Court Opinion

ID: 4452759
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-11-04 16:10:04.081002+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:27:59.126045
License: Public Domain

Rule 1.7. Entry and Withdrawal of Counsel

       (a) Appearance. Any counsel appearing before the court or the Register shall
enter a written appearance by any one of the following means:

              (1) filing an entry of appearance with the clerk or the Register;

              (2) signing a legal paper that is filed with the clerk or the Register; or

              (3) as prescribed by local rule, which may include submitting an appearance
slip to the court, entering counsel’s information when a legal paper is filed, or signing a
cover sheet.

        (b) Withdrawal. Counsel who has entered an appearance before the court as
provided in subparagraph (a) shall not be permitted to withdraw without filing a petition to
withdraw and obtaining the court’s leave, unless co-counsel, if any, will continue
representing the party or there is a simultaneous entry of appearance by other counsel
that will not delay the litigation.

       Note: Rule 1.7 has no counterpart in former Orphans’ Court Rules, but is
       based upon many local rules of similar import.

       Explanatory Comment: Admission pro hac vice in accordance with
       Pennsylvania Bar Admission Rule 301 shall proceed by request, the
       disposition and content of which shall conform to the requirements of
       Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1012.1.

       This rule does not address the procedure for withdrawal of counsel
       who has entered an appearance before the Register. Withdrawal of
       counsel before the Register shall be in accordance with local rule or
       at the discretion of the Register.
Rule 1.8. Forms

        (a) The forms approved by the Supreme Court for statewide practice and
procedure before the Registers and courts shall be used exclusively and accepted for
filing by all Registers and clerks; provided, however, versions of a Supreme Court-
approved form shall be acceptable for filing if identical in content and sequential
ordering. [Where a Supreme Court-approved form exists, no other form shall be
allowed or required by local rule or practice.]

        (b) The forms approved by the Supreme Court for statewide practice are set
forth in an Appendix to these Rules. The forms may be revised and supplemented from
time to time. The forms shall also be maintained for public access at the official website
of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

       (c) A court may require a legal paper to be accompanied by a cover sheet or
checklist. A court that imposes such requirements must promulgate a local rule,
numbered Local Rule 1.8(c), stating the requirements and setting forth the form of the
cover sheet or checklist.

      Note: Rule 1.8 is substantively similar to former Rule 1.3, but with some
      modifications.

      Explanatory Comment: [Rule 1.8 has been modified from former
      Rule 1.3 by now mandating the exclusive use of statewide forms
      promulgated by the Supreme Court. Previously, forms approved or
      mandated for use pursuant to local rule could be accepted by the
      local register and clerk so long as the local register and clerk also
      permitted and accepted forms promulgated by the Supreme Court.
      Now, if the Supreme Court has promulgated or approved a form for
      use before the register or clerk, then such form is the only one that
      may be used by the applicant or petitioner and is the only one that
      can be accepted by the local register or clerk.] The [mandatory]
      statewide forms are set forth in the Appendix attached hereto. The current
      website for electronic access to the forms is found at
      www.pacourts.us/forms under the For-the-Public category. The forms
      posted on the website are capable of on-line completion.

      In 2019, Rule 1.8 was revised to permit versions of Supreme Court
      forms to be accepted for filing, provided the replication was identical
      in content. This revision was intended to permit forms to differ
      stylistically as to format if content requirements do not differ. This
      revision was not intended to permit the re-ordering of content
      required by a form.

                                            2
Rule 2.1. Form of Account

***
         (b) As illustrated in the Model Accounts, Accounts shall conform to the following
rules:

              (1) The dates of all receipts, disbursements and distributions, the sources
of the receipts, and the persons to whom disbursements and distributions are made and
the purpose thereof shall be stated. When a number of payments have been received
from the same source or disbursed or distributed to the same recipient for the same
purpose over a period of time, such receipts, disbursements or distributions need not be
itemized, but may be stated in total amounts only, with beginning and ending dates
within the period covered.

              (2) Except where otherwise provided by an order of the court in a
particular matter, principal and income shall be accounted for separately within the
Account.

             (3) Assets held by the accountant on the closing date of the Account shall
be separately itemized.

               (4) Every Account shall contain:

                      (i) a cover page;

                      (ii) a summary page with page references;

                    (iii) separate schedules, as needed, which set forth receipts, gains
or losses on sales or other dispositions, disbursements, distributions, investments
made, changes in holdings, and other schedules as appropriate; and

                      (iv) signature [and verification] pages signed by all the
accountants stating the Account and verified by at least one of the accountants. The
verification of a personal representative’s Account shall contain a statement that the
Grant of Letters and the first complete advertisement thereof occurred more than four
months before the filing of the Account, unless the personal representative has been
directed by the court to file an Account prior to that time.

***

                                              3
Rule 2.5. Notice of Account Filing

      (a) No Account shall be confirmed or statement of proposed distribution approved
unless the accountant has given written notice of the filing of the Account as provided in
subparagraph (d) of this Rule to the following, as applicable:

              (1) every unpaid claimant who has given written notice of his or her claim to
the accountant or who has performed any action that is the equivalent of giving written
notice as provided in 20 Pa.C.S. §§ 3384 or 7755;

              (2) any other individual or entity with an asserted claim known to the
accountant that is not shown in either the Account or the petition for
adjudication/statement of proposed distribution as being either paid in full or to be paid in
full;

              (3) any other individual or entity known to the accountant to have or claim
an interest in the estate or trust as a beneficiary, heir, or next of kin, except for those
legatees or claimants whose legacies or claims have been satisfied in full as reflected in
the Account or will be satisfied in full as proposed in the petition for adjudication/statement
of proposed distribution;[ and]

              (4) [F]for an Account where a charitable interest is involved, refer to Rule
4.4[.]; and

              (5) to each co-fiduciary who does not join in the statement of Account.

       (b) Notice to an individual or entity shall be given in accordance with Rule 4.2;
provided, however, that if the individual or entity is represented by counsel who has
entered his or her appearance in accordance with Rule 1.7(a), notice shall be given to
counsel and the individual or entity.

        (c) If the proposed distribution is to an estate having a charitable interest or to a
trust, and a charity is a “qualified beneficiary,” as defined in 20 Pa.C.S. § 7703, of that
[recipient estate or] trust, then notice shall be given to the Attorney General on behalf
of the charitable beneficiary. If the proposed distribution is to an estate or trust and any
one of the accountants stating the Account is a personal representative or a trustee of the
recipient estate or trust, then notice shall also be given to the beneficiaries of the estate
or trust, to the extent known.

       (d) Written notice, as provided in subparagraph (a) of this Rule, shall be mailed at
least 20 days prior to the audit in those counties having a separate Orphans’ Court
Division or 20 days prior to the date by which objections must be filed in all other counties,
and the written notice shall state the date of the audit or the date by which objections
must be filed, and the time and place of the audit, if one is to be held, to the extent then
known. A party residing outside of the United States shall have 60 days, rather than
                                              4
20 days, within which to file an objection. If an audit is to be held and the date, time,
and place of the audit is not known at the time the notice is mailed, the notice shall state
that the date, time, and place of the audit will be provided upon request. A copy of the
Account, petition for adjudication/statement of proposed distribution, and any legal paper
filed therewith shall be sent with the notice, unless the recipient of the notice is a trust
beneficiary who is not a “qualified beneficiary” as defined in 20 Pa.C.S. § 7703, or unless
the court orders otherwise in a particular matter.

***

       Note: Although substantially modified, Rule 2.5 is derived from former Rule
       6.3.

       Explanatory Comment: Pursuant to the cross-references to 20 Pa.C.S. §§
       3384 and 7755, notice of the claim given to accountant’s counsel of record
       is notice to the accountant. See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3384(b)(4). If the court is
       inclined not to agree with accountant’s position, interpretation or proposed
       disbursements and distribution, best practice would be for the court to direct
       the accountant to notify the interested parties of the court’s position and
       what additional action must be taken by any interested party who objects to
       the court’s position.

       It is permissible for a party to waive the written notice required by this
       Rule.

                                             5
Rule 2.7. Objections to Accounts or Petitions for Adjudication/Statements of
Proposed Distribution

        (a) Objections to an Account and/or a petition for adjudication/statement of
proposed distribution shall be filed with the clerk on or before the time and date of the
audit in those counties holding an audit, and by a specified date in all other counties, with
a copy [sent by first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, to] served on the
accountant or the accountant’s counsel, if represented, and to each interested party and
claimant who received the notice pursuant to Rule 2.5, to the extent known, pursuant to
Rule 4.3.

***

                                             6
Rule 3.5. Mode of Proceeding on Petition

***

      Note: Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of Rule 3.5 are derived from former Rule
      3.5. The final sentence of subparagraph (a)(2) is identical to former Rule
      3.7(h)(1); it merely has been relocated to this section. Subparagraph[s] (c)
      [and (d)] of this Rule [have] has no counterpart in former Orphans’ Court
      Rules.

***

                                           7
Rule 3.7. Time for Filing and Service of Responsive Pleadings

***

       (b) A copy of the responsive pleading shall be [sent to] served on the petitioner
or his or her counsel, if represented, and all interested parties identified in the petition or
counsel representing an interested party if so identified in the petition or in a subsequent
pleading[. A certificate of service, listing the names and addresses of those
individuals and entities receiving a copy of the responsive pleading shall be
appended to, or filed contemporaneously with, the responsive pleading] pursuant
to Rule 4.3.

***

                                              8
Rule 4.3. Service of Legal Paper Other than Citations or Notices

***

      (f) A certificate of service shall be attached to any legal paper filed or
served pursuant to this Rule, setting forth the manner of service and listing the
names and addresses of those individuals and entities served with the legal
paper.

***

                                         9
Rule 4.6. Notice of the Date of Entry of an Adjudication or Court Order on the
Docket

       (a) The clerk shall immediately give written notice of the entry of an adjudication
or court order in a particular matter to each interested party’s counsel of record or, if
unrepresented, to each interested party. The notice shall include a copy of the
adjudication or court order.

      (b) The clerk shall note in the docket the date when notice was given to the
interested party or to his or her counsel under subparagraph (a) of this Rule.

       Note: Rule 4.6 has no counterpart in former Orphans’ Court Rule, but is
       derived from Pa.R.C.P. No. 236.

                                            10
Rule 5.1. Declaratory Judgment

       (a) Commencement of Action. An action for declaratory judgment shall be
commenced by petition [and citation] pursuant to Rule 3.5 directed to the interested
parties.

***

      Note: Rule 5.1 has no counterpart in former Orphans’ Court Rules, but is based
      upon Philadelphia Local Rule 1.2.P.

      Explanatory Comment: See Rule 3.5(a) for the necessity of using a citation.

                                         11
Rule 5.3. Intestate Share to Surviving Spouse from Real Estate

       (a) Contents of Petition. When no Account is filed and all or part of the
spouse’s intestate share under 20 Pa.C.S. § 2102 is claimed from real estate, the claim
shall be presented by petition, which shall conform to the requirements provided by the
Rules in Chapter III, and shall set forth the following:

              (1) facts establishing a prima facie right of the spouse to the statutory
intestate share;

              (2) a description of the property claimed; and

             (3) if the [exemption] share is claimed from real estate and a valuation
has not been agreed upon by all interested parties, the nomination of two appraisers for
appointment by the court to appraise the same.

***

                                            12
Rule 5.4. Revocation, [Vacating] Vacation or Extension of Time for Filing of
Surviving Spouse’s Election

      (a) Contents of Petition. In addition to the requirements provided by the Rules
in Chapter III, a petition to revoke or vacate an election of a surviving spouse to take
against the will and other conveyances of the decedent shall set forth the following:

               (1) the date of the decedent’s death, whether a will has been probated and,
if so, a reference to the place and date of probate;

             (2) the name and capacity of the fiduciary of the decedent’s estate, if any,
and a reference to the record of his appointment;

              (3) the name, address and relationship, if known, of the other interested
parties and the nature and the extent of each of their interests;

              (4) the names of the interested parties who have consented to the
revocation or [vacating] vacation of the election and the names of those who have not
consented;

              (5) a description and valuation of the decedent’s real and personal property
affected by the election;

             (6) the date and manner of executing the election desired to be revoked or
vacated and whether the same has been recorded, registered or filed, and if so, the date
and place thereof;

              (7) whether the surviving spouse has made or executed and delivered at
any place an election contrary to that desired to be revoked or vacated, and whether that
election has been recorded, registered or filed, and if so, the date and place thereof;

               (8) the facts relied upon to justify the revocation or [vacating] vacation of
the election; and

               (9) a request for a citation upon the interested parties who have not joined
in the petition or who have not consented thereto to show cause why the election should
not be revoked or vacated.

***

                                            13
Rule 7.1. Depositions, Discovery, Production of Documents, [and] Perpetuation
of Testimony, and Subpoenas to Attend and Testify

        The court, by local rule or order in a particular matter, may prescribe the practice
relating to depositions, discovery, production of documents, [and] perpetuation of
testimony, and subpoenas to attend and testify. To the extent not provided for by
local rule or an order governing a particular matter, the practice relating to depositions,
discovery, production of documents, [and] perpetuation of testimony, and subpoenas
to attend and testify shall conform to the practice in the Trial or Civil Division of the
local Court of Common Pleas.

       Note: Rule 7.1 is [identical to] derived from former Rule 3.6.

                                             14
Rule 10.1. Forms

       The forms approved by the Supreme Court for statewide practice before the
Register as set forth in the Appendix shall be used exclusively and accepted for filing
by all Registers; provided, however, versions of a Supreme Court-approved form
shall be acceptable for filing if identical in content and sequential ordering. [No
other forms shall be allowed or required by local rule or practice in such
instances.]

      Note: Rule 10.1 is new, but is derived from former Rule 10.1.

      Explanatory Comment: [Rule 10.1 has been modified from former Rule
      10.1 by now mandating the exclusive use of statewide forms
      promulgated by the Supreme Court.] In 2019, Rule 10.1 was revised to
      permit versions of Supreme Court forms to be accepted for filing
      provided the replication was identical in content. This revision was
      intended to permit forms to differ stylistically as to format if content
      requirements do not differ. This revision was not intended to permit
      the re-ordering of content required by a form. See Rule 1.8.

                                          15
Rule 10.5. Notice to Beneficiaries and Intestate Heirs

      (a) Within three (3) months after the grant of letters, the personal representative to
whom original letters have been granted or the personal representative’s counsel shall
send a written notice of estate administration in the form approved by the Supreme Court
to:

             (1) every person, corporation, association, entity or other party named in
decedent’s will as a[n outright] beneficiary, whether individually or as a class member;

***

             (8) the [trustee] fiduciary of any estate or trust which is a beneficiary or,
if the personal representative is a fiduciary of such estate or trust, then the
beneficiaries of such estate or trust; and

***

                                            16