Rule 2304.Order of Court.

Adopted July 10, 1939 · Last amended April 12, 1999 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 2304 prints the order that accompanies an interpleader petition, which adds the claimant as a plaintiff, enjoins other suits on the claim, and has the sheriff direct the claimant to file a complaint within twenty or thirty days.

Full Text of Rule 2304

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The petition shall be accompanied by a form of order of the court substantially as follows: (Caption of the Action) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Now, this day of , the petition of (insert name of party seeking interpleader) is granted and (insert name of the claimant not a party to the action) is added to the record as a party plaintiff and enjoined from commencing or further prosecuting any action in any court against (the petitioner) to enforce in whole or in part any claim against the petitioner set forth in said petition, except as a party to the above entitled action. Now, therefore, we command you, the Sheriff of the County of to direct the claimant, (insert name and address of the claimant) to file in the above entitled action in the office of the (insert title of officer and court) a complaint within twenty days after being served with copies of the petition for interpleader and this order and all pleadings heretofore filed in the above entitled action if said service was made within your county, or within thirty days of said service if said service was made within any other county of this Commonwealth. By the court , J.

End

Plain-English Summary

A defendant seeking interpleader files this form of order with the petition. As entered by the court, the order grants the petition and adds the claimant, who was not a party, to the record as a party plaintiff. It also enjoins the claimant from commencing or further prosecuting any action in any court against the petitioner to enforce the claims set out in the petition, except as a party to this action.

The order then commands the sheriff to direct the claimant to file a complaint in the action. The deadline depends on where service is made: twenty days after service of the petition, the order and all pleadings filed so far if service was made in the sheriff’s county, or thirty days if service was made in any other county of Pennsylvania.

Rule 2306 decides when the court grants the petition, and Rule 2308 requires service on each interpleaded claimant within twenty days after the order is entered, in the manner of original process. Rule 2309 calls the claimant’s pleading a statement of claim, filed within the time the order requires.

Frequently Asked Questions

What order accompanies an interpleader petition?

The form of order provided by Rule 2304.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 2304 adopted July 10, 1939, effective January 22, 1940; amended April 18, 1975, effective immediately, 5 Pa.B. 1820; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2274. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (190606) to (190607).

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: interpleader order formorder of court interpleaderinterpleader proposed order