(a) Matters referred to a hearing officer for hearing shall proceed as pre- scribed by Pa.R.C.P. No. 1920.55-2 unless the court by local rule adopts the alternative procedure of Pa.R.C.P. No. 1920.55-3.
Rule 1920.55-1.Alternative Hearing Procedures for Matters Referred to a Hearing Officer.
Adopted September 11, 1995 · Last amended October 19, 2021 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1920.55-1 has matters referred to a divorce hearing officer follow the report-and-exceptions procedure of Rule 1920.55-2 unless the court adopts the de novo procedure of Rule 1920.55-3 by local rule.
Full Text of Rule 1920.55-1
(b) The president judge or the administrative judge of Family Division of each county shall certify that all divorce proceedings which are referred to a hearing officer in that county are conducted in accordance with either Pa.R.C.P. the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee and shall be substantially in the following form: I hereby certify that County conducts its divorce proceedings that are referred to a hearing officer in accordance with Pa.R.C.P. No. . (PRESIDENT JUDGE) (ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE)
Plain-English Summary
Counties handle hearing-officer matters in one of two ways, and this rule sets the default. Matters referred to a hearing officer proceed under Rule 1920.55-2 — report, notice, and exceptions — unless the court, by local rule, adopts the alternative in Rule 1920.55-3, which uses a non-record hearing and a hearing de novo. The choice fits the process to local practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hearing-officer procedure applies in a divorce?
The Rule 1920.55-2 report-and-exceptions procedure, unless the county adopts the Rule 1920.55-3 alternative.
Official Note
Official Note: For a complete list of the Alternative Hearing Procedures for each county: http://www.pacourts.us/courts/supreme-court/committees/rules-committees/domestic-relations- procedural-rules-committee.
Explanatory Comment. The 1995 amendments created alternative procedures for appeal from the recommendation of a master in divorce. Pa.R.C.P. No. 1920.55-1 states that, if the court chooses to appoint a master, the exceptions procedure set forth in proposed Pa.R.C.P. No. 1920.55-2 will be used unless the court has, by local rule, adopted the alternative procedure of proposed Pa.R.C.P. No. 1920.55-3. In lieu of continuing the practice of including in the Note a 67-county list identifying the hearing procedure selected by the local county court, the list can now be found on the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee website.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 1920.55-1 adopted September 11, 1995, effective January 1, 1996, 25 Pa.B. 4097; amended March 16, 2011, effective immediately, 41 Pa.B. 1758; amended October 14, 2016, effective December 1, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 6819; amended October 19, 2021, effective January 1, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 6764. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (397005).
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: alternative divorce hearing procedureshearing officer procedure divorcematters referred hearing officer