Rule 1141.Definition. Conformity to Civil Action.

Adopted September 30, 1949 · Last amended March 13, 2007 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1141 defines the mortgage-foreclosure action covered by this chapter — foreclosing a mortgage on land or on land and personal property together — excludes suits to enforce personal liability, and otherwise runs the action on ordinary civil procedure.

Full Text of Rule 1141

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) As used in this chapter, ‘‘action’’ means an action to foreclose a mortgage upon any estate, leasehold or interest in land, or upon both personal property and an estate, leasehold or interest in land pursuant to Section 9604(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code, but shall not include an action to enforce a personal liability.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the procedure in the action shall be in accordance with the rules relating to civil action.

End

Plain-English Summary

This chapter governs the action that lets a lender foreclose a mortgage and force a sale of the property. The opening rule defines what counts as such an action: foreclosing a mortgage on an estate, leasehold, or interest in land, or on land together with personal property, but not a suit to recover a borrower's personal liability on the debt. Beyond the chapter's special rules, the case runs on ordinary civil procedure.

The line between foreclosing the property and suing on the personal debt matters, because the two remedies follow different paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a mortgage foreclosure action do?

It forecloses a mortgage on land (or land and personal property) so the property can be sold to satisfy the debt.

Does this chapter cover a suit on the borrower's personal liability?

No. An action to enforce personal liability on the debt is excluded from this chapter.

Official Note

Official Note: Section 9604(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code, 13 Pa.C.S. § 9604(a), provides that if a security agreement covers both personal and real property, the secured party may elect to proceed as to both the real property and the personal property in accordance with its rights with respect to the real property, in which case the other provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code do not apply.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1141 adopted September 30, 1949, effective April 1, 1950; amended December 16, 1983, effective July 1, 1984, 13 Pa.B. 3999; amended December 16, 2003, effective July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 9; amended March 13, 2007, effective June 1, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 1411. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (302480).

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: mortgage foreclosure actionforeclose a mortgagescope of foreclosure