Rule 1147.The Complaint.

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

In one sentenceRule 1147 lists what a foreclosure complaint must set out, including the mortgage and any assignments, the land, the defendants and their interests, the default, and the amount due.

Full Text of Rule 1147

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) The plaintiff shall set forth in the complaint:

(1) the parties to and the date of the mortgage, and of any assignments, and a statement of the place of record of the mortgage and assignments;

(2) a description of the land subject to the mortgage;

(3) the names, addresses and interest of the defendants in the action and that the present real owner is unknown if the real owner is not made a party;

(4) a specific averment of default;

(5) an itemized statement of the amount due; and

(6) a demand for judgment for the amount due.

(b) If the plaintiff is proceeding against both personal and real property covered by a mortgage as provided by Section 9604(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code, the plaintiff shall set forth in the complaint.

(1) the matters required by subdivision (a), and

(2) a description of the personal property subject to the mortgage.

End

Plain-English Summary

A foreclosure complaint has to lay out the mortgage and the default in detail. The rule requires the plaintiff to state the parties to and date of the mortgage and any assignments and where they are recorded, a description of the land, the defendants and their interests, a specific averment of default, an itemized statement of the amount due, and a demand for judgment for that amount.

Spelling all of this out lets the court and the defendants see exactly what is owed and why the property is at risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a foreclosure complaint contain?

The mortgage and any assignments and where recorded, a description of the land, the defendants and their interests, the default, and an itemized amount due.

Official Note

Official Note: The plaintiff may also set forth in the complaint a release of the mortgagor and the mortgagor’s successors in interest. See Rule 1144(b). If the mortgage is a residential mortgage under Act No. 6 of 1974, 41 P. S. 101, the complaint should set forth an averment of compliance with the provisions of Section 403 of Act No. 6, 41 P. S. 403.

Official Note: Section 9604(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code, 13 Pa.C.S. § 9604(a), relates to the rights of a secured party when the agreement covers real and personal property. Compliance with subdivision (b) of this rule is a prerequisite to executing in one proceeding pursuant to Rule 3180(b) against both the real and personal property secured by the mortgage.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1147 adopted September 30, 1949, effective April 1, 1950; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2266; amended March 13, 2007, effective June 1, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 1411. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (255241) to (255242).

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: foreclosure complaint contentspleading the mortgageamount due foreclosure