Rule 2956.1.Execution Upon a Judgment Entered by Confession.

Adopted April 1, 1996 · Last amended September 13, 1996 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceA judgment entered by confession is enforced as other judgments are, subject to the notice procedures the chapter sets out before execution.

Full Text of Rule 2956.1

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Except as otherwise provided by subdivisions (b) and (c), a judgment entered by confession shall be enforced as provided by Rule 3101 et seq. govern- ing the enforcement of a judgment for the payment of money.

(b) A judgment entered by confession which arises from a retail installment sale, contract or account under the Goods and Services Installment Sales Act or which constitutes a residential mortgage obligation under the Loan Interest and Protection Law shall be conformed as provided by Rule 2981 et seq. prior to execution.

(c) Execution upon a judgment entered by confession which is not within the scope of subdivision (b) and to which a petition to open or strike the judgment has not been filed, shall be

(1) commenced by a praecipe as provided by Rule 2957 and

(2) conditioned upon the service of notice on the defendant in the judgment as provided by either

(i) Rule 2958.1 at least thirty days prior to the filing of the praecipe for the writ of execution, or

(ii) Rule 2958.2 with the notice of sale of real property, or

(iii) Rule 2958.3 with the writ of execution.

Plain-English Summary

This rule connects a confessed judgment to ordinary enforcement while pointing to the special notice steps that come first. Execution generally follows the usual rules, but the chapter layers on advance-notice requirements designed to protect the debtor’s due-process rights before a confessed judgment is enforced.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a confessed judgment enforced?

As provided for other judgments, except as the chapter’s notice rules modify the process before execution.

Why are extra notice steps required?

A confessed judgment is entered without the usual contest, so the rules require advance notice so the debtor can seek relief before enforcement.

Official Note

Official Note: These Acts of Assembly prohibit execution upon these judgments until they have been conformed in a separate action. Once conformed pursuant to Rule 2986, these judg- ments may be enforced in the same manner as other judgments for the payment of money.

Official Note: The praecipe required by subparagraph (1) is in place of the praecipe pre- scribed by Rule 3251.

Official Note: The notice may be given prior to execution under Rule 2958.1 or as part of the execution process under Rule 2958.2 or 2958.3, whichever is applicable. Notice prior to execution under Rule 2958.1 may be given in all cases. However, the notice served with the notice of sale of real property under Rule 2958.2 is limited to execution upon real property or real property and personal property subject to Section 9501(d) of the Uniform Commercial Code. The notice served with the writ of execution under Rule 2958.3 is limited to an execution upon personal property or personal and real property. Written notice under subdivision (c)(2) is required only in connection with execution pro- ceedings and is in addition to the procedural requirements of Rule 3101 et seq. The notice is in addition also to the notice of the entry of the judgment given by the prothonotary under Rule 236.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 2956.1 adopted April 1, 1996, effective July 1, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 1806; amended September 13, 1996, effective immediately, 26 Pa.B. 4636. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (213357) to (213358).

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: execution confessed judgmentenforce confession of judgment