Rule 1920.74.Form of Motion for Appointment of Hearing Officer. Order.

Adopted January 28, 1983 · Last amended October 19, 2021 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1920.74 supplies the form of the motion and order for appointing a hearing officer in a divorce case.

Full Text of Rule 1920.74

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) The motion for appointment of a hearing officer shall be substantially in the following form: (Caption) MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF HEARING OFFICER (Plaintiff) (Defendant) moves the court to appoint a hearing officer with respect to the following claims: ( ) Divorce ( ) Annulment ( ) Alimony ( ) Equitable Division of Marital Property ( ) Counsel Fees ( ) Costs and Expenses ( ) Other: and in support of the motion states:

(1) Discovery (is) (is not) complete as to the claim(s) for which the appointment of a hearing officer is requested.

(2) The non-moving party (has) (has not) appeared in the action (personally) (by his or her attorney, , Esquire).

(3) The statutory ground(s) for divorce (is) (are) .

(4) If the hearing officer’s appointment is for resolution of a divorce, an annulment, or ancillary claims, the parties have complied with Pa.R.C.P. Nos. 1920.31, 1920.33, and 1920.46, as applicable.

(5) Check and complete the applicable paragraph(s): 䊐 (a) The action is not contested. 䊐 (b) An agreement has been reached with respect to the following claims: . 䊐 (c) The action is contested with respect to the following claims: .

(6) The action (involves) (does not involve) complex issues of law or fact.

(7) The hearing is expected to take (hours) (days).

(8) Additional information, if any, relevant to the motion: . Date: Attorney for (Plaintiff) (Defendant)

(b) The order appointing a hearing officer shall be substantially in the following form: (Caption) ORDER APPOINTING HEARING OFFICER AND NOW, , 20 , , Esquire, is appointed hearing officer with respect to the following claims: . BY THE COURT: MOVING PARTY NON-MOVING PARTY Name: Name: Attorney’s Name: Attorney’s Name: Attorney’s Address: Attorney’s Address: Attorney’s Telephone #: Attorney’s Telephone #: Attorney’s E-Mail: Attorney’s E-Mail Party’s Address and Telephone Party’s Address and Telephone # if not represented by counsel: # if not represented by counsel:

End

Plain-English Summary

When a party wants a hearing officer appointed to take evidence on the economic claims, this rule provides the paperwork. It prints the form of the motion for appointment of a hearing officer and the order the court enters granting it, keeping the appointment process uniform.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a divorce hearing officer requested?

By the motion for appointment of a hearing officer provided by Rule 1920.74.

Official Note

Official Note: See Pa.R.C.P. No. 1920.51(a)(1)(ii) for the issues and claims for which the court may appoint a hearing officer. It is within the discretion of the court to determine the point at which a hearing officer should be appointed in a case.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1920.74 adopted January 28, 1983, effective July 1, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 677; amended October 31, 2002, effective immediately, 32 Pa.B. 5632; amended June 30, 2018, effective January 1, 2019, 48 Pa.B. 4960; amended June 3, 2019, effective October 1, 2019, 49 Pa.B. 3059; amended October 19, 2021, effective January 1, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 6764. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (397018) to (397019).

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: motion for hearing officer divorceappoint hearing officer formdivorce master appointment