(a) Petition. A party seeking to modify or enforce a confirmed arbitration award shall file a petition naming the other party as respondent.
Rule 1965.Petition for Judicial Relief: Post-Confirmation.
Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRule 1965 governs a petition to modify or enforce a confirmed family-law arbitration award.
Full Text of Rule 1965
(b) Docket Number. The petition shall be filed on the same docket in which the award was confirmed.
(c) Service. The petition shall be served in accordance with Pa.R.Civ.P. 440.
(d) Contents of Petition.
(1) The petition shall allege sufficient facts and cite the Act with specific- ity in support of the relief sought.
(2) A copy of the confirmed arbitration award shall be appended to the petition.
(e) Support-Related Petition. If the petition seeks the collection or enforce- ment by the domestic relations section of a confirmed arbitration award for sup- port, the petition shall be accompanied by the contemporaneous filing of a sup- port complaint if one has not previously been filed.
(f) Notice to File Answer. The petition shall contain a notice substantially in the following form: Notice to File Answer A party to these proceedings has filed a petition to (modify/enforce) a confirmed arbitration award. If you oppose the petition, you are required to file an answer to the petition within 20 days of the date of service of this notice setting forth your objections to the petition. If you fail to file an answer, a court order based on the arbitration award may be entered against you without further notice. You may lose cus- tody, money, property, or other rights important to you. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELE- PHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAW- YER. IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.
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Plain-English Summary
Even after an award is confirmed, the court may have a continuing role. This rule governs a party's petition to modify or enforce a confirmed arbitration award, filed naming the other party as respondent. It gives a party a route to enforce the award or seek a permitted modification as circumstances change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a confirmed family-law arbitration award be modified or enforced?
Yes. Rule 1965 governs a petition to modify or enforce a confirmed award.
Official Note
Comment. : This rule applies when the parties have not otherwise agreed to arbitrate the clarification or modi- fication of a confirmed award. For judicial clarification of a confirmed award, see 42 Pa.C.S. § 7390. An action for declaratory judgment should be filed in the family court. For the filing of a support complaint, see Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.4. [Next page is 2000-1.] CHAPTER 2000. ACTIONS BY REAL PARTIES IN INTEREST Rule 2001. Definitions. 2002. Prosecution of Actions by Real Parties in Interest. Exceptions. 2003. Defenses, Counterclaims and Setoffs. 2004. Transfer of Interest in Pending Action. 2005. Unknown Defendant. Doe Designation. 2024. Effective Date. Pending Actions. 2025. [Rescinded].
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: enforce arbitration award familymodify confirmed awardpost-confirmation arbitration