Rule 1710.Order Certifying or Refusing to Certify a Class Action. Revocation. Amendment. Findings and Conclusions.
Adopted June 30, 1977 · Not amended since adoption · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceThe court must explain its certification decision in an accompanying opinion, describe any certified class, and may limit the class to particular issues or subclasses; the order is conditional and revisable, and if certification is refused the case continues for the named parties alone.
(a)In certifying, refusing to certify or revoking a certification of a class action, the court shall set forth in an opinion accompanying the order the reasons for its decision on the matters specified in Rules 1702, 1708 and 1709, including findings of fact, conclusions of law and appropriate discussion.
(b)In certifying a class action, the court shall set forth in its order a description of the class.
(c)When appropriate, in certifying, refusing to certify or revoking a certification of a class action the court may order that
(1)the action be maintained as a class action limited to particular issues or forms of relief, or
(2)a class be divided into subclasses and each subclass treated as a class for purposes of certifying, refusing to certify or revoking a certification and that the provisions of these rules be applied accordingly.
(d)An order under this rule may be conditional and, before a decision on the merits, may be revoked, altered or amended by the court on its own motion or on the motion of any party. Any such supplemental order shall be accompanied by a memorandum of the reasons therefor.
(e)If certification is refused or revoked, the action shall continue by or against the named parties alone.
End
Plain-English Summary
This rule structures the pivotal certification ruling. Whether it certifies, refuses to certify, or revokes certification, the court must set out its reasons in an accompanying opinion, and a certifying order must describe the class. The court may tailor the case — maintaining it as a class action limited to particular issues or forms of relief, or dividing the class into subclasses each treated as its own class.
A certification order may be conditional and, before a decision on the merits, may be revoked, altered, or amended by the court on its own or a party’s motion. If certification is refused or revoked, the action continues by or against the named parties alone. The flexibility lets the court fit the class device to the case and revisit it as the case develops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the court explain its certification decision?
Yes. An accompanying opinion must give the reasons addressing the criteria in Rules 1702, 1708, and 1709.
Can a certification order be changed later?
Yes. It may be revoked or amended as the case develops.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 1710 adopted June 30, 1977, effective September 1, 1977, 7 Pa.B. 1956.
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. This rule has not been amended since its adoption. Last verified June 30, 2026. ·
Official text
Also known as:class certification orderrevoke certificationcertification findings