Rule 124. Form of Documents. Number of Copies to be Filed.
(a) Size and other physical characteristics.—All documents filed in an appellate court shall be on 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch pages and shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) The documents shall be prepared on white background.
(2) The first page shall contain a three-inch space from the top of the document for all court stampings, filing notices, etc.
(3) Text must be double spaced, but quotations more than two lines long may be indented and single spaced. Footnotes may be single spaced. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2), margins must be at least one inch on all four sides.
(4) Lettering shall be clear and legible and no smaller than 14 point in the text and 12 point in footnotes. Lettering shall be on only one side of a page, except that exhibits and similar supporting documents, briefs and reproduced records may be lettered on both sides of a page.
(5) Any metal fasteners or staples must be covered. Originals must be unbound. Copies must be firmly bound.
(6) No backers shall be necessary.
(b) Nonconforming documents.—The prothonotary of an appellate court may accept any nonconforming documents.
(c) Number of copies to be filed.—Unless otherwise directed by the prothonotary or ordered by the court, a party shall file the number of copies as specified in the copy and fee requirements set forth on each appellate court’s web page.
Official Note
The 2013 amendment increased the minimum text font size from 12 point to 14 point and added a minimum footnote font size of 12 point. This rule requires a clear and legible font. The Supreme, Superior, and Commonwealth Courts use Arial, Verdana, and Times New Roman, respectively, for their opinions. A brief using the respective court’s font is preferred, but a brief using any of these fonts will be satisfactory.
The number of copies to be filed in the Supreme Court can be found at http://www.pacourts.us/courts/supreme-court/copy-and-fee-requirements.
The number of copies to be filed in the Superior Court can be found at http://www.pacourts.us/courts/superior-court/copy-and-fee-requirements.
The number of copies to be filed in the Commonwealth Court can be found at http://www.pacourts.us/courts/commonwealth-court/copy-and-fee-requirements.
Self-represented parties who do not have access to an appellate court’s web page may file an original document together with a written request to the prothonotary for instructions on the number of copies required.
Source The provisions of this Rule 124 amended December 11, 1978, effective December 30, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 3802; amended May 24, 1979, effective September 21, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 1853; amended May 16, 2003, effective 60 days after adoption, 33 Pa.B. 2586; amended September 10, 2008, effective December 1, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 5257; amended March 27, 2013, effective and applies to all appeals and petitions for review filed 60 days after adoption, 43 Pa.B. 2007; amended October 28, 2021, effective April 1, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 7050. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (393650) and (396033).
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
