reading on the rise issue #17

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Many people are confused by the Pennsylvania Court

system and its many names. Actually it's quite simple!

For lawsuits up to $12,000 anyone can go to a District

Justice besides the Court of Common Pleas to file a

complaint (lawsuit). The one problem is that the person

who loses can file an appeal in the Court of Common

Pleas (courthouse) and you will be required to file the

law suit again and have all the procedural problems just like any other lawsuit.

Also landlord/tenant complaints are normally filed with a District Justice and

the person also has the same rights to appeal. Many minor criminal matters are

also decided by a District Justice. For major crimes you have an initial arraign-

ment before a District Justice prior to the case being sent (waived/bound over)

to the Court of Common Pleas. The Court of Common Pleas hears all types of

cases unless another court has been specifically designated to have jurisdiction

over a specific matter such as a will and/or an estate/adoption. If you file suit

and/or are sued by someone, you do it in the Court of Common Pleas, such as

divorces, custody, support, name changes and related matters are all filed in the

Court of Common Pleas. There is no limit as to how much you can file suit

for in the Common Pleas Court. Also all the major criminal matters, as well as

District Justice Appeals are in Common Pleas.

The Orphans Court is responsible for adoptions, wills, estates and trusts.

The marriage license bureau is also located at the Register of Wills office. Un-

less you are a corporation, you do not need a lawyer in any of the above

Courts; however, you are taking a big chance without one for several reasons:

1. You are nervous; 2. You are not familiar with the system and if the other

person has a lawyer you could lose just by not knowing the procedure; and 3.

no matter how aware you are, you are going to know less law than even the

newest of lawyers. Next month, I’ll discuss divorce.

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10.000 Sq Ft

New Goggle Works Artist

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HABLAMOS ESPANOL Jeanette Leon

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