(a) Upon issuance of the writ of revival or the filing of an agreement to revive, the prothonotary shall enter it in the judgment index against each defen- dant and terre tenant named therein.
Rule 3027.Writ of Revival. Entry. Lien.
Adopted October 1, 1964 · Last amended December 19, 2003 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceOn issuance of the writ of revival or filing of an agreement to revive, the prothonotary indexes it against each named defendant and terre-tenant, continuing the old lien and creating new ones, each lasting five years from entry.
Full Text of Rule 3027
(b) The writ or agreement, when entered in the judgment index shall
(1) continue the lien upon real property located in the county which is sub- ject to the lien of the judgment which is sought to be revived,
(2) create a lien upon all other real property located in the county, title to which at the time of entry in the judgment index is recorded in the name of the defendant, and
(3) create a lien upon all other real property located in the county, title to which at the time of entry in the judgment index is recorded in the name of a terre-tenant, and which was subject to the lien of the judgment sought to be revived but the lien lapsed prior to the entry of the writ or agreement in the judgment index.
(c) The lien of a writ of revival or of an agreement to revive shall continue for a period of five years from the date on which the writ or agreement was entered in the judgment index.
Plain-English Summary
This rule gives the revival its lien effect. When the writ of revival issues or the agreement to revive is filed, the prothonotary enters it in the judgment index against every named defendant and terre-tenant.
The entry continues the lien on land already subject to the judgment, creates a lien on the defendant’s other real property in the county, and creates a lien on a terre-tenant’s land that the original judgment had reached. Each of these liens runs for five years from the date of entry — restarting the clock the judgment-lien rule set, so a diligent creditor can keep a lien alive through successive revivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a writ of revival?
A court writ that renews a judgment's lien on real property for a further period.
What does entering the writ do?
Entry in the judgment index continues the lien, preserving the creditor's priority.
Official Note
Official Note: Adopted October 1, 1964, effective April 1, 1965.
Official Note: The lien attaches whether or not the real property was owned by the defen- dant at the time the original judgment was entered in the judgment index or the lien of the judg- ment was previously revived and whether or not the lien of the judgment had been lost as to the property. The priority of the lien is preserved only if the praecipe or the agreement is filed within the five-year period prescribed by these rules.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 3027 adopted October 1, 1964, effective April 1, 1965; amended June 15, 1994, effective July 1, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 3215; amended December 19, 2003, effective July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 22. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (213387) to (213388).
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: writ of revival entry lien