(a) The prothonotary, on praecipe of the plaintiff, shall enter judgment against a defendant or terre tenant for failure within the required time to plead to the writ or for any relief admitted to be due by the defendant’s or terre tenant’s pleading. The prothonotary shall assess damages as directed in the praecipe for judgment.
Rule 3031.Judgment upon Default or Admission. Assessment of Damages.
Adopted October 1, 1964 · Last amended December 19, 2003 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceIf a defendant or terre-tenant fails to answer the writ in time, or admits what is owed, the prothonotary enters a judgment of revival on the creditor’s praecipe, and in any case the court may enter an appropriate judgment on default or admission.
Full Text of Rule 3031
(b) In all cases the court, on motion of a party, may enter an appropriate judgment against a party upon default or admission.
Plain-English Summary
This rule supplies the routes to a judgment of revival without a contest. If the defendant or terre-tenant does not plead to the writ within the time allowed, or admits that relief is due, the prothonotary enters judgment against that party on the creditor’s praecipe.
Beyond that clerk-entered judgment, the court may on motion enter an appropriate judgment against a party on default or admission. The Official Note flags the federal protection for service members, which requires an affidavit that the defendant is not in military service before a default judgment. Together these give the creditor a clean path to revival when no one defends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a party does not plead to the writ?
The prothonotary may enter a judgment of revival on praecipe of the plaintiff for failure to plead in time.
Who assesses damages on default?
The rule directs how the amount is fixed when revival is entered by default or admission.
Official Note
Official Note: See the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. App. § 520 requir- ing an affidavit setting forth facts showing that the defendant is not in military service as a pre- requisite to the entry of a default judgment. See Rule 237.1 et seq. which requires a ten-day notice as a prerequisite to the entry of a default judgment.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 3031 adopted October 1, 1964, effective April 1, 1965; amended December 19, 2003, effective July 1, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 22. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (213388) to (213389).
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: judgment default admission revival assessment of damages