The following Acts of Assembly are suspended insofar as they apply to the practice and procedure in actions for divorce or annulment of marriage to the extent hereinafter set forth:
Rule 1920.91.Suspension of Acts of Assembly.
Last amended October 19, 2021 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1920.91 suspends specific Acts of Assembly to the extent they apply to practice and procedure in divorce and annulment actions.
Full Text of Rule 1920.91
(1) Section 3104(e) of the Domestic Relations Code, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3104(e), absolutely;
(2) Section 3505(b) of the Domestic Relations Code, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3505(b), absolutely;
(3) Section 3321 of the Domestic Relations Code, 23 Pa.C.S. § 3321, insofar as it prohibits the appointment of hearing officers in partial custody or visitation matters.
(4) And all other Acts or parts of Acts of Assembly inconsistent with these rules to the extent of such inconsistency.
Plain-English Summary
Where an older statute's procedure conflicts with the divorce rules, the rules control. This rule lists the Acts of Assembly that are suspended, to the extent they govern practice and procedure in divorce or annulment, under the Supreme Court's authority over procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rule 1920.91 do?
It suspends the listed Acts of Assembly to the extent they apply to practice and procedure in divorce or annulment.
Official Note
Official Note: Suspended Section 3104(d) of the Divorce Code prescribes venue in actions of divorce or for annulment of marriage. Venue in such actions is prescribed by Rule of Civil Procedure 1920.2.
Official Note: Suspended Section 3505(b) of the Divorce Code requires the submission to the court of an inventory and appraisement of property. Rule of Civil Procedure 1920.33(a) sup- plants this provision by requiring parties seeking the distribution of property to file an inventory while subdivision (b) of the rule requires the filing of a pre-trial statement.
Official Note: Suspended Section 3321 of the Divorce Code states that the court may appoint a hearing officer to hear testimony on all issues relating to a divorce except custody or paternity.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 1920.91 amended February 7, 1989, effective July 1, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 764; amended May 17, 1991, effective July 1, 1991, 21 Pa.B. 2615; amended July 15, 1994, effective January 1, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 3803; amended May 5, 1997, effective July 1, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 2532; amended October 19, 2021, effective January 1, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 6764. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (397022) to (397023).
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: acts of assembly suspended divorcesuperseded statutes divorcedivorce procedure statutes