Rule 1005. Service of Notice of Appeal and Other Papers.
A. The appellant shall by personal service or by certified or registered mail serve a copy of the notice of appeal upon the appellee and upon the magisterial district judge in whose office the judgment was rendered. If required by Rule 1004B to request a rule upon the appellee to file a complaint, the appellant shall also serve the rule by personal service or by certified or registered mail upon the appellee. The address of the appellee for the purpose of service shall be the 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 appellee has an attorney of record named in the complaint form filed in the office of the magisterial district judge, the service upon the appellee may be made upon the attorney of record instead of upon the appellee personally.
B. The appellant shall file with the prothonotary proof of service of copies of the notice of appeal, and proof of service of a rule upon the appellee to file a complaint if required to request such a rule by Rule 1004B, within 10 days after filing the notice of appeal.
C. In lieu of service and proof of service pursuant to subdivisions A and B of this Rule, the court of common pleas may, by local rule, permit or require that the appellant file with the notice of appeal a stamped envelope pre-addressed to the appellee at the 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, or the attorney of record, if any, of the appellee, and a stamped envelope pre-addressed to the magisterial district judge in whose office the judgment was rendered. Copies of the notice of appeal, and Rule pursuant to 1004B, if applicable, shall thereupon be mailed by the prothonotary or court by first class mail, with such service and any return being noted on the court’s docket.
D. The party filing a complaint under Rule 1004 shall forthwith serve it upon the opposite party in the appeal by leaving a copy for or mailing a copy to the address as shown in the magisterial district court records mentioned in subdivision A of this rule. If the opposite party has an attorney of record either in the magisterial district court or court of common pleas proceeding, service upon the opposite party may be made upon the attorney of record instead of upon the opposite party personally.
E. Service and proof of service may be made by attorney or other agent.
Official Note
Subdivision A requires service of a copy of the notice of appeal upon the magisterial district judge as well as upon the appellee, or the appellee’s attorney of record. The notice of appeal includes all documents filed with the prothonotary, including a domestic violence affidavit, if applicable. This copy,when received by the magisterial district judge, may operate as a supersedeas under Rule 1008. As to subdivision B, there is no return receipt requirement for service by certified or registered mail and consequently no such receipt need be filed with the prothonotary, although if service is by certified or registered mail the sender’s receipt must be attached to the proof of service. See Rule 1001(7) and the fourth paragraph of the Note to Rule 1001. The notice of appeal and the proof of service may be filed simultaneously. See also Rule 1006 and its Note. Subdivision C prescribes a pleading type service of the complaint, which may be made by ordinary mail, upon the opposite party in the appeal or the party’s attorney of record.
Source The provisions of this Rule 1005 amended through October 10, 1980, effective November 10, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4032; amended March 27, 1992, effective 90 days from the date on which the Order is signed, 22 Pa.B. 1893 and 1900; amended August 19, 2020, effective January 1, 2021, 50 Pa.B. 4502. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (309579) to (309580).
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