Rule 1065.Specific Averments.

Adopted June 25, 1946 · Last amended December 30, 2016 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceThe plaintiff in a quiet-title action must describe the land in the complaint, and where the dispute concerns subsurface mineral, oil, or gas rights, must attach a title-abstract summary and a statement of the acreage involved.

Full Text of Rule 1065

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(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the plaintiff shall describe the land in the complaint.

(b) In an action to quiet title involving subsurface mineral, oil, or natural gas rights, the complaint shall describe the land by attaching:

(1) a summary of the abstract of the mineral, oil, or natural gas title, or the full abstract of the mineral, oil, or natural gas title if the title documents are not available in the courthouse records, and

(2) a statement of acreage involved that includes a metes and bounds description, if available, or other description sufficient to identify the subject land.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule says how the disputed property must be described in a quiet-title complaint. As a general matter the plaintiff describes the land. Where the action involves subsurface mineral, oil, or natural-gas rights, the rule demands more: the complaint must attach a summary of the abstract of title to those rights (or the full abstract if the documents are not in the courthouse records) and a statement of acreage with a metes-and-bounds or other sufficient description.

The added detail reflects how hard subsurface estates are to identify, and it gives the court and adverse claimants a precise picture of what is at stake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a quiet-title complaint describe?

The land at issue. For subsurface mineral, oil, or gas rights, the complaint must attach a summary of the abstract as the rule directs.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1065 adopted June 25, 1946, effective January 1, 1947; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2266; amended November 29, 2016, effective January 1, 2017, 46 Pa.B. 7933; amended December 30, 2016, effective January 1, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 178. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (385503).

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: quiet title describe landsubsurface rights complaintabstract attachment