Rule 1953.Commencement of Action.

Most cases begin with a petition filed with the prothonotary alleging the need for protection from the defendant with respect to sexual violence or intimidation. The petition must be identical in content to the form in Rule 1959(b), with the Notice of Hearing and Order from Rule 1959(a) as its first page or pages. If an emergency order has been entered under 42 Pa.C.S. § 62A09, the action begins instead with the filing of the certified emergency order and any supporting documentation. No fees associated with the action may be charged to the plaintiff.

The petition form asks for the facts of the most recent incident and any earlier ones, and whether the plaintiff is in immediate and present danger, and it requests a temporary order and, after a hearing, a final order. Venue lies under Rule 1952, service follows Rule 1954, and under Rule 1956 the defendant need not file a responsive pleading. The Official Note flags Rule 1930.1(b) on confidential information.