Washington Cnty. C.P. Local Orphans Court Rules (Updated August 1, 2025) (introduction)

27th JUDICIAL DISTRICT

WASHINGTON COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

LOCAL ORPHANS COURT RULES

L-RULE 1.1. CITATION OF RULES

These rules shall be known as the Rules of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington

County, Orphans' Court Division, adopted pursuant to Pa. O.C. Rule 1.5 and shall be cited

as Wash. O.C. Rule.

L-RULE 1.2. SESSIONS OF COURT. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

(a) The Orphans' Court will be in session for the presentation of Petitions and

Motions, the return of Citations and Sales, and for scheduling hearings and arguments thereon at

the Motions Court scheduled by the Orphans' Court Judge and published in the annual

Administrative Regulations, which can be found in Washington County Reports, the Register of

Wills of Washington County, the Washington County Law Library, Office of the District Court

Administrator and the Washington County Courts Website.

(b) The Audit List will be called on the dates specified in the annual

Administrative Regulations.

(c) All applications, petitions, motions, and other miscellaneous business must,

except in emergencies, be presented in open court; provided, however, that applications in non-

adversary matters may be presented to the assigned judge in chambers at the court's convenience.

L-RULE 1.3. DEFINITIONS

“Publication” – the publication in a newspaper of general circulation where such newspaper is

originally issued and circulated and The Washington County Reports shall be the legal periodical

for the publication of notices whenever publication in a legal periodical is required by Act of

Assembly, or by rule or order of Court.

L-O.C. Rule 1.41. PAPERS AND RECORDS

(a) The Court, which shall for purposes of this subsection include a Judge, staff of a

judge, the District Court Administrator, and court administration staff, may remove original

papers, records, exhibits, or transcripts (“case records”), from the Office of the Register of

Wills/Clerk of the Orphans’ Court (“Register/Clerk”) for official court business, unless access is

otherwise restricted by law or order of court.

(b) If appointed by the Court, the following individuals shall have the authority to remove

case records from the Office of the Register/Clerk:

(1) Auditors;

(2) Hearing officers;

(3) Mediators; and

(4) Other court staff or any person(s) specifically authorized by the President

Judge or order of court.

Note: If there is a question concerning an individual’s authority to access records under this

subsection, the Register/Clerk is to seek guidance from the President Judge, District Court

Administrator, or the judge to whom the case is assigned.

(c) Except as provided in the preceding subsections or applicable rule of procedure, no

case records shall be removed from the Office of the Register/Clerk except upon subpoena duces

tecum or order of court.

(d) This rule is not applicable to matters filed pursuant to the Adoption Act.

(e) Access to case records, docketing information, digital records, and/or images of case

filings that are or can be made available or otherwise accessed through computer software or

digital case management systems, shall be determined by the Court through rule, order, policy, or

regulation, except as otherwise provided by law.

Comment: Access to case records by the public is governed by the Case Records Public Access

Policy of the Unified Judicial System. See also Local Rule of Judicial Administration 3000 and

3001. The Policy in no way alters the ability and authority of the Court, upon application of a

party or acting sua sponte, to seal a record or any portion of a record for reasons not inconsistent

with the Policy, or other applicable governing authority.

L-O.C. Rule 15.21. COURT FILE

(a) The court file is defined as those court records and other documents identified in Pa.

R. O. C. P. 15.21.

(b) The court file is confidential pursuant to the Act, and may only be inspected or

removed by a Judge or staff of the assigned judge, District Court Administrator, or court

administration staff for official court business prior to the conclusion of the adoption.