Rule 2959.Striking Off or Opening Judgment. Pleadings. Procedure.
Last amended September 28, 2004 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceRelief from a confessed judgment is sought by petition, all grounds must be raised together, and the court opens the judgment if the evidence would require the issue to go to a jury.
(1)Relief from a judgment by confession shall be sought by petition. Except as provided in subparagraph (2), all grounds for relief whether to strike off the judgment or to open it must be asserted in a single petition. The petition may be filed in the county in which the judgment was originally entered, in any county to which the judgment has been transferred or in any other county in which the sheriff has received a writ of execution directed to the sheriff to enforce the judgment.
(2)The ground that the waiver of the due process rights of notice and hearing was not voluntary, intelligent and knowing shall be raised only
(i)in support of a further request for a stay of execution where the court has not stayed execution despite the timely filing of a petition for relief from the judgment and the presentation of prima facie evidence of a defense; and
(3)If written notice is served upon the petitioner pursuant to Rule 2956.1(c)(2) or Rule 2973.1(c), the petition shall be filed within thirty days after such service. Unless the defendant can demonstrate that there were com- pelling reasons for the delay, a petition not timely filed shall be denied.
(b)If the petition states prima facie grounds for relief the court shall issue a rule to show cause and may grant a stay of proceedings. After being served with a copy of the petition the plaintiff shall file an answer on or before the return day of the rule. The return day of the rule shall be fixed by the court by local rule or special order.
(c)A party waives all defenses and objections which are not included in the petition or answer.
(d)The petition and the rule to show cause and the answer shall be served as provided in Rule 440.
(e)The court shall dispose of the rule on petition and answer, and on any testimony, depositions, admissions and other evidence. The court for cause shown may stay proceedings on the petition insofar as it seeks to open the judgment pending disposition of the application to strike off the judgment. If evidence is produced which in a jury trial would require the issues to be submitted to the jury the court shall open the judgment.
(f)The lien of the judgment or of any levy or attachment shall be preserved while the proceedings to strike off or open the judgment are pending.
(1)A judgment shall not be stricken or opened because of a creditor’s fail- ure to provide a debtor with instructions imposed by an existing statute, if any, regarding procedures to follow to strike a judgment or regarding any rights avail- able to an incorrectly identified debtor.
(2)Subdivision (g)(1) shall apply to (1) judgments entered prior to the effective date of subdivision (g) which have not been stricken or opened as of the effective date and (2) judgments entered on or after the effective date.
Plain-English Summary
This is the central challenge rule. A defendant attacks a confessed judgment by petition, raising every available ground at once or risking waiver. The court strikes the judgment for a defect on the record and opens it where the petition and any evidence would require submission of the issue to a jury—restoring the contest the confession bypassed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a defendant challenge a confessed judgment?
By petition to strike off or open the judgment. All grounds for relief must be asserted in a single petition, with stated exceptions.
What is the difference between striking and opening?
Striking addresses a defect apparent on the record. Opening lets the defendant defend on the merits when the evidence would require the issue to be tried.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 2959 amended through June 20, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, 15 Pa.B. 2452; amended April 1, 1996, effective July 1, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 1806; amended September 28, 2004, effective immediately, 34 Pa.B. 5551. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (24894) and (218363).
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:striking off or opening judgmentpetition to open confessed judgment