Rule 1002.Authority of Attorney.

Adopted June 25, 1946 · Last amended April 12, 1999 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceAny act this chapter requires or allows a party to perform — except verifying a pleading — may instead be performed by the party’s attorney, so counsel can carry out the steps of litigation on the client’s behalf.

Full Text of Rule 1002

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Any act other than verification required or authorized by this chapter to be done by a party may be done by the party’s attorney.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule confirms that a party acts through counsel. Whatever the pleading rules call on a party to do may be done by the party’s attorney, with one exception: verification, the sworn statement that a pleading’s facts are true, must still come from the party.

Reserving verification to the party keeps personal responsibility for the truth of the allegations where it belongs, while leaving the rest of the mechanical and tactical work of the case to the lawyer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a lawyer do things the rules require the party to do?

Yes, with one exception. Any act required or authorized of a party may be done by the party’s attorney, except verification, which must generally be made by the party.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1002 adopted June 25, 1946, effective January 1, 1947; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2266. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (212289).

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: authority of attorneyattorney acts for party