Pennsylvania Code
Title 246 - MINOR COURT CIVIL RULES
Part I - GENERAL
Chapter 400 - ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS RENDERED BY MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGES FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONEY
Rule 409 - Notice Accompanying Order of Execution

(1) This Order of Execution has been issued because there is a judgment against you which remains unpaid. It may cause your tangible personal property to be taken and sold to pay the judgment.

(2) The law provides that certain property cannot be taken on this order of execution. Your real estate cannot be taken on this execution, nor can perishable personal property or personal property which is intangible such as your bank accounts. There are some other types of property which are exempt from execution under State and Federal Law, such as wearing apparel, bibles, school books, sewing machines, military uniforms and equipment, most wages and unemployment compensation, social security benefits, certain retirement funds and accounts, certain veteran and armed forces benefits, certain insurance proceeds and such other exemptions as may be provided by law.

(3) In addition, there is a general monetary exemption of $300. However, this exemption may be reduced or extinguished by the value of property you own which could be taken on a writ of execution issued by a court of common pleas but which cannot be taken on this order of execution which is issued by a magisterial district judge. For example, the $300 exemption may be reduced or extinguished by the value of your equity in real estate or by money you have in a bank account, except money in your bank account which is itself generally exempt from execution, such as social security payments. Also, the $300 exemption does not apply to a judgment for support, a judgment against a debtor who is not an individual, a judgment obtained for board for four weeks or less or a judgment for $100 or less obtained for wages for manual labor.

(4) If you are entitled to all or part of the $300 exemption, you may claim it at any time before the execution sale by notifying the officer (constable or sheriff) executing this order of your claim. You should tell the officer whether you want this exemption to be taken out of the property levied upon or out of cash from the proceeds of the sale and, if the exemption is claimed in property, you should designate the property which you choose to retain as exempt. If you claim this exemption in property, the officer executing this order will set aside, from the property designated by you, property as appraised by the officer up to the value of your exemption. If you do not claim this exemption, the officer will choose, appraise and set aside property up to the value of your exemption for you. If the property cannot be so divided, the officer will set aside from the proceeds of the sale and pay to you in cash the amount of your exemption or whatever lesser amount is received as proceeds of the sale.

(5) You may appeal to the magisterial district judge who issued this order from any appraisal or designation of property made by the officer executing this order, provided the appeal is made within two days after the appraisal or designation. Also, at any time before the sale, you may file with the magisterial district judge who issued this order an objection to the levy on the ground that it is illegal or is excessive compared to the amount of the judgment, interest and probable costs. Upon such an appeal or objection, the magisterial district judge will notify you of the date and time of the hearing on the appeal or objection. You must be prepared at the hearing to present your side of the case. An appeal from an appraisal or designation of property made by the officer executing this order may simply state, "I appeal from the (appraisal) (designation) made by the officer executing the order of execution against me (name)." An objection to the levy on the ground that it is illegal or is excessive compared to the amount of the judgment, interest and probable costs may simply state, "I object to the levy against me (name) on the ground that it is (illegal) (excessive)." Appeals and objections should be made in writing.

(6) YOU MAY FEEL THAT YOU NEED THE ADVICE OF A LAWYER IN THIS MATTER. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW TO FIND WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL HELP.

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