The notice required by Rule 1920.12(c) shall be substantially in the following form: NOTICE TO DEFEND AND CLAIM RIGHTS You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the follow- ing pages, you must take prompt action. You are warned that if you fail to do so, the case may proceed without you and a decree of divorce or annulment may be entered against you by the court. A judgment may also be entered against you for any other claim or relief requested in these papers by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you, including custody of your children. When the ground for the divorce is indignities or irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, you may request marriage counseling. A list of marriage counselors is available in the Office of the Prothonotary at (Room Number—Address) IF YOU DO NOT FILE A CLAIM FOR ALIMONY, DIVISION OF PROPERTY, LAWYER’S FEES OR EXPENSES BEFORE A DIVORCE OR AN ANNULMENT IS GRANTED, YOU MAY LOSE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM ANY OF THEM. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PRO- VIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.
Rule 1920.71.Form of Notice.
Adopted June 27, 1980 · Last amended May 6, 2015 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1920.71 supplies the 'Notice to Defend and Claim Rights' form that must accompany a divorce complaint.
Full Text of Rule 1920.71
(Name) (Address) (Telephone number)
Plain-English Summary
A divorce defendant must be told plainly what is at stake. This rule prints the Notice to Defend and Claim Rights that accompanies the complaint under Rule 1920.12(c), warning the defendant of the suit and of the rights — to defend, and to claim alimony, division of property, and the like — that may be lost if they do not respond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notice comes with a divorce complaint?
The Notice to Defend and Claim Rights provided by Rule 1920.71.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 1920.71 adopted June 27, 1980, effective July 1, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 2967; amended January 28, 1983, effective July 1, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 677; amended March 18, 2004, effective June 16, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 1754; amended May 6, 2015, effective July 1, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 2457. Imme- diately preceding text appears at serial pages (322563) and (303587).
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: notice to defend divorceclaim rights noticedivorce notice form