Pennsylvania Code
Title 231 - RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
Part II - ORPHANS' COURT RULES
Chapter III - PETITION PRACTICE AND PLEADING
Part B - Responsive Pleadings
Rule 3.7 - Time for Filing and Service of Responsive Pleadings

(a) Unless the court orders otherwise, each interested party identified in the petition, or such interested party's representative identified in the petition, may file a responsive pleading in accordance with these Rules within 20 days of the date of notice or the date of the filing, whichever is later. A party residing outside of the United States shall have 60 days, rather than 20 days, within which to file a responsive pleading to the citation or the petition initiating the proceeding.

(b) A copy of the responsive pleading shall be 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 pursuant to Rule 4.3.

(c) A notice to plead in substantially the form provided in Rule 3.5(b)(1) shall be affixed to the first page of an answer that contains new matter and to the first page of preliminary objections which aver a fact that is not contained in the petition.

(d) Regardless of the residency of any interested party, each subsequent pleading shall be filed within 20 days after service of the preceding pleading, but no pleading need be filed unless the preceding pleading included a notice to plead that complies with the requirements of Rule 3.5(b)(1).

Note: Rule 3.7 is new, but is derived from Pa.R.C.P. No. 1026.