The Praecipe for Notice of Intent to Attach Wages shall be substantially in the following form: (Caption) Praecipe for Notice of Intent to Attach Wages To the Prothonotary: Issue a Notice of Intent to Attach Wages in the above matter
Rule 3311.Praecipe for Notice of Intent to Attach Wages. Form.
Adopted December 21, 2005 · Last amended December 21, 2005 · Last verified June 30, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule supplies the form of the praecipe a landlord files to obtain a Notice of Intent to Attach Wages, including the details the court needs about the judgment, any security deposit, and amounts paid.
Full Text of Rule 3311
(1) against , defendant,
(2) against , employer of the defendant. Date: Attorney for Judgment Creditor-Landlord or Judgment Creditor-Landlord if unrepresented Address Telephone number Certification by Judgment Creditor—Landlord I certify that 1. The plaintiff judgment-creditor is Name Address 2. The defendant judgment-debtor is Name Address 3. The employer garnishee is Name Address 4. The judgment arises out of a residential lease for the premises at (address). 5. (a) The amount of the judgment is $ .
(b) A security deposit in the amount of $ is being held by the judgment creditor-landlord. This security deposit has been applied has not been applied to payment of rent due on the same premises for which the judgment has been entered. (Any security deposit that has not already been applied to rent will be deducted by the Prothonotary from the amount of the judgment in determining the amount to be attached.)
(c) The amount of $ has been paid toward satisfaction of the judgment. (Do not include the security deposit.) 6. This praecipe is filed within five years of the date of the original judgment upon which execution is sought. 7. The judgment was entered (check one): in a civil action commenced in the court of common pleas. in an action brought before a magisterial district judge. in an action commenced in the Philadelphia Municipal Court. 8. Check the appropriate paragraph and attach the required documents:
(a) If the judgment was entered in a civil action (Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 301 et seq.) before a magisterial district judge, a copy of the complaint filed with the magisterial district judge is attached to this Notice, showing that the action arose from a residential lease.
(b) If the judgment was entered in an action for the recovery of possession of real property (Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. 501 et seq.) before a magisterial district judge, copies of the appropriate magisterial district judge records are attached showing that the action arose from a residential lease and that the defendant appeared or filed papers in the action or that the complaint was served by handing a copy to the defendant.
(c) If the judgment was entered in an action in the Philadelphia Municipal Court in which the defendant was served pursuant to Phila.M.C.R.Civ.P. No. 111(A) or (C), a copy of the complaint filed with the Philadelphia Municipal Court is attached to this Notice, showing that the action arose from a residential lease.
(d) If the judgment was entered in an action in the Philadelphia Municipal Court in which the defendant was served pursuant to Phila.M.C.R.Civ.P. No. 111(B), copies of the appropriate Philadelphia Municipal Court records are attached showing that the action arose from a residential lease and that the defendant appeared or filed papers in the action. I certify that the statements made in this Certification are true and correct. I understand that false statements herein are made subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities. Date: Judgment Creditor-Landlord
Plain-English Summary
This rule prints the praecipe that opens a wage attachment. Addressed to the prothonotary, it identifies the defendant and the defendant’s employer, states how the underlying residential-lease judgment was entered and where, accounts for any security deposit held by the landlord and any amount already paid toward the judgment, and confirms the praecipe is filed within five years.
It also directs which case documents to attach depending on the court that entered the judgment. The detailed form ensures the prothonotary and the tenant see the basis for the attachment and that the judgment qualifies for this narrow remedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the wage-attachment praecipe contain?
The parties, how and where the judgment was entered, any security deposit and amounts paid, and the case documents to attach.
Does it account for a security deposit?
Yes. The praecipe states whether a security deposit is held and whether it has been applied to the judgment.
Amendment History
The provisions of this Rule 3311 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: praecipe notice of intent to attach wages form