Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 4(a)

                               STATE OF DELAWARE
                       CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

o        The Undersigned, desiring to form a limited partnership pursuant to the
         Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, 6 Delaware Code,
         Chapter 17, do hereby certify as follows:

o        First: The name of the limited partnership is
                       Atlas America Public #12-2003 Limited Partnership

o        Second: The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware
         is
                       110 S. POPLAR STREET, SUITE 101  in the city of
                       WILMINGTON, DE  19801

         The name of the Registered Agent at such address is ANDREW M. LUBIN

o        Third: The name and mailing address of each general partner is as
         follows:

                       ATLAS RESOURCES, INC.
                       MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER
                       311 ROUSER ROAD, P. O. BOX 611
                       MOON TOWNSHIP, PA  15108

o        In Witness Whereof, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of
         Limited Partnership of Atlas America Public #12-2003 Limited
         Partnership as of July 10, 2003.

                                    Partnership Name
                                    By:  ATLAS RESOURCES, INC.
                                         MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER

                                    /s/    Frank P. Carolas
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    Frank P. Carolas, Executive Vice President

      State of Delaware
      Secretary of State
   Division of Corporations
Delivered 12:30 PM 07/15/2003
  FILED 12:30 PM 07/15/2003
SRV 030464391 - 3681735 FILE<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10(a)

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

                ATLAS AMERICA PUBLIC #12-2003 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10(a)

                ATLAS AMERICA PUBLIC #12-2003 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                ESCROW AGREEMENT

       THIS AGREEMENT is made to be effective as of ________________, by and
among Atlas Resources, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Managing General
Partner"), Anthem Securities, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation ("Anthem"), Bryan
Funding, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation ("Bryan Funding"), collectively Anthem
and Bryan Funding are referred to as the "Dealer-Manager," Atlas America Public
#12-2003 Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Partnership")
and National City Bank of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as escrow
agent (the "Escrow Agent").

                                   WITNESSETH:

       WHEREAS, the Managing General Partner intends to offer publicly for sale
to qualified investors (the "Investors") up to 7,500 limited and investor
general partner interests in the Partnership (the "Units").

       WHEREAS, each Investor will be required to pay his subscription in full
on subscribing by check or wire (the "Subscription Proceeds").

       WHEREAS, the cost per Unit will be $10,000 subject to certain discounts
of up to10.5% ($1,050 per Unit) for sales to the Managing General Partner, its
officers, directors and affiliates, registered investment advisors and their
clients, Selling Agents and their registered representatives and principals, and
investors who buy Units through the officers and directors of the Managing
General Partner. Also, the Managing General Partner, in its discretion, may
accept one-half Unit ($5,000) subscriptions, with larger subscriptions permitted
in $1,000 increments.

       WHEREAS, the Managing General Partner and Anthem have executed an
agreement ("Anthem Dealer-Manager Agreement") under which Anthem will solicit
subscriptions for Units in all states other than Minnesota and New Hampshire on
a "best efforts" "all or none" basis for Subscription Proceeds of $1,000,000 and
on a "best efforts" basis for the remaining Units on behalf of the Managing
General Partner and the Partnership and under which Anthem has been authorized
to select certain members in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") to participate in the offering of the Units
("Selling Agents").

       WHEREAS, the Managing General Partner and Bryan Funding have executed an
agreement ("Bryan Funding Dealer-Manager Agreement") under which Bryan Funding
will solicit subscriptions for Units in the states of Minnesota and New
Hampshire on a "best efforts" "all or none" basis for Subscription Proceeds of
$1,000,000 and on a "best efforts" basis for the remaining Units on behalf of
the Managing General Partner and the Partnership and under which Bryan Funding
has been authorized to select certain members in good standing of the NASD to
participate in the offering of the Units ("Selling Agents").

       WHEREAS, the Anthem Dealer-Manager Agreement and the Bryan Funding
Dealer-Manager Agreement, collectively referred to as the "Dealer-Manager
Agreement," provide for compensation to the Dealer-Manager to participate in the
offering of the Units, subject to the discounts set forth above for certain
Investors, which compensation includes, but is not limited to, for each Unit
sold:

       o      a 2.5% Dealer-Manager fee;

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       o      a 7% sales commission;

       o      a .5% accountable marketing expenses fee; and

       o      a .5% reimbursement of the Selling Agents' bona fide accountable
              due diligence expenses;

all or a portion of which will be reallowed to the Selling Agents and
wholesalers.

       WHEREAS, under the terms of the Dealer-Manager Agreement the Subscription
Proceeds are required to be held in escrow subject to the receipt and acceptance
by the Managing General Partner of the minimum Subscription Proceeds of
$1,000,000, excluding any optional subscription by the Managing General Partner,
its officers, directors, and Affiliates.

       WHEREAS, the Units may also be offered and sold by the officers and
directors of the Managing General Partner without receiving a sales commission
or other compensation on their sales.

       WHEREAS, no subscriptions to the Partnership will be accepted after the
"Offering Termination Date," which is the first to occur of either:

       o      receipt of the maximum Subscription Proceeds of $75,000,000; or

       o      December 31, 2003.

       WHEREAS, to facilitate compliance with the terms of the Dealer-Manager
Agreement and Rule 15c2-4 adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Managing General Partner and the Dealer-Manager desire to have the Subscription
Proceeds deposited with the Escrow Agent and the Escrow Agent agrees to hold the
Subscription Proceeds under the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions
contained in this Agreement, the parties to this Agreement, intending to be
legally bound, agree as follows:

1.     Appointment of Escrow Agent. The Managing General Partner, the
       Partnership, and the Dealer-Manager appoint the Escrow Agent as the
       escrow agent to receive and to hold the Subscription Proceeds deposited
       with the Escrow Agent by the Dealer-Manager and the Managing General
       Partner under this Agreement, and the Escrow Agent agrees to serve in
       this capacity during the term and based on the provisions of this
       Agreement.

2.     Deposit of Subscription Proceeds. Pending receipt of the minimum
       Subscription Proceeds of $1,000,000, the Dealer-Manager and the Managing
       General Partner shall deposit the Subscription Proceeds of each Investor
       to whom they sell Units with the Escrow Agent and shall deliver to the
       Escrow Agent a copy of the "Subscription Agreement," which is the
       execution and subscription instrument signed by the Investor to evidence
       his agreement to purchase Units in the Partnership. Payment for each
       subscription for Units shall be in the form of a check or wire made
       payable to "Atlas America Public #12-2003 Limited Partnership, Escrow
       Agent, National City Bank of Pennsylvania."

3.     Investment of Subscription Proceeds. The Subscription Proceeds shall be
       deposited in an interest bearing account maintained by the Escrow Agent
       as directed by the Managing General Partner. This may be a savings
       account, bank money market account, short-term certificates of deposit
       issued by a bank, or short-term certificates issued or guaranteed by the
       United States

Escrow Agreement                       2

<PAGE>

       government. The interest earned shall be added to the Subscription
       Proceeds and disbursed in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 4
       or 5 of this Agreement, as the case may be.

4.     Distribution of Subscription Proceeds. If the Escrow Agent:

       (a)    receives proper written notice from an authorized officer of the
              Managing General Partner that at least the minimum Subscription
              Proceeds of $1,000,000 have been received and accepted by the
              Managing General Partner; and

       (b)    determines that Subscription Proceeds for at least $1,000,000 have
              been deposited, accepted and cleared the banking system and are
              good;

       then the Escrow Agent shall promptly release and distribute to the
       Managing General Partner the escrowed Subscription Proceeds which have
       cleared the banking system and are good plus any interest paid and
       investment income earned on the Subscription Proceeds while held by the
       Escrow Agent in the escrow account.

       After the initial distribution, any remaining Subscription Proceeds, plus
       any interest paid and investment income earned on the Subscription
       Proceeds while held by the Escrow Agent in the escrow account, shall be
       promptly released and distributed to the Managing General Partner by the
       Escrow Agent as the Subscription Proceeds clear the banking system after
       a 10 day period from the date of deposit.

5.     Separate Partnership Account. During the continuation of the offering
       after the Partnership is funded with cleared Subscription Proceeds of at
       least $1,000,000 and the Escrow Agent receives the notice described in
       Paragraph 4 of this Agreement, and before the Offering Termination Date,
       any additional Subscription Proceeds may be deposited by the
       Dealer-Manager and the Managing General Partner directly in a separate
       Partnership account which shall not be subject to the terms of this
       Agreement.

6.     Distributions to Subscribers.

       (a)    If the Partnership is not funded as contemplated because less than
              the minimum Subscription Proceeds of $1,000,000 have been received
              and accepted by the Managing General Partner by twelve (12:00)
              p.m. (noon), local time, EASTERN STANDARD TIME on the Offering
              Termination Date, or for any other reason, then the Managing
              General Partner shall notify the Escrow Agent, and the Escrow
              Agent promptly shall distribute to each Investor, for which Escrow
              Agent has a copy of a Subscription Agreement, a refund check made
              payable to the Investor in an amount equal to the Subscription
              Proceeds of the Investor, plus any interest paid or investment
              income earned on the Investor's Subscription Proceeds while held
              by the Escrow Agent in the escrow account.

       (b)    If a subscription for Units submitted by an Investor is rejected
              by the Managing General Partner for any reason after the
              Subscription Proceeds relating to the subscription have been
              deposited with the Escrow Agent, then the Managing General Partner
              promptly shall notify in writing, the Escrow Agent of the
              rejection, and the Escrow Agent shall promptly distribute to the
              Investor a refund check made payable to the Investor, for which
              Escrow Agent has a copy of a Subscription Agreement, in an amount
              equal to the Subscription Proceeds of the Investor, plus any
              interest paid or investment income earned on the Investor's
              Subscription Proceeds while held by the Escrow Agent in the escrow
              account.

Escrow Agreement                       3
<PAGE>

7.     Compensation and Expenses of Escrow Agent. The Managing General Partner
       shall be solely responsible for and shall pay the compensation of the
       Escrow Agent for its services under this Agreement, as provided in
       Appendix 1 to this Agreement and made a part of this Agreement, and the
       charges, expenses (including any reasonable attorneys' fees), and other
       out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Escrow Agent in connection with
       the administration of the provisions of this Agreement. The Escrow Agent
       shall have no lien on the Subscription Proceeds deposited in the escrow
       account unless and until the Partnership is funded with cleared
       Subscription Proceeds of at least $1,000,000 and the Escrow Agent
       receives the proper written notice described in Paragraph 4 of this
       Agreement, at which time the Escrow Agent shall have, and is granted, a
       prior lien on any property, cash, or assets held under this Agreement,
       with respect to its unpaid compensation and nonreimbursed expenses,
       superior to the interests of any other persons or entities.

8.     Duties of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall not be obligated to accept
       any notice, make any delivery, or take any other action under this
       Agreement unless the notice or request or demand for delivery or other
       action is in writing and given or made by the Managing General Partner or
       an authorized officer of the Managing General Partner. In no event shall
       the Escrow Agent be obligated to accept any notice, request, or demand
       from anyone other than the Managing General Partner.

9.     Liability of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any
       damages, or have any obligations other than the duties prescribed in this
       Agreement in carrying out or executing the purposes and intent of this
       Agreement. However, nothing in this Agreement shall relieve the Escrow
       Agent from liability arising out of its own willful misconduct or gross
       negligence. The Escrow Agent's duties and obligations under this
       Agreement shall be entirely administrative and not discretionary. The
       Escrow Agent shall not be liable to any party to this Agreement or to any
       third-party as a result of any action or omission taken or made by the
       Escrow Agent in good faith. The parties to this Agreement will jointly
       and severally indemnify the Escrow Agent, hold the Escrow Agent harmless,
       and reimburse the Escrow Agent from, against and for, any and all
       liabilities, costs, fees and expenses (including reasonable attorney's
       fees) the Escrow Agent may suffer or incur by reason of its execution and
       performance of this Agreement. If any legal questions arise concerning
       the Escrow Agent's duties and obligations under this Agreement, then the
       Escrow Agent may consult with its counsel and rely without liability on
       written opinions given to it by its counsel.

       The Escrow Agent shall be protected in acting on any written notice,
       request, waiver, consent, authorization, or other paper or document which
       the Escrow Agent, in good faith, believes to be genuine and what it
       purports to be.

       If there is any disagreement between any of the parties to this
       Agreement, or between them or any other person, resulting in adverse
       claims or demands being made in connection with this Agreement, or if the
       Escrow Agent, in good faith, is in doubt as to what action it should take
       under this Agreement, then the Escrow Agent may, at its option, refuse to
       comply with any claims or demands on it or refuse to take any other
       action under this Agreement, so long as the disagreement continues or the
       doubt exists. In any such event, the Escrow Agent shall not be or become
       liable in any way or to any person for its failure or refusal to act and
       the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to continue to so refrain from acting
       until the dispute is resolved by the parties involved.

       National City Bank of Pennsylvania is acting solely as the Escrow Agent
       and is not a party to, nor has it reviewed or approved any agreement or
       matter of background related to this Agreement, other than this Agreement
       itself, and has assumed, without investigation, the authority of the
       individuals executing this Agreement to be so authorized on behalf of the
       party or parties involved.

Escrow Agreement                       4
<PAGE>

10.    Resignation or Removal of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent may resign as
       such after giving thirty days' prior written notice to the other parties
       to this Agreement. Similarly, the Escrow Agent may be removed and
       replaced after receiving thirty days' prior written notice from the other
       parties to this Agreement. In either event, the duties of the Escrow
       Agent shall terminate thirty days after the date of the notice (or as of
       an earlier date as may be mutually agreeable); and the Escrow Agent shall
       then deliver the balance of the Subscription Proceeds (and any interest
       paid or investment income earned thereon while held by the Escrow Agent
       in the escrow account) in its possession to a successor escrow agent
       appointed by the other parties to this Agreement as evidenced by a
       written notice filed with the Escrow Agent.

       If the other parties to this Agreement are unable to agree on a successor
       escrow agent or fail to appoint a successor escrow agent before the
       expiration of thirty days following the date of the notice of the Escrow
       Agent's resignation or removal, then the Escrow Agent may petition any
       court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor escrow
       agent or other appropriate relief. Any resulting appointment shall be
       binding on all of the parties to this Agreement.

       On acknowledgment by any successor escrow agent of the receipt of the
       then remaining balance of the Subscription Proceeds (and any interest
       paid or investment income earned thereon while held by the Escrow Agent
       in the escrow account), the Escrow Agent shall be fully released and
       relieved of all duties, responsibilities, and obligations under this
       Agreement.

11.    Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and the Escrow Agent shall
       have no further obligation with respect to this Agreement after the
       distribution of all Subscription Proceeds (and any interest paid or
       investment income earned thereon while held by the Escrow Agent in the
       escrow account) as contemplated by this Agreement or on the written
       consent of all the parties to this Agreement.

12.    Notice. Any notices or instructions, or both, to be given under this
       Agreement shall be validly given if set forth in writing and mailed by
       certified mail, return receipt requested, or by facsimile with
       confirmation of receipt (originals to be followed in the mail), or by a
       nationally recognized overnight courier, as follows:

       If to the Escrow Agent:

                  National City Bank
                  1900 East 9th Street
                  Cleveland, Ohio 44114

                  Attention:  Dawn DeWerth LOC 2111

                  Phone: (216) 222-9225
                  Facsimile: (216) 222-7044

Escrow Agreement                       5
<PAGE>

       If to the Managing General Partner:

                  Atlas Resources, Inc.
                  311 Rouser Road
                  P.O. Box 611
                  Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108

                  Attention:  Karen A. Black

                  Phone: (412) 262-2830
                  Facsimile: (412) 262-2820

       If to Anthem:

                  Anthem Securities, Inc.
                  311 Rouser Road
                  P.O. Box 926
                  Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108

                  Attention:  Justin T. Atkinson

                  Phone: (412) 262-1680
                  Facsimile: (412) 262-7430

         If to Bryan Funding:

                  Bryan Funding, Inc.
                  393 Vanadium Road
                  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15243

                  Attention:  Richard G. Bryan, Jr.

                  Phone: (412) 276-9393
                  Facsimile: (412) 276-9396

       Any party may designate any other address to which notices and
instructions shall be sent by notice duly given in accordance with this
Agreement.

13.    Miscellaneous.

       (a)    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
              with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

       (b)    This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit
              of the undersigned and their respective successors and assigns.

       (c)    This Agreement may be executed in multiple copies, each executed
              copy to serve as an original.

Escrow Agreement                       6
<PAGE>

14.    The parties hereto and subscribers acknowledge Escrow Agent has not
       reviewed and is not making any recommendations with respect to the
       securities offered.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be
effective as of the day and year first above written.

                               NATIONAL CITY BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA
                               As Escrow Agent

                               By:
                                   -----------------------------------------
                                   (Authorized Officer)

                               ATLAS RESOURCES, INC.
                               A Pennsylvania corporation

                               By:
                                   -----------------------------------------
                                   Karen A. Black, Vice President -
                                   Partnership Administration

                              ANTHEM SECURITIES, INC.
                              A Pennsylvania corporation

                              By:
                                   -----------------------------------------
                                   Justin T. Atkinson, Vice President

                              BRYAN FUNDING, INC.
                              A Pennsylvania corporation

                              By:
                                   -----------------------------------------
                                   Richard G. Bryan, Jr., President

                              ATLAS AMERICA PUBLIC #12-2003 LIMITED
                              PARTNERSHIP

                              By:  ATLAS RESOURCES, INC.
                                   Managing General Partner

                              By:
                                   -----------------------------------------
                                   Jack L. Hollander, Senior Vice
                                   President - Direct Participation Programs

Escrow Agreement                       7

<PAGE>

                         APPENDIX I TO ESCROW AGREEMENT

                    Compensation for Services of Escrow Agent

REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE FEE:                                          $   waived

For providing initial review of the Escrow Agreement and all supporting
documents and for initial services associated with establishing the Escrow
Account. This is a one (1) time fee payable upon the opening of the account.

I.       Annual Administrative Fee Payable in Advance                  $3000.00
         (or any portion thereof)

II.      Remittance of checks returned to subscribers                  20.00
         (set out in section 6 of the governing agreement)

III.     Wire transfers                                                n/a

IV.      Purchase or Sale of Securities                                100.00

V.       Investments (document limits investment to a checking or
         savings account, or certificates of deposit) such products
         offered by any National City Bank retail branch)- fees are
         subject to the type of account the Managing General Partner
         directs the Escrow Agent to open and to be governed by the
         Escrow Agreement.

EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES:

For any services other than those covered by the aforementioned, a special per
hour charge will be made commensurate with the character of the service, time
required and responsibility involved. Such services include but are not limited
to excessive administrative time, attendance at closings, specialized reports,
and record keeping, unusual certifications, etc.

Managing General Partner agrees to report all funds in accordance with
appropriate tax treatment.

FEE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO ANNUAL REVIEW AND/or ADJUSTMENT UPON AMENDMENT
THERETO.

Escrow Agreement                       8

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