(a) The rules of this chapter govern an attachment of wages to satisfy a judg- ment pursuant to Section 8127(a)(3.1) of the Judicial Code.
Rule 3301.Scope. Definitions.
Adopted December 21, 2005 · Last amended December 21, 2005 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceThis chapter governs the attachment of wages to satisfy a residential-lease money judgment under the Judicial Code, and it defines the players — the tenant as defendant, the employer as garnishee, and the landlord as plaintiff.
Full Text of Rule 3301
(b) As used in this chapter, ‘‘defendant’’ means a judgment debtor-tenant, ‘‘garnishee’’ means the employer of the defendant, ‘‘judgment’’ means a judgment for amounts awarded to a plaintiff arising out of a residential lease, which has been entered in the court of common pleas or the Philadelphia Municipal Court and which shall have been entered originally in
(1) any civil action brought in the court of common pleas,
(2) the following actions brought before a magisterial district judge:
(i) a civil action pursuant to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 301 et seq., or
(ii) an action for the recovery of possession of real property pursuant to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 501 et seq. in which the defendant appeared or filed papers or in which the complaint was served by handing a copy to the defendant,
(3) the following actions brought in the Philadelphia Municipal Court:
(i) a civil action in which the defendant was served pursuant to Phil- a.M.C.R.Civ.P. No. 111(A) or (C), or
(ii) an action in which the defendant was served pursuant to Phila. M.C.R.Civ.P. No. 111(B) and in which the defendant appeared or filed papers, ‘‘plaintiff’’ means a judgment creditor-landlord, and ‘‘wages’’ includes salary and commissions.
Plain-English Summary
This rule frames Pennsylvania’s narrow wage-attachment chapter. Wages are broadly protected from execution, but the Judicial Code allows attachment to satisfy a money judgment arising from a residential lease, and these rules govern that process.
The chapter defines its terms accordingly: the “defendant” is the judgment debtor-tenant, the “garnishee” is the tenant’s employer, the “plaintiff” is the judgment creditor-landlord, and “judgment” covers qualifying money judgments from common pleas, magisterial district, and Philadelphia Municipal Court cases. Fixing the scope and vocabulary keeps this exceptional remedy confined to the residential-lease judgments the statute allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can wages be attached in Pennsylvania?
Only in narrow situations. This chapter allows it to satisfy a money judgment arising from a residential lease, as the Judicial Code permits.
Who are the parties in a wage attachment?
The tenant is the defendant, the employer is the garnishee, and the landlord is the plaintiff.
Official Note
Official Note: Section 8127(a)(3.1) of the Judicial Code provides for the attachment of wages for amounts awarded to a judgment creditor-landlord arising out of a residential lease upon which the court has rendered judgment which is final. See subdivision (b) for the definition of ‘‘judgment.’’ Rule 3101 et seq. governing the enforcement of money judgments is not applicable to the attachment of wages under this chapter.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 3301 adopted December 21, 2005, effective one month after the date of the Order, 36 Pa.B. 176.
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: attachment of wageswage garnishment residential lease