Opinion ID: 4557075
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Proposed Changes

Text: The Committee recommended the following Rules changes: Rule 501: A definition of “victim of domestic violence” was added to Rule 501, as well as a reference in the note to 68 P.S. § 250.513. 2 Rule 514: A provision was added to Rule 514D to require the magisterial district judge to provide notice of the 30-day appeal period for domestic violence victims on the written notice of judgment, as well as instructions for properly making such an appeal. Rule 514.1: This is an entirely new Rule. It provides that a tenant in a residential lease action who is a victim of domestic violence may file a verified domestic violence affidavit with the magisterial district court to stay the execution of an order for possession. New Rule 514.1 also sets forth service requirements and establishes that the domestic violence affidavit is not a public record and is not accessible to the public. The Note describes the contents of the domestic violence affidavit and indicates that challenges to the domestic violence affidavit should be filed at the court of common pleas. Rule 515: A reference to the 30-day appeal period for victims of domestic violence was added to the Note. Rule 516: A reference to a stay issued pursuant to Rule 514.1C was added to the Rule in the event a court of common pleas lifts a stay prior to the expiration of the 30-day appeal period for victims of domestic violence. Rule 1001: The definitions were alphabetized with corresponding changes to references in the Note and a definition of “victim of domestic violence” was added. Rule 1002: New subdivision B(2) provides that a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence may appeal the judgment within 30 days after the date of entry of the judgment by filing the notice of appeal and the domestic violence affidavit with the prothonotary. Subdivisions B(2)(c)–(d) set forth the content of the domestic violence affidavit, and designates the affidavit as a confidential document. Rule 1005: An updated citation to a definition was made in the Note. The Note provides that the notice of appeal includes all documents filed with the prothonotary, including the domestic violence affidavit if applicable. In addition, stylistic changes were made throughout the amended Rules. Rule amendments adopted contemporaneously by the Court based on the Committee’s Recommendation 4 of 2018 are reflected in the rule text without contextual indicators. 3