Pennsylvania Code
Title 246 - MINOR COURT CIVIL RULES
Part I - GENERAL
Chapter 300 - CIVIL ACTION
Rule 307 - Service of the Complaint

Universal Citation: 246 PA Code ยง 307

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 38, September 21, 2024

Service shall be made at least ten days before the hearing, in the following manner:

(1) A copy of the complaint for each defendant shall be delivered by the magisterial district judge for service to the sheriff of, or any certified constable in, the county in which the magisterial district of the magisterial district judge is situated. If this service is not available to the magisterial district judge, service may be made by any certified constable of the Commonwealth. If the complaint is delivered for service to the sheriff and service is to be made in a county other than the one in which the magisterial district of the magisterial district judge is situated, the sheriff shall deputize the sheriff of the county in which service is to be made. A certified constable may serve the complaint anywhere in the Commonwealth.

(2) If service is to be made in a county other than the one in which the magisterial district judge's magisterial district is situated, the magisterial district judge, instead of acting in accordance with subdivision (1), may:

(a) send the copy of the complaint for service to a magisterial district judge in the county in which service is to be made who shall deliver it for service to the sheriff of, or any certified constable in, that county. If this service is not available to the magisterial district judge, service may be made by any certified constable of the Commonwealth, or

(b) if service is to be made in Philadelphia, send the copy of the complaint for service to the Court Administrator of the Philadelphia Municipal Court who shall deliver it for service to a writ server of that court or to the sheriff of Philadelphia.

(3) When service by mail is permitted by the rules in this chapter, it shall be at the option of the plaintiff and shall be made by the magisterial district judge by certified mail or comparable delivery method resulting in a return receipt in paper or electronic form. Such service may be made to any place in or outside the Commonwealth.

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