Which Pennsylvania court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Magisterial District Court Up to $12,000 (Philadelphia uses the Municipal Court, also up to $12,000). | Up to $12,000 | 42 Pa.C.S. § 1515 |
| Limited civil | Magisterial District Court | Up to $12,000 | 42 Pa.C.S. § 1515 |
| General civil | Court of Common Pleas Over $12,000. | No limit | 42 Pa.C.S. § 931 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 20 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Pa. R.C.P. 1026(a)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
22 Pennsylvania forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Pennsylvania practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- 10-day notice to quit (nonpayment of rent)(pattern) 68 P.S. § 250.501: pre-filing notice; verify service method
- Landlord-tenant complaint(pattern) Pa. R.C.P.M.D.J. 503 et seq.: Magisterial District Court
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Proof of Service by MailProof of service by first-class mail: PA
- Civil Cover SheetPA civil cover sheet
- Praecipe for Issuance of Writ/SummonsRequest prothonotary to issue writ: Pa.R.C.P. 1007
- Petition to Proceed In Forma PauperisPa.R.C.P. 240: waiver of fees and costs; affidavit per Rule 240(h)
- Philadelphia Civil Cover SheetPhiladelphia County cover sheet
- Statement of Claim (Philadelphia Municipal Court)(pattern) Commences all Municipal Court civil actions to $12,000; must be typed; pair with non-military affidavit per individual defendant
- Praecipe to DiscontinuePa.R.C.P. 229: voluntary discontinuance
- 10-Day Notice of Intent to DefaultPa.R.C.P. 237.1/237.5: mandatory 10-day notice, cannot be waived
- Praecipe for Default JudgmentPa.R.C.P. 1037(b): prothonotary enters judgment
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServicePa.R.C.P. 243 / SCRA: required for all defaults
- Affidavit of DamagesPa.R.C.P. 1037(b)(1): sum certain computation
- Praecipe for Writ of ExecutionPa.R.C.P. 3103: levy on debtor's property
- Writ of Execution: GarnishmentPa.R.C.P. 3101: bank accounts only (no general wage garnishment in PA)
- Interrogatories in Aid of ExecutionPa.R.C.P. 3117: post-judgment asset discovery
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Pennsylvania matter typically needs at each stage.
Eviction: Notice & Filing
10-day notice to quit (nonpayment of rent) · Landlord-tenant complaint
General Civil
Civil Cover Sheet · Praecipe for Issuance of Writ/Summons · Proof of Service by Mail
Collections: File & Serve
Civil Cover Sheet · Praecipe for Issuance of Writ/Summons
Collections: Default Judgment
10-Day Notice of Intent to Default · Praecipe for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Affidavit of Damages
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Praecipe for Writ of Execution · Writ of Execution: Garnishment · Interrogatories in Aid of Execution
Discontinuance
Praecipe to Discontinue
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Pennsylvania county are in the 1Court Directory: Pennsylvania.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
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Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
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Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.