Rule 227.4.Entry of Judgment Upon Praecipe of a Party.

Adopted October 19, 1983 · Last amended November 2, 2007 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 227.4 lets the prothonotary, on a party’s praecipe, enter judgment on a verdict, decision, or nonsuit when no timely post-trial motion is filed or when post-trial motions are not decided within one hundred twenty days of the first motion, and when the court grants or denies relief without itself entering judgment.

Full Text of Rule 227.4

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In addition to the provisions of any Rule of Civil Procedure or Act of Assembly authorizing the prothonotary to enter judgment upon praecipe of a party and except as otherwise provided by Rule 1042.72(e)(3), the prothonotary shall, upon praecipe of a party:

(1) enter judgment upon a nonsuit by the court, the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge following a trial without jury, if

(a) no timely post-trial motion is filed; or

(b) one or more timely post-trial motions are filed and the court does not enter an order disposing of all motions within one hundred twenty days after the filing of the first motion. A judgment entered pursuant to this subparagraph shall be final as to all parties and all issues and shall not be subject to reconsideration;

(2) enter judgment when a court grants or denies relief but does not itself enter judgment or order the prothonotary to do so.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule lets a party move a case to final judgment through the prothonotary. On praecipe, the prothonotary enters judgment on a nonsuit, jury verdict, or judge’s decision when no timely post-trial motion is filed.

It also breaks a logjam. If timely post-trial motions are filed but the court does not dispose of all of them within one hundred twenty days after the first motion, a party may praecipe for judgment, and that judgment is final as to all parties and issues and not subject to reconsideration. The prothonotary also enters judgment when the court rules on relief but does not itself enter judgment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the court does not rule on post-trial motions?

If the court does not decide all timely post-trial motions within one hundred twenty days after the first motion is filed, a party may praecipe the prothonotary to enter judgment, and that judgment is final and not subject to reconsideration.

How is judgment entered when no post-trial motion is filed?

A party files a praecipe, and the prothonotary enters judgment on the nonsuit, verdict, or decision.

Official Note

Official Note: If a motion for delay damages has been filed, judgment may not be entered until that motion is decided or otherwise resolved. See Rule 238(c)(3)(i). Rule 1042.72(e)(3) prohibits the entry of judgment in a medical professional liability action if a motion for post-trial relief under Rule 227.1 is pending with respect to the ground that a damage award for noneconomic loss is excessive.

Official Note: See Rule 236 requiring the prothonotary to give notice of the entry of an order or judgment and Rule 237 requiring notice of filing of praecipe for judgment. For illustrative Rules of Civil Procedure specifically authorizing entry of judgment by the prothonotary on praecipe of a party, see Rules 1037, 1659, 3031(a), and 3146.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 227.4 adopted October 19, 1983, effective January 1, 1984, 13 Pa.B. 3629; amended July 28, 1995, effective January 1, 1996, 25 Pa.B. 3337; amended September 24, 1997, effective January 1, 1998, 27 Pa.B. 5245; amended December 16, 2003, effective July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 9; amended September 17, 2004, effective December 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 5351; amended November 2, 2007, effective January 1, 2008, 37 Pa.B. 6201. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (306106).

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: entry of judgmentpraecipe for judgment120 days post-trial