Rule 1054.Specific Averments. Abstract of Title.

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

In one sentenceRule 1054 requires an ejectment plaintiff to describe the land and requires each party to set out, in its pleading, an abstract of the title it relies on, traced at least from the common source of the parties' competing titles.

Full Text of Rule 1054

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) The plaintiff shall describe the land in the complaint.

(b) A party shall set forth in the complaint or answer an abstract of the title upon which the party relies at least from the common source of the adverse titles of the parties.

End

Plain-English Summary

An ejectment case turns on who holds title, so the pleadings have to lay that out. The plaintiff must describe the parcel, and each side must include an abstract of title, traced back at least to the common source from which both claims descend.

Putting the chain of title on the record early lets the court and the parties see where the competing claims split and focus the fight on that point.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must an ejectment complaint describe?

The land in dispute.

What is the abstract of title here?

A summary of the title a party relies on, set out at least from the common source of the parties' adverse titles.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1054 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 (212313).

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: ejectment abstract of titledescribe the land complaintchain of title pleading