Rule 1920.12.Complaint.

Adopted June 27, 1980 · Last amended March 30, 1994 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1920.12 sets out what a divorce or annulment complaint must contain, including the parties, the marriage, the ground, and any ancillary claims.

Full Text of Rule 1920.12

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Except as provided by subdivision (b), the plaintiff shall set forth in the complaint as to the cause of action of divorce or for annulment

(1) the names of the plaintiff and defendant and, if either party is a minor or incompetent, a statement to that effect and the name and address of such party’s guardian, if any;

(2) the residence of the plaintiff;

(3) the last known residence and present whereabouts of the defendant, or that the plaintiff has no knowledge thereof, and in that case the names and addresses of near relatives and other persons who would be likely to know the present residence and whereabouts of the defendant;

(4) an averment that the plaintiff, defendant or both have resided in the Commonwealth for at least six months immediately previous to the commencement of the action;

(5) the date and place of marriage;

(6) the ground on which the action is based, stated substantially in the language of the Divorce Code;

(7) whether there has been any prior action of divorce or for annulment of marriage between the parties in this or any other jurisdiction and if so the caption, court, term and number thereof, the date commenced, the grounds therefor and the present status if pending or the final disposition thereof;

(8) in an action under Section 3301(a)(6), 3301(c) or 3301(d) of the Divorce Code, an averment that the plaintiff has been advised of the availability of counseling and that the plaintiff may have the right to request that the court require the parties to participate in counseling; and

(9) a prayer for relief.

(b) The complaint in an action based upon Section 3301(c) or (d) of the Divorce Code shall be substantially in the form prescribed by Rule 1920.72(a).

End

Plain-English Summary

A divorce complaint frames the whole case. This rule requires the plaintiff to set out the parties' names, the facts of the marriage, the ground for divorce or annulment, and any ancillary claims — alimony, equitable division, custody, and the like — the plaintiff raises. It also addresses the required notices and verifications that accompany the complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a divorce complaint contain?

The parties, the six-month residency averment, the date and place of marriage, the ground for divorce or annulment, any prior divorce or annulment action, a counseling advisement in certain no-fault cases, and a prayer for relief — with the required notice.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1920.12 adopted June 27, 1980, effective July 1, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 2967; amended January 28, 1983, effective July 1, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 677; amended March 30, 1994, effective July 1, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 1943. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (134360) and (168423).

Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: divorce complaintcomplaint for divorce contentspleading divorce ground