Section 1204. Venue

A. Except as provided in subdivision B, a proceeding for emergency relief may be brought in a magisterial district within the county in which

(1) the plaintiff resides, either temporarily or permanently, or

(2) the abuse, sexual violence or intimidation occurred.

B. If the relief sought includes possession of the residence or household to the exclusion of the defendant, the action may be brought only in a magisterial district within the county in which the residence or household is located.

Official Note

This rule is consistent with Pa.R.C.P. No. 1901.1 and provides the necessary flexibility to a plaintiff who may have to flee the county of permanent residence to escape further abuse. This rule is intended to provide maximum flexibility to a plaintiff to use a convenient forum to seek an emergency protective order. However, where practicable, plaintiffs should give preference to filing in the magisterial district in which the plaintiff resides, either temporarily or permanently, or in the magisterial district in which the abuse occurred. A proceeding is considered to have been brought in a magisterial district even if it is before a hearing officer serving temporarily in that district, or before a hearing officer who has been invested by local rule with temporary county-wide jurisdiction.

Subdivision B of this rule only applies to actions brought pursuant to Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110.

The provisions of this Rule 1204 amended March 27, 1992, effective immediately, 22 Pa.B. 1900; amended November 2, 2001, effective February 1, 2002, 31 Pa.B. 6385; amended June 29, 2015, effective July 1, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 3811. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (321830).