At any stage of an action, the court may order the joinder of any additional person who could have joined or been joined in the action and may stay the pro- ceedings in whole or in part until such person has been joined. The action may proceed although such person has not been made a party if jurisdiction over that person cannot be obtained and that person is not an indispensable party to the action.
Rule 1920.34.Joinder of Parties.
Last amended March 30, 1994 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1920.34 lets the court order the joinder of an additional person who could have joined or been joined in a divorce action, and to stay the action pending joinder.
Full Text of Rule 1920.34
Plain-English Summary
A divorce sometimes affects people beyond the spouses — a third party holding marital property, for example. This rule lets the court, at any stage, order the joinder of any additional person who could have joined or been joined in the action, and stay the action until the joinder is accomplished, so the divorce can bind everyone with a stake in the marital estate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a non-spouse be brought into a divorce case?
Yes. The court may order the joinder of an additional person who could have joined or been joined.
Official Note
Official Note: The joinder of persons other than husband and wife may be essential in claims for child custody where neither has custody or custody is claimed by others, or where persons other than the parties have an interest in property which is the subject matter of a dis- tribution. The intervention in an action by a person not a party is goverened by Rule 2326 et seq.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 1920.34 amended March 30, 1994, effective July 1, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 1943. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (159457).
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: divorce joinder of partiesadd party divorcethird party divorce