Counties have begun updating their local rules to conform to the amendments of Pa.R.O.C.P 1.99 and the Case Records Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania to require the use of the confidential information form and eliminate … Continue reading
Category Archives: Rules and Regs.
The Supreme Court has amended Pa.R.O.C.P. 1.99 to require the use of “confidential information forms” (and not the filing of redacted documents) to comply with the public access policy in the Orphans’ Court. As explained in the adoption report of … Continue reading
The Supreme Court has approved a number of clarifying amendments to the Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, some of which will explicitly bring the clerk of the Orphans’ Court and the Guardianship … Continue reading
The Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules Committee has proposed a new Pa.R.O.C.P. 1.20 that would allow the Orphans’ Court to conduct proceedings using “advanced communication technology,” which is defined as “any communication technology providing for two-way simultaneous communication of image and … Continue reading
The Supreme Court has adopted a new Rule of Evidence 413 that would allow evidence of immigration status to be used only if relevant to an element of an action or defense, or to a party’s or witness’s motive. “Order … Continue reading
Warren and Forest Counties have adopted new local Orphans’ Court rules, to be effective 30 days after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. “Local Orphans’ Court Rules; Misc. No. 48 of 2021,” (Warren and Forest Cos. 8/25/2021), 51 Pa.B. 5823 (8/11/2021). … Continue reading
The Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules Committee is considering amendments to a number of Orphans’ Court rules to change references to “master” to “hearing officer.” The purpose of the amendments is to eliminate a term that has “a perjorative connotation” in … Continue reading
The various Supreme Court Procedural Rules Committees have proposed a new set of rules for the interpretation and construction of the rules promulgated by the Supreme Court, including the Rules of Orphans’ Court Procedure. Proposed Rules of Judicial Administration 104 … Continue reading
Without first publishing a proposed amendment for public comment, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has adopted an amendment to Rule of Professional Conduct 8.4(g), which was adopted in 2020 to make it professional misconduct for a lawyer to “knowingly manifest … Continue reading
The Supreme Court has adopted new Orphans’ Court rules for adoption proceedings. “Order Amending Rule 1.5 and Rescinding and Replacing Rules 15.1 through 15.9 of the Pennsylvania Orphans’ Court Rules, Pennsylvania Orphans’ Court Forms 15.6, 15.8 and 15.9, and Paragraph … Continue reading