By an order dated December 18, 2024, the Supreme Court has amended Pennsylvania Rules of Orphans’ Court Procedure 1.8, 2.4, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9, and 14.14, rescinded and replaced Form G-01 (citation and notice of guardianship petition), rescinded Forms G-02, G-03, and G-05, and amended the Index to the Appendix of Orphans’ Court Forms, all of which are effective immediately. “In re: Order Amending Rules 1.8, 2.4, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.6, 14.7, 14.8, 14.9, and 14.14 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Orphans’ Court Procedure, Rescinding and Replacing Form G-01, Rescinding Forms G-02, G-03, and G-05, and Amending the Index to the Appendix of Orphans’ Court Forms; No. 1001 Rules Docket” (12/18/2024), ___ Pa.B. ___.

According to the Adoption Report of the Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules Committee, these updates to procedural rules and forms in guardianship proceedings were made to conform to changes made by the Act of December 14, 2023, P.L. 446, No. 61, which included guardianship reforms in the areas of certification of guardians, mandatory appointment of counsel, consideration of less restrictive alternatives before appointing a guardian, and scheduling review hearings within one year if there may be a change in capacity.

The amendments to the rules are based on proposals published in March 2024. See “Proposed Amendments to Guardianship Rules.”