d t h a t j u d g m e n t s t a k e e ffe c t o n l y f

ro m t h e d a te o f e n t ry , a n d t h a t t h e re i s n o j u d g m e n t u n t i l i t i s e n te red o f re co rd

.

7 

### T h e re is 

### a s

i n g l e , s ta t u t o r i l y c r e

a te d j u d g m e n t i n d e

x , w h i c h p ro

v i d e s t h e m o s

t

e ffi c i e n t w a y to p ro v i d e n o t i c e o f a j u d g m e

n t o r l i e n to p o te n t i a l c r e d i to rs

. Th i s s t a t u te i s d e r i v e

d f r o m t h e l o n g s

t a n d i n g p r i n c i p l e

s a p p l i c a b l e to 

### J u d g m e n ts

, a n d n o t i c e o f j u d g m e n ts

:
T h e gr e a t w e i g h t o f a u t h o ri t y i s t h a

t t h e e n t ry o

f j u d gm e n t i s a m i n i s

t e r i a l o r c l e r i c

a l a c t , re q u i r e d to 

### b e d o n e b y t h e cl e r k o f t h e co u r t , . a n d co n s i s ts o f p l a c i n g a j u d gm e n t p r e v i o u s l y re n d e re

d o n t h e r e

co r d , b y w h i c h e n d u r i n g e

v i d e n c e o f t h e j u d i c i a

l a c t i s a ffo r d e d

. W h i l e t h e te r m " e

n t ry o f j u d g m e

n t" i s s o m e t i m e s u se d i n a g e n e r a l se n se so a s t o i n c l u d e re n d i tio n o f j u d g m e n t , i t i s m o s t o ft e n use d i n a m o r e l i m i te

d a n d p re c i s e se n s e a s m e a n i n g t h e m i n i s

te r i a l a c t o f s p r e a d i n g th e j u d g m e n t a

t l a r g e o n t h e re

co rd a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d f ro m t h e j u d i c i a

l a c t o f gi v i n g o r p ro n o u n c i n g j u d gm e n t. T h e r e m u s

t b e a co m p l i a n ce w i t h s

t a t u t e s o r r u l e s o f co u r t re

g u l a t i n g t h e e n t r y o f j u d gm

e n ts

. A j u d g m e

n t i s e n te r e d w h e n i t i s s p r e a d a t l a r g e o n t h e re co r d , a n d u n d e r s

o m e s t a t u t e s n o t u n t i l t h e n

. U n d e r so m e s t a t u te s , h o w e v e r , a j u d gm

e n t i s e n te

re d w h e n a s i gn e d c o p y o f i t i s d e l i v e r e d to t h e c l e r k a

n d fi l e d b y h i m , a l t h o u g h n o

t a c t u a l l y t r a n s c r i b e d o n t h e r e

co r d , o r w h e n t h e j u d g m e n t i s d u l y s i g n e d a n d fi l e

d b y t h e c l e r k

. 

### So i t h a

s be e n h e l d t h a

t a j u d g m e

n t i s i n l a

w e n t e r e d , a t l e a s t fo r so m e p u rpo

se s , a t t h e t i m e a p ro p e r e n t ry t h e r e

o f i s f o r m u l a

te d a n d gi v e n to 

### t h e c l e r k t o be e n t e r e d o f r e co r d

. As 

### a g e n e r a l r u l e , t h e d e c is i o n s o f a l l co u r ts m u s

t b e p re s e r v e d i n w r i t i n g i n so

m e r e co r d p ro v i d e d fo r t h a t p u rp o s e

. W h e r e a s

t a t u te so r e

q u i r e s , j u d gm e n ts s h o u l d be 

### e n te r e d , a n d fo r m a

n y p u rp os

e s a j u d gm

e n t i s n o t c o m p l e t e , p e r fe c

t, a n d e ffe c t i v e u n t i l i t h a

s b e e n d u l y e n te re d

. T h u s i t h a

s b ee n b ro a d l y h e l d t h a t j u d g m e n t s t a k e e ffe c t o n l y f ro m t h e d a

te o f e n t ry , a n d t h a t t h e re i s n o j u d g m e

n t u n t i l i t i s e n te

red o f re co rd

.

7**As between** **the parties,** **a judgment** **duly rendered** **may be** **valid and** **effective, although** **not entered,** **that is,** **the neglect** **or failure** **of the** **clerk to** **make a** **proper entry** **of the** **judgment, or** **his defective** **or inaccurate** **entry of** **it, at** **least in** **the absence** **of statute** **to the** **contrary, will** **not deprive** **it of** **the force** **of a** **judicial decision.** **The enforcement** **of a** **judgment does** **not depend** **on its** **entry, or** **docketing, ...;** **and, as** **discussed in** **Executions §** **9 if** **the judgment** **has been** **duly rendered,** **a valid** **execution generally** **may be** **issued and** **levied, without** **either entry** **or docketing** **of the** **judgment, unless** **specially required** **by statute.** **In the** **entry or** **record of** **a judgment,** **a clerical** **error, misdescription,** **irregularity, omission,** **or other** **defect not** **going to** **the jurisdiction** **of the** **court will** **not vitiate** **the judgment** **or give** **it an** **effect which** **it would** **not have** **had if** **correctly entered** **provided there** **is enough** **in the** **entry or** **record to** **constitute a** **judgment. As** **a general** **rule, entry** **of a** **judgment must** **be made** **in the** **judgment book,** **journal, or** **other designated** **book of** **record, in** **accordance with** **the statutory** **provisions in** **that respect.** **Where the** **clerk is** **directed by** **law to** **keep certain** **books for** **the entry** **of judgments,** **or to** **record judgments** **in a** **book specially** **designated by** **statute for** **that purpose,** **or to** **enter different** **kinds of** **judgments or** **decrees in** **different books,** **and deviates** **from the** **course prescribed,** **the validity** **and operation** **of the** **judgment are** **not impaired** **thereby as** **between the** **parties, although** **it may** **be otherwise** **as to** **third persons** **who are** **misled, or** **who fail** **to receive** **the notice** **which a** **proper entry** **would have** **afforded them,** **and ...** **entry in** **the wrong** **book may** **prevent the** **judgment from** **becoming a** **lien. Federal** **Land Bank** 

### of**Baltimore v.** **Sustrik, 533** **A.2d 169,** **174 (Pa.** **Super. 1987)** **(quoting Lansdowne** **v. G.** **C. Murphy** **Co., 517** **A.2d 1318,** **1321-22 (Pa.** **Super. 1986)** **(quoting 49** **C.J.S. Judgments,** **§§ 106,** **107 &** **109 n.** **97)). In** **sum, the** **order signed** **by Judge** **Ford entering** **judgment in** **favor of** **Ms. Walker-Chin** **and against** **Mr. Chin** **required an** **additional step** **to reflect** **the 8**  A s b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s , a j u d g m e n t d u l y re n d e re d m a y b e v a l i d a n d e ffe c ti v e , a l t h o u g h n o t e n t e r e d , t h a t i s , t h e n e g l e c t o r fa i l u r e o f t h e c l e r k to m a k e a p ro p e r e n t ry o f t h e j u d g m e n t, o r h i s d e fe c t i v e o r i n a c c u r a t e e n t ry o f i t , a t l e a s t i n t h e a b s e n c e o f s ta t u te to t h e co n t r a ry , w i l l n o t d e p r i v e i t o f t h e fo r c e o f a j u d i c i a l d e c is i o n
. T h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f a j u d g m e n t d oe s n o t d e p e n d o n i ts e n t r y , o r d oc k e t i n g , . . . ; a n d , a s d i sc us se d i n E x e c u t i o n s 

### $ 9 i f t h e j u d g m e n t h a s b ee n d u l y r e n d e re d , a v a li d e x e c u t i o n ge n e r a l l y m a y be i s s u e d a n d l e v i e d , w i t h o u t e i t h e r e n t ry o r d oc k e t i n g o f t h e j u d gm e n t , u n l e s s s p e c i a l l y r e q u i re d b y s t a t u te , I n t h e e n t ry o r re co r d o f a j u d g m e n t , a cl e r i c a l e r r o r , m i s d e sc r i p t i o n , i r r e g u l a r i t y , o m i s s i o n , o r o t h e r d e f e c t n o t go i n g to t h e j u r i s d i ct i o n o f t h e co u rt w i l l n o t v i t i a t e t h e j u d g m e n t o r g i v e i t a n e ffe c t w h i c h i t w o u l d n o t ha v e h a d i f co r r e c t l y e n te re d p r o v i d e d t h e r e i s e n o u g h i n t h e e n t ry o r r e co r d to co n s t i t u te a j u d g m e n t

. As a ge n e r a l r u l e , e n t ry o f a j u d g m e n t m u s t be m a d e i n t h e j u d g m e n t boo k , j o u r na l , o r o t h e r d e s i g n a te d b oo k o f
re co r d , i n a c co rd a n ce w i t h t h e s ta t u t o r y p ro v i s i o ns i n t h a t r e s pe c t. W h e r e t h e c l e r k i s d i re c te d b y la w to k e e p ce r ta i n bo o k s fo r t h e e n t ry o f j u d g m e n ts , o r to r e co r d j u d g m e n ts i n a boo k s p ec i a l l y d e s i g n a te d b y s ta t u t e fo r t h a t p u rpo se , o r to e n t e r d iffe r e n t k i n d s o f j u d g m e n ts o r d e c ree s i n d i ffe r e n t b oo k s , a n d d e v i a t e s f ro m t h e co u r s e p re sc r i b e d , t h e v a l i d i t y a n d o p e r a t i o n o f t h e j u d gm e n t a r e n o t i m p a i re d t h e re b y a s b e t w e e n t h e p a rt i e s , a l t h o u g h i t m a y b e o t h e r w i s e a s to t h i r d p e rso n s w h o a re m i s l e d , o r w h o f a i l t o re ce i v e t h e n o t i ce w h i c h a p ro p e r e n t ry w o u l d h a v e a ffo r d e d t h e m , a n d

. . e n t ry i n t h e w r o n g boo k m a y p re v e n t t h e j u d g m e n t f r o m beco m i n g a l i e n
F e dera l La nd Ba n k o f Ba l t i m o r e v
. S u s t r i k , 5 3 3 A. 2 d 1 6 9 , 1 7 4 ( P a
. S u p e r
. 1 9 8 7 ) ( q u o t i n g La n s do w ne v. 

### G

. C. M u r p h y C o, , 5 I T A. 2 d 1 3 1 8 , 1 3 2 1

- 2 2 ( P a
. S u p e r
. 1 9 86 ) ( q u o t i n g 4 9 C

. J

. S

. J u d g m e n ts , 

### 8$ $ 1 0 6 , 1 0 7 

### & 1 09 n
. 9 7 ) )

. I n s u m , t h e o r d e r s i gn e d b y J u d ge F o r d e n t e r i n g j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n a n d a g a i n s t M r
. C h i n re q u i re d a n a d d i t i o n a l s t e p to r e fl e c t t h e

8 A s b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s , a j u d g m e

n t d u l y re n d e re

d m a y b e v a l i d a n d e ffe c ti v e , a l t h o u g h n o t e n t e r e

d , t h a t i s , t h e n e g l e c t o r fa i l u r e o f t h e c l e r k to m a k e a p ro p e r e n t ry o

f t h e j u d g m e

n t, o r h i s d e

fe c t i v e o r i n a

c c u r a t e e n t ry o f i t , a

t l e a s t i n t h e a

b s e n c e o f s ta t u te to t h e co n t r a

ry , w i l l n o t d e p r i v e i t o f t h e fo r c e o

f a j u d i c i a

l d e c is i o n

. T h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f a j u d g m e

n t d oe s n o t d e p e n d o n i ts e n t r y , o r d oc k e t i n g , . . . ; a

n d , a s d i sc us se d i n E x e c u t i o n s 

### $ 9 i f t h e j u d g m e n t h a s b ee n d u l y r e n d e re d , a v a li d e x e c u t i o n ge n e r a l l y m a y be i s s u e d a n d l e v i e d , w i t h o u t e i t h e r e n t ry o r d oc k e t i n g o f t h e j u d gm

e n t , u n l e s s s p e c i a l l y r e q u i re d b y s t a t u te , I n t h e e n t ry o r re

co r d o f a j u d g m e

n t , a cl e r i c a

l e r r o r , m i s d e sc r i p t i o n , i r r e

g u l a r i t y , o m i s

s i o n , o r o t h e r d e f e c t n o t go i n g to t h e j u r i s

d i ct i o n o f t h e co u rt w i l l n o t v i t i a t e t h e j u d g m e n t o r g i v e i t a

n e ffe c t w h i c h i t w o u l d n o t ha v e h a d i f co r r e c t l y e n te re d p r o v i d e d t h e r e i s e

n o u g h i n t h e e n t ry o r r e co r d to co n s

t i t u te a j u d g m e

n t

. As a ge n e r a l r u l e , e n t ry o f a j u d g m e n t m u s t be m a d e i n t h e j u d g m e

n t boo k , j o u r na l , o r o t h e r d e

s i g n a te d b oo k o f re co r d , i n a

c co rd a n ce w i t h t h e s

ta t u t o r y p ro

v i s i o ns i n t h a

t r e s pe c t. W h e r e t h e c l e r k i s d i re c te d b y la w to k e e p ce r ta i n bo o k s fo r t h e e

n t ry o f j u d g m e n ts

, o r to r e co r d j u d g m e n ts i n a boo

k s p ec i a l l y d e s i g n a te d b y s ta t u t e fo r t h a t p u rpo se , o r to e n t e r d iffe r e

n t k i n d s o f j u d g m e

n ts o r d e c ree s i n d i ffe r e

n t b oo k s , a n d d e v i a t e s f ro m t h e co u r s

e p re sc r i b e d , t h e v a l i d i t y a n d o p e r a

t i o n o f t h e j u d gm

e n t a r e n o t i m p a i re d t h e re b y a s b e t w e e n t h e p a

rt i e s , a l t h o u g h i t m a y b e o t h e r w i s e a s to t h i r d p e rso

n s w h o a re m i s l e d , o r w h o f a i l t o re ce i v e t h e n o t i ce w h i c h a p ro p e r e n t ry w o u l d h a v e a ffo r d e d t h e m , a n d

. . e

n t ry i n t h e w r o n g boo

k m a y p re v e n t t h e j u d g m e

n t f r o m beco

m i n g a l i e n
F e dera l La nd Ba n k o f Ba l t i m o r e v

. S u s t r i k , 5 3 3 A. 2 d 1 6 9 , 1 7 4 ( P

a

. S u p e r

. 1 9 8 7 ) ( q u o t i n g La n s do w ne v. 

### G

. C. M u r p h y C o, , 5 I T A. 2 d 1 3 1 8 , 1 3 2 1

- 2 2 ( P a

. S u p e r

. 1 9 86

) ( q u o t i n g 4 9 C

. J

. S

. J u d g m e n ts , 

### 8$ $ 1 0 6 , 1 0 7 

### & 1 09 n

. 9 7 ) )

. I n s u m , t h e o r d e r s

i gn e d b y J u d ge F o r d e n t e r i n g j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n a

n d a g a i n s t M r

. C h i n re

q u i re d a n a d d i t i o n a l s t e p to r e fl e c t t h e

8**judgment on** **the civil** **judgment index.** **Ms. Walker-Chin** **had to** **transfer the** **judgment to** **the civil** **judgment index.** **Orders entered** **in the** **family court** **division are** **not automatically** **transferred. Ms.** **Walker-Chin took** **the appropriate** **steps to** **transfer the** **judgment, and** **Office of** **Judicial Records** **appropriately accepted** **transfer of** **the judgment.** **In the** **absence of** **these steps,** **the judgment** **would not** **appear on** **any inquiries** **made by** **potential creditors** **or others** **with interest** **in any** **liens or** **encumbrances against** **Mr. Chin.** **In other** **words, the** **purpose and** **priority of** **the judgment** **would be** **negated. Mr.** **Chin does** **not point** **to any** **defect or** **irregularity in** **the record** **of the** **judgment being** **recorded that** **would render** **the judgment** **as invalid** **or leave** **the Office** **of Judicial** **Records without** **the authority** **to enter** **judgment. Thus,** **the Ms.** **Walker-Chin properly** **transferred the** **judgment to** **the civil** **judgment index** **and this** **Court properly** **denied the** **petition to** **strike. D.** **Mr. Chin's** **Other Issues** **Lack Merit** **Mr. Chin** **raises several** **arguments in** **his 1925(b)** **statement which** **are not** **applicable and/or** **for which** **he cites** **no supporting** **authority. As** **an initial** **matter, Mr.** **Chin argues** **that this** **Court lacked** **personal and** **subject matter** **jurisdiction over** **Mr. Chin** **and, presumably,** **the judgment.** **A court** **must have** **jurisdiction over** **a party** **to enter** **judgment against** **him. An** **action taken** **by a** **court without** **jurisdiction is** **a nullity.** **Dubrey v.** **Izaguirre, 685** **A.2d 1391,** **1393 (Pa.** **Super. 1996).** **9**

j u d g m e n t o n t h e c i v i l j u d g m e n t i n d e x
. M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n h a d to t r a n s f e r t h e j u d g m e n t to t h e c i v i l j u d g m e n t i n d e x
. O rd e r s e n t e re d i n t h e f a m i l y co u r t d i v i s i o n

a re n o t a u to m a t i ca l l y t r a n s f e r r e d

. M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n too k t h e a p p ro p r i a te s te p s t o

t r a n s fe r t h e j u d g m e n t , a n d O ffi c e o f J u d i ci a l R e co rd s a p p ro p r i a t e l y a cce p te d

t r a n s fe r o f t h e j u d g m e n t. I n t h e a b se n ce o f t h e se s te p s , t h e j u d g m e n t w o u l d n o t

a p p e a r o n a ny i n q u i ri e s m a d e b y p o t e n t i a l c re d i to rs o r o t h e rs w i t h i n t e re s t i n a n y l i e n s o r e n c u m b r a n ce s a g a i n s t M r
. C h i n
. I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e p u rp o se a n d p r i o r i t y

o f t h e j u d g m e n t w o u l d be n e g a te d

. M r
. C h i n d oe s n o t p o in t to a n y d e fe c t o r i r re g u l a r i ty i n t h e re co r d o f t h e j u d g m e n t b e in g re co rd e d t h a t w o u l d re n d e r t h e j u d g m e n t a s i n v a l i d o r l e a v e t h e
O ffi ce o f J u d i c i a l Re co r d s w i t h o u t t h e a u t h o r i t y t o e n te r j u d g m e n t

. T h u s , t h e M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n p r o p e r l y t r a n s fe r re d t h e j u d g m e n t to t h e c i v il j u d gm e n t i n d e x a n d t h i s
Co u r t p ro pe r l y d e n i e d t h e p e ti t i o n to s t r i k e
.
D

. M r
. C h i n ' s O t h e r I s s u e s L a c k M e r i t
M r
. C h i n r a i s e s s e v e r a l a r gu m e n ts i n h is 1 9 2 5 ( ) s t a te m e n t w h i c h a re n o t

a p p l i ca b l e a n d/ o r fo r w h i c h h e c i t e s n o s u p p o r t i n g a u t h o r i t y
. As a n i n i t i a l m a t te r , M r
. C h i n a r gu e s t h a t t h is Co u r t l a c k e d p e r so n a l a n d

s u b j e c t m a t t e r j u r is d i c t i o n o v e r M r
. C h i n a n d , p r e s u m a b l y, t h e j u d g m e n t

. A c o u r t

m u s t ha v e j u r i sd i c t i o n o v e r a p a rt y to e n te r j u d g m e n t a g a i n s t h i m
. A n a c t i o n t a k e n
b y a co u r t w i t h o u t j u r i s d i c t i o n is a n u l l i t y
. 

### D u b r e y v
. I za g u i r re , 

### 6 8 5 A

. 2 d 1 3 9 1 , 1 3 9 3 

### ( P a
. S u pe r
. 1 99 6 )

.

9 j u d g m e n t o n t h e c i v i l j u d g m e

n t i n d e x

. M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n h a

d to t r a n s f e r t h e j u d g m e n t to t h e c i v i l j u d g m e

n t i n d e x

. O rd e r s e n t e re

d i n t h e f a

m i l y co u r t d i v i s

i o n

a re n o t a u to m a t i ca l l y t r a n s f e r r e d

. M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n too

k t h e a p p ro p r i a te s te p s t o
t r a n s fe r t h e j u d g m e

n t , a n d O ffi c e o f J u d i ci a l R e co rd s a p p ro p r i a t e l y a cce p te d
t r a n s fe r o f t h e j u d g m e

n t. I n t h e a

b se n ce o f t h e se s te p s , t h e j u d g m e

n t w o u l d n o

t

a p p e a r o n a ny i n q u i ri e

s m a d e b y p o t e n t i a l c re d i to rs o r o t h e rs w i t h i n t e re s t i n a n y l i e n s o r e n c u m b r a

n ce s a g a i n s t M r

. C h i n

. I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e p u rp o se a

n d p r i o r i t y

o f t h e j u d g m e n t w o u l d be n e g a te d

. M r

. C h i n d oe

s n o t p o in t to a n y d e

fe c t o r i r re g u l a r i ty i n t h e re

co r d o f t h e j u d g m e n t b e in g re co rd e d t h a t w o u l d re n d e r t h e j u d g m e n t a s i n v a l i d o r l e a v e t h e O ffi ce o f J u d i c i a

l Re co r d s w i t h o u t t h e a

u t h o r i t y t o e n te r j u d g m e n t

. T h u s

, t h e M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n p r o p e r l y t r a

n s fe r re d t h e j u d g m e n t to t h e c i v il j u d gm e n t i n d e x a n d t h i s Co u r t p ro pe

r l y d e n i e d t h e p e ti t i o n to s

t r i k e

.
D

. M r

. C h i n ' s O t h e r I s s u e s L a c k M e r i t
M r

. C h i n r a

i s e s s e v e r a l a r gu m e n ts i n h is 1 9 2 5 ( ) s t a te m e n t w h i c h a

re n o t

a p p l i ca b l e a n d/ o r fo r w h i c h h e c i t e

s n o s u p p o r t i n g a

u t h o r i t y

. As a n i n i t i a l m a t te r , M r

. C h i n a r gu e

s t h a t t h is Co u r t l a

c k e d p e r so n a l a n d

s u b j e c t m a t t e r j u r is d i c

t i o n o v e r M r

. C h i n a

n d , p r e s u m a b l y, t h e j u d g m e

n t

. A c o u r t

m u s t ha v e j u r i sd i c t i o n o v e r a p a rt y to e n te r j u d g m e

n t a g a i n s t h i m

. A n a

c t i o n t a k e n b y a co u r t w i t h o u t j u r i s

d i c t i o n is a n u l l i t y

. 

### D u b r e y v

. I za g u i r re , 

### 6 8 5 A

. 2 d 1 3 9 1 , 1 3 9 3 

### ( P a

. S u pe r

. 1 99 6 )

.

9**The jurisdictional** **arguments make** **little sense** **in context.** **Mr. Chin** **availed himself** **of the** **Philadelphia Court** **of Common** **Pleas when** **he initiated** **proceedings in** **this court's** **family division** **in March** **2007. He** **is the** **named plaintiff.** **When Ms.** **Walker-Chin transferred** **the judgment** **from the** **family division** **to the** **civil judgment** **index, she** **never "left"** **the Philadelphia** **Court of** **Common Pleas.** **She simply** **reduced Judge** **Ford's order** **entering judgment** **to the** **only civil** **judgment index** **maintained in** **Philadelphia. At** **all times,** **the Philadelphia** **Court of** **Common Pleas,** **whether through** **Judge Ford** **or this** **Court, had** **jurisdiction over** **Mr. Chin.** **And the** **Family Court** **will continue** **to have** **jurisdiction over** **Mr. Chin** **in the** **domestic relations** **case. Thus,** **this Court** **concluded that** **it had** **jurisdiction over** **both Mr.** **Chin and** **the judgment.** **Mr. Chin** **also argues** **that Ms.** **Walker-Chin violated** **Family Division** **Administrative Regulation** **97-1 because** **she filed** **documents ordinarily** **maintained under** **seal in** **the family** **court to** **the civil** **dockets. It** **is this** **Court's view** **that any** **enforcement of** **any alleged** **violation of** **the family** **division's administrative** **regulation —** **and this** **Court does** **not offer** **a view** **one way** **or another** **— lies** **with the** **family division.** **Mr. Chin** **could seek** **the appropriate** **remedy with** **Judge Ford.** **Whether or** **not Ms.** **Walker-Chin violated** **the regulation** **by transferring** **the judgment** **to the** **civil judgment** **index, however,** **was not** **a basis** **for this** **Court to** **strike the** **judgment. Finally,** **Mr. Chin** **argues, without** **citing any** **facts or** **legal authority,** **that this** **Court improperly** **considered Ms.** **Walker-Chin's equitable** **arguments and/or** **facts 10** 

Th e j u r i s d i c t i o n a l a r gu m e n t s m a k e l i t tl e se n s e i n co n te x t

. M r
. C h i n a v a il e d
h i m s e lf o f t h e P h i l a d e l p h i a Co u r t o f Co m m o n P l e a s w h e n h e i n i t i a t e d p roce e d i n g s 

### in t h i s co u rt' s fa m i l y d i v i s i o n i n M a rc h 2 0 0 7

. H e i s t h e n a m e d p l a i n t i ff

. W h e n M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n t r a n s fe r r e d t h e j u d g m e n t fr o m t h e fa m i l y d i v is i o n t o t h e c i v i l j u d gm e n t i n d e x , s h e n e v e r " l e ft" t h e P h i l a d e l p h i a Co u r t o f Co m m o n P l e a s
. S h e

s i m p l y r e d u c e d J u d ge F o r d ' s o r d e r e n te r i n g j u d g m e n t to t h e o n l y c i v i l j u d gm e n t
i n d e x m a i n t a i n e d i n P h i l a d e l p h i a
. A t a l l t i m e s , t h e P hi l a d e l p h i a C o u rt o f C o m m o n
P l e a s, w h e t h e r t h ro u g h J u d g e F o r d o r t h i s Co u rt , h a d j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r M r. C h i n
. A n d t h e F a m il y C o u rt w i ll c o n t i n u e t o h a v e j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r M r
. C h i n i n t h e
d o m e s t i c r e l a t i o n s c a se
. T h u s , t h i s C o u rt co n c l u d e d t h a t i t h a d j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r bo t h M r
. C h i n a n d t h e j u d g m e n t

. M r
. C h i n a ls o a r g u e s t h a t M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n v i o l a te d F a m il y D i v i s i o n
A d m i n i s tr a t i v e R e gu l a t i o n 9 7

- 1 be ca u se s h e fi l e d d oc u m e n ts o r d i n a ri l y m a i n t a i n e d

u n d e r se a l i n t h e fa m i l y co u r t to t h e c i v i l d oc k e ts

. I t i s t h is C o u rt' s v i e w t h a t a n y

e n fo rce m e n t o f a n y a l l e g e d v i o la ti o n o f t h e f a m i l y d i v i s i o n ' s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

r e gu l a ti o n -- a n d t h i s Co u r t d oe s n o t o ffe r a v i e w o n e w a y o r a n o t h e r -- l i e s w i t h t h e
fa m i l y d i v i s i o n
. M r
. C h i n co u l d se e k t h e a p p ro p r i a t e re m e d y w i t h J u d g e F o r d

. W h e t h e r o r n o t M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n v i o l a te d t h e r e gu l a t i o n b y t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e j u d g m e n t to t h e c i v il j u d gm e n t i n d e x , h o w e v e r , w a s n o t a b a s is fo r t h is C o u rt t o

s t ri k e t h e j u d g m e n t

. F i n a l l y , M r
. C h i n a rgu e s , w i t h o u t c i t i n g a n y fa c ts o r l e g a l a u t h o r i t y , t h a t t h i s
Co u rt i m p ro p e r l y co n s i d e re d M s
. W a l k e r
- C h i n ' s e q u i ta b l e a r gu m e n ts a n d/ o r f a c ts

10 Th e j u r i s d i c t i o n a l a r gu m e n t s m a

k e l i t tl e se

n s e i n co n te

x t

. M r

. C h i n a

v a il e d
h i m s e lf o f t h e P h i l a

d e l p h i a Co u r t o

f Co m m o n P l e

a s w h e n h e i n i t i a

t e d p roce e d i n g s 

### in t h i s co u rt' s fa m i l y d i v i s i o n i n M a

rc h 2 0 0 7

. H e i s t h e n a

m e d p l a i n t i ff

. W h e

n M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n t r a

n s fe r r e d t h e j u d g m e n t fr o m t h e fa m i l y d i v is i o n t o t h e c i v i l j u d gm e n t i n d e x , s h e n e v e r " l e ft" t h e P h i l a

d e l p h i a Co u r t o

f Co m m o n P l e

a s

. S h e

s i m p l y r e d u c e d J u d ge F o r d ' s o r d e r e n te r i n g j u d g m e n t to t h e o n l y c i v i l j u d gm e n t
i n d e x m a i n t a i n e d i n P h i l a

d e l p h i a

. A t a l l t i m e s , t h e P hi l a

d e l p h i a C o u rt o f C o m m o n
P l e a s, w h e t h e r t h ro u g h J u d g e F o r d o r t h i s Co u rt , h a d j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r M r. C h i n

. A n d t h e F a

m il y C o u rt w i ll c

o n t i n u e t o h a

v e j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r M r

. C h i n i n t h e d o m e s t i c r e l a t i o n s c a se

. T h u s , t h i s C o u rt co

n c l u d e d t h a t i t h a d j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r bo t h M r

. C h i n a

n d t h e j u d g m e

n t

. M r

. C h i n a

ls o a r g u e

s t h a t M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n v i o l a

te d F a m il y D i v i s i o n
A d m i n i s tr a t i v e R e gu l a t i o n 9 7

- 1 be

ca u se s h e fi l e

d d oc u m e n ts o r d i n a

ri l y m a i n t a i n e d

u n d e r se a l i n t h e fa m i l y co u r t to t h e c i v i l d oc k e ts

. I t i s t h is C o u rt' s v i e

w t h a t a n y

e n fo rce m e n t o f a n y a l l e g e d v i o la ti o n o f t h e f a

m i l y d i v i s i o n ' s a

d m i n i s t r a t i v e

r e gu l a ti o n -- a n d t h i s Co u r t d oe s n o t o ffe r a v i e w o n e w a

y o r a n o t h e r -- l i e

s w i t h t h e fa m i l y d i v i s

i o n

. M r

. C h i n co u l d se

e k t h e a p p ro p r i a t e re m e d y w i t h J u d g e F o r d

. W h e t h e r o r n o

t M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n v i o l a

te d t h e r e gu l a t i o n b y t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e j u d g m e n t to t h e c i v il j u d gm e n t i n d e x , h o w e v e r , w a s n o t a b a s is fo r t h is C o u rt t o

s t ri k e t h e j u d g m e

n t

. F i n a l l y , M r

. C h i n a rgu

e s , w i t h o u t c i t i n g a

n y fa c ts o r l e g a l a u t h o r i t y , t h a

t t h i s Co u rt i m p ro p e r l y co n s

i d e re d M s

. W a l k e r - C h i n ' s e

q u i ta b l e a r gu m e

n ts a n d/ o r f a c ts

10**outside the** **face of** **the record.** **Because Mr.** **Chin does** **not provide** **any support** **for these** **arguments in** **his 1925(b)** **statement, this** **Court is** **unable to** **address them.** **In any** **event, in** **considering the** **petition to** **strike, this** **Court only** **considered the** **face of** **the judgment** **itself, as** **filed on** **the civil** **docket. Thus,** **none of** **the other** **arguments raised** **by Mr.** **Chin have** **merit. E.** **Conclusion For** **the foregoing** **reasons, this** **Court respectfully** **submits that** **its Order** **denying the** **Petition to** **Strike was** **not an** **abuse of** **discretion and** **was an** **appropriate exercise** **of judicial** **discretion. The** **Superior Court** **should affirm** **this Court's** **Order denying** **the Petition** **to Strike.** **BY THE** **COURT: Josh** **a Roberts,** **J. Dated:** **June 3,** **2021 11** 



### o u ts i d e t h e fa c e o f t h e rec o r d

. Be c a u s e M r

. 

### C h i n d oe s n o t p ro v i d e a n y s u p p o r t fo r

t h e se a r g u m e n t s i n 

### h is 1 9 2 5 (b ) 

### s t a t e m e n t, t h is C o u r t is u n a b l e to 

### a d d re s s t h e m
. I n

a n y e v e n t , i n co n s i d e r i n g t h e p e t i t i o n to 

### s t r i k e , t h is C o u r t o n l y co n s i d e r e d t h e f a c e

o f t h e j u d g m e n t i ts e l f, a s fi l e d o n t h e c i v i l d oc k e t

. Th u s , n o n e o f t h e o t h e r a r gu m e n ts r a is e d b y M r
. C h i n h a v e m e r i t

E

. C o n cl u s i o n
F o r t h e fo r e g o i n g re a so n s , t h i s Co u r t re s p e c tfu l l y s u b m i t s t h a t i ts O r d e r d e n y i n g t h e P e t i t i o n to 

### S t r i k e w a s n o t a n a b u se o f d is cre t i o n a n d w a s a n

a p p ro p ri a t e e x e r c is e o f j u d i c i a l d i sc re t i o n
. T h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t s h o u l d a ffi r m t h is
C o u r t' s O r d e r d e n y i n g t h e P e t i t i o n 

### to S t ri k e
.



### B Y T H E C O U R T :

J os h u Ro b e r t s , J

. D a te d : J u n e 3 , 2 0 2 1

II 

### o u ts i d e t h e fa c

e o f t h e rec o r d

. Be c a u s e M r

. 

### C h i n d oe

s n o t p ro v i d e a n y s u p p o r t fo r
t h e se a r g u m e

n t s i n 

### h is 1 9 2 5 (b ) 

### s

t a t e m e n t, t h is C o u r t is u n a b l e to 

### a d d re s s t h e m

. I n

a n y e v e n t , i n co n s

i d e r i n g t h e p e

t i t i o n to 

### s

t r i k e , t h is C o u r t o n l y co n s i d e r e d t h e f a c e

o f t h e j u d g m e

n t i ts e l f, a s fi l e d o n t h e c i v i l d oc

k e t

. Th u s , n o n e o f t h e o t h e r a r gu m e n ts r a is e d b y M r

. C h i n h a

v e m e r i t

E

. C o n cl u s

i o n
F o r t h e fo r e

g o i n g re a so n s , t h i s Co u r t re

s p e c tfu l l y s u b m i t s t h a

t i ts O r d e r d e n y i n g t h e P

e t i t i o n to 

### S

t r i k e w a s n o t a n a b u se o f d is cre

t i o n a n d w a s a n

a p p ro p ri a t e e x e r c is e o f j u d i c i a

l d i sc re t i o n

. T h e S u p e r i o r C o u r t s h o u l d a ffi r m t h is C o u r t' s O r d e r d e

n y i n g t h e P

e t i t i o n 

### to S

t ri k e

.



### B Y T H E C O U R

T :

J os h u Ro b e r t s , J

. D a te d : J u n e 3 , 2 0 2 1

II