INSTRUCTIONS
ENTRY OF APPEARANCE BY A SELF-REPRESENTED PARTY
FOR REPRESENTING YOURSELF WHEN FILING A NEW COMPLAINT OR BY
REMOVAL OR WITHDRAWAL OF YOUR ATTORNEY
(PURSUANT TO RULE 1930.8 OF THE PA RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE)
Purpose of Form
Use this form if you have decided to represent yourself when filing a new complaint for divorce,
or if prior counsel has been removed or withdrawn from your existing case. This form is used so
that the Court, and opposing party, can serve you with pleadings or other legal papers if
necessary and a phone number in which you can be contacted.
Definitions
Plaintiff – A person who brings (initiates) an action.
Defendant – A person who is being sued in a court of law.
Address – An address (does not have to be your home address) where legal documents can be
sent to you by the court or opposing party.
Telephone Number – a phone number (does not have to be your home phone number) where
you can be contacted by the court or opposing party.
Filed – Accepted by the Prothonotary, time-stamped, and entered in the official Court docket.
You should also ask for a copy of the document in question to be time-stamped and returned to
you for your records.
Filing Fees
This form by itself does not require you to pay a fee, but be aware that there is a filing fee if you
are initiating a new divorce complaint.
Filing the Entry of Appearance
Once completed, take this form (and the completed Complaint if filing a new action), along with
your copies to the Prothonotary so that it may be filed. NOTE: you must provide notice of this
Entry of Appearance by sending a copy to all parties including the attorney (if applicable)
removed from the case.
Specific Instructions
A. Filling out the Caption
The caption is the top part of this Entry of Appearance, the Notice to Defend and the first
page of the Complaint. Use the same names and numbers if there is an existing docket.
Otherwise, the names of the parties, the docket number (which will be assigned by the
Prothonotary when original complaint filed), the type of document and the court’s name
are contained in the caption.