Section 1011. Issuance and Service of Writ of Certiorari

A. Upon receipt of the praecipe for a writ of certiorari, the prothonotary shall issue the writ and direct it to the magisterial district judge in whose office the record of the proceedings containing the judgment is filed. The writ shall be delivered for service to the party who filed the praecipe.

B. The party obtaining the writ shall serve it, by personal service or by certified or registered mail, upon the magisterial district judge to whom it was directed. In like manner, he shall also serve a copy of the writ upon the opposite party. The address of the opposite party for the purpose of service shall be his address as listed on the complaint form filed in the office of the magisterial district judge or as otherwise appearing in the records of that office. If the opposite party has an attorney of record named in the complaint form filed in the office of the magisterial district judge, the service upon the opposite party may be made upon the attorney of record instead of upon the opposite party personally.

C. If proof of service of the writ upon the magisterial district judge and the opposite party is not filed with the prothonotary within five (5) days after delivery of the writ for service, the prothonotary shall, upon praecipe of the opposite party, mark the writ stricken from the record and the writ shall not be reinstated nor shall any new writ issue.

D. Service and proof of service may be made by attorney or other agent.

Official Note

The provisions as to service of the writ parallel those for service of notices of appeal. Subdivision C contains sanctions for failing to comply with the prescribed time limits, and reinstatement of the writ or the issuance of a new one is not allowed.

The provisions of this Rule 1011 amended November 21, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 3020. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (21214).