PA · rules
Washington Cnty. C.P. Local Rules of Civil Procedure (Updated August 1, 2025) Rule 237.1
Entry of Default Judgment. Military Service
In all cases in which a party to an action has appeared but subsequently defaults, before
any decree or judgment shall be entered, the opposing party shall file an affidavit stating
that the defaulting party is not in the military service of the United States, or if the
information is not available, the affidavit shall state what efforts have been made to obtain
the facts.
Note: The purpose of this rule is to satisfy the requirement of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act,
Title 50 App.U.S.C. § 501, et seq.
RULE 240. In Forma Pauperis
(1) A party seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis shall apply to the Court for such
status. The application shall include as an attachment the affidavit of the party
demonstrating an inability to pay the costs of litigation.
Note: The affidavit form is set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 240; application forms are available in the County
Law Library. Presentation of the application to the Court must comply with the requirements of
Local Rule 208.3(a).
(2) Legal counsel employed by or affiliated with Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal
Services are authorized to file a praecipe for in forma pauperis status on behalf of their
client.
(3) The Prothonotary shall accept for filing by a party a praecipe as provided by Pa.R.C.P.
240(d), or an application under this rule, without charge to the party.
(a) Except as provided in Wash.L.R.C.P. 1915.37, upon withdraw of an attorney
who has filed a praecipe on behalf of a client pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 240(d), the
party must file a petition to for leave to proceed in forma pauperis to continue to
have the costs of litigation waived as set forth in Pa.R.C.P. 240(f).
(4) If there is an improvement in the financial circumstances of a party which will enable
the party to pay costs, the party must immediately file a praecipe to decertify in forma
pauperis status. The Prothonotary shall not be permitted to retroactively charge previously
waived costs to a party because of a change in economic status or if a party is no longer
receiving free legal service from an attorney.
Provenance
- Source
- www.washingtoncourts.us
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-30
- Edition
- 2026-09-30
- Content hash
77f27bdf60604f308274e7e52624f20e098be7799ad14f74abb411c019c78d08
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