Section 331. Service of Petition

A. Copy. Upon the filing of a petition, a copy of the petition shall be served promptly upon the juvenile, the juvenile’s guardian, the juvenile’s attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth, and the juvenile probation officer.

B. Service to juvenile and guardian. The service of the petition to the juvenile and the juvenile’s guardian shall be by first-class mail or delivered in-person.

C. Service to attorneys and juvenile probation officer. The service of the petition to the juvenile’s attorney, attorney for the Commonwealth, and juvenile probation officer shall be by first-class mail or delivered in-person unless all individuals otherwise agree upon an alternative method.

Comment

The purpose of paragraph (A) is to insure the juvenile and the juvenile’s attorney have notice of the allegations to prepare the case adequately. If the juvenile is detained, service is to follow immediately after the filing of the petition. See Rule 242(D) for the twenty-four hour filing requirement.

Alternative methods of service that may be utilized under paragraph (C) could be electronic transmission, facsimile, county agency inter-office mail, and other similar methods.

Official Note

Rule 331 adopted April 1, 2005, effective October 1, 2005.