Rule 217.Costs on Continuance.

Adopted September 8, 1938 · Last amended April 12, 1999 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 217 lets the court impose on a party who seeks a continuance after the preliminary call of the trial list the opposing party’s reasonable costs caused by the delay, bars further steps in the suit while those costs go unpaid, and denies recovery of them to an at-fault applicant.

Full Text of Rule 217

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When a continuance is granted upon application made subsequent to the preliminary call of the trial list, the court may impose on the party making the application the reasonable costs actually incurred by the opposing party which would not have been incurred if the application had been made at or prior to such preliminary call. Where a continuance has been so granted and costs imposed, the party upon whom such costs have been imposed, may not, so long as such costs remain unpaid, take any further step in such suit without prior leave of court. A party upon whom such costs are so imposed and who was at fault in delay-ing the application for continuance may not recover such costs, if ultimately successful in the action; otherwise such costs shall follow the judgment in the action.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule attaches a price to a late continuance. When a party applies for a continuance after the preliminary call of the trial list, the court may impose the reasonable costs the opposing party incurred that an earlier application would have avoided by an earlier application.

Two consequences follow. While those imposed costs remain unpaid, the party charged may take no further step in the suit without leave of court. And a party who was at fault in delaying the application cannot recover those costs even if it ultimately wins; otherwise the costs follow the judgment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a late continuance cost me money?

Yes. The court may impose the opposing party’s reasonable costs caused by the delay, and until those costs are paid you may not take any further step in the suit without leave of court.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 217 adopted September 8, 1938, effective March 20, 1939; amended April 18, 1975, effective immediately, 5 Pa.B. 1820; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2266. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (246949).

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: costs on continuancecontinuance costs