Rule 206.7.Procedure After Issuance of Rule to Show Cause.
Adopted September 8, 1995 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 206.7 sets what happens after a rule to show cause issues: with no answer, the petition’s facts may be deemed admitted; with an answer raising no factual dispute, the court decides on the papers; and with disputed facts, the petitioner may take depositions or lose the disputed points.
(a)If an answer is not filed, all averments of fact in the petition may be deemed admitted for the purposes of this subdivision and the court shall enter an appropriate order.
(b)If an answer is filed raising no disputed issues of material fact, the court on request of the petitioner shall decide the petition on the petition and answer.
(c)If an answer is filed raising disputed issues of material fact, the petitioner may take depositions on those issues, or such other discovery as the court allows, within the time set forth in the order of the court. If the petitioner does not do so, the petition shall be decided on petition and answer and all averments of fact responsive to the petition and properly pleaded in the answer shall be deemed admitted for the purpose of this subdivision.
(d)The respondent may take depositions, or such other discovery as the court allows.
End
Plain-English Summary
This rule runs the back end of petition practice. The path depends on the answer. If the respondent files no answer, the averments of fact in the petition may be deemed admitted and the court enters an appropriate order.
If an answer raises no disputed issue of material fact, the court — on the petitioner’s request — decides the petition on the petition and answer alone. If the answer does raise disputed facts, the petitioner may take depositions or other allowed discovery within the court’s time limit.
There is a consequence for inaction. If the petitioner does not pursue that discovery, the petition is decided on petition and answer, and the responsive, properly pleaded facts in the answer are deemed admitted. The respondent may also take discovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if no answer is filed to the petition?
The averments of fact in the petition may be deemed admitted, and the court enters an appropriate order.
What if the answer raises disputed facts?
The petitioner may take depositions or other allowed discovery on those issues within the court’s deadline. If the petitioner does not, the petition is decided on the petition and answer, and the answer’s properly pleaded responsive facts are deemed admitted.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 206.7 adopted September 8, 1995, effective January 1, 1996, 25 Pa.B. 4092.
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. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as:procedure after rule to show causedepositions on petitiondeemed admitted