Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6110 (2026)

Emergency relief by minor judiciary.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 6110. Emergency relief by minor judiciary.

(a) General rule.--When:

(1) in counties with less than four judges, the court is unavailable:

(i) from the close of business at the end of each day to the resumption of business the next morning;

(ii) from the end of the business week to the beginning of the business week; and

(iii) during the business day by reason of duties outside the county, illness or vacation;

(2) in counties with at least four judges, the court is unavailable:

(i) from the close of business at the end of each day to the resumption of business the next morning; and

(ii) from the end of the business week to the beginning of the business week;

a petition may be filed before a hearing officer who may grant relief in accordance with section 6108(a)(1), (2) and (6), (1) and (6) or (1) and (9.1) (relating to relief) if the hearing officer deems it necessary to protect the plaintiff or minor children from abuse upon good cause shown in an ex parte proceeding. Immediate and present danger of abuse to the plaintiff or minor children shall constitute good cause for the purposes of this subsection.

(b) Expiration of order.--An order issued under subsection (a) shall expire at the end of the next business day the court deems itself available. The court shall schedule hearings on protection orders entered by hearing officers under subsection (a) and shall review and continue in effect protection orders that are necessary to protect the plaintiff or minor children from abuse until the hearing, at which time the plaintiff may seek a temporary order from the court.

(c) Certification of order to court.--An emergency order issued under this section and any documentation in support thereof shall be immediately certified to the court. The certification to the court shall have the effect of commencing proceedings under section 6106 (relating to commencement of proceedings) and invoking the other provisions of this chapter. If it is not already alleged in a petition for an emergency order, the plaintiff shall file a verified statement setting forth the abuse of defendant at least five days prior to the hearing. Service of the verified statement shall be made subject to section 6106.

(d) Instructions regarding the commencement of proceedings.--Upon issuance of an emergency order, the hearing officer shall provide the plaintiff instructions regarding the commencement of proceedings in the court of common pleas at the beginning of the next business day and regarding the procedures for initiating a contempt charge should the defendant violate the emergency order. The hearing officer shall also advise the plaintiff of the existence of programs for victims of domestic violence in the county or in nearby counties and inform the plaintiff of the availability of legal assistance without cost if the plaintiff is unable to pay for them.

(e) Master for emergency relief.--The president judge of a court of common pleas of a judicial district may, with the approval of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, provide for the selection and appointment of a master for emergency relief on a full-time or part-time basis. The number of masters for emergency relief shall be fixed by the president judge with the approval of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. The compensation of a master for emergency relief shall be fixed and paid by the county.

(July 9, 1992, P.L.400, No.87, eff. 60 days; Oct. 6, 1994, P.L.574, No.85, eff. 60 days; Nov. 10, 2005, P.L.335, No.66, eff. 180 days; Nov. 18, 2024, P.L.1184, No.146, eff. 60 days)

2024 Amendment. Act 146 amended subsec. (a).

2005 Amendment. Act 66 added subsec. (e).

1994 Amendment. Act 85 amended subsecs. (a) and (b).

Cross References. Section 6110 is referred to in sections 6102, 6105 of this title; section 4137 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2001–2024 · leading case: Com. v. Wilson, E., 227 A.3d 928 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020).

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Com. v. Wilson, E., 227 A.3d 928 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). · cites it 2× “; 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110. The magisterial district judge ordered Wilson to: (1) refrain from abusing C.”

Patterson v. Armstrong Cnty. Child. & Youth Servs., 141 F. Supp. 2d 512 (W.D. Pa. 2001). “The court shall schedule hearings on protection orders entered by hearing officers under subsection (a) and shall review and continue in effect protection orders that are necessary to protect the plaintiff or minor children from abuse until the hearing, at which time the…”

Com. v. Wilson, E., 2020 Pa. Super. 18 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). · cites it 2× “; 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110. The magisterial district judge ordered Wilson to: (1) refrain from abusing C.”

In Re: Order Amending Rules 206 & 1201-1209, & the Off. Notes to Rules 112, 215 & 1210-1211 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial Dist. Judges (Pa. 2015). · cites it 13× “Applicability The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, and Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

In Re: Order Amending Rules 1201, 1205, 1206, 1208 & the Off. Note to Rule 206 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial Dist. Judges (Pa. 2016). · cites it 5× “Applicability The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under: (1) Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, granting emergency relief from abuse, and (2) Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

In Re: Order Amedning Rules 140, 141 & 142 of PA Rules of Crim. Procedure (Pa. 2018). “It is not intended to supplant the procedures set forth in 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110 et seq. concerning violations of protection from abuse orders.”

In Re: Order Adopting New Rule 217 & Amending Rule 803 & Off. Notes to Rules 304, 503, 1205 & 1206 of PA Rules of Civil Procedure Before MDJs (Pa. 2018). “Commencement of Proceedings … Official Note: Paragraph B is added to assure compliance with the requirement of Section 6110(d) of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110(d), as well as 42 Pa.C.”

Eads v. Butler Cnty. Sheriffs Dep't (S.D. Ohio 2024). “” It says: The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under: (1) Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, granting emergency relief from abuse, and (2) Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6110(a) — 4 cases

Com. v. Wilson, E., 227 A.3d 928 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “; 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110. The magisterial district judge ordered Wilson to: (1) refrain from abusing C.”

Com. v. Wilson, E., 2020 Pa. Super. 18 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “; 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110. The magisterial district judge ordered Wilson to: (1) refrain from abusing C.”

In Re: Order Amending Rules 206 & 1201-1209, & the Off. Notes to Rules 112, 215 & 1210-1211 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial Dist. Judges (Pa. 2015). “Applicability The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, and Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

In Re: Order Amending Rules 1201, 1205, 1206, 1208 & the Off. Note to Rule 206 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial Dist. Judges (Pa. 2016). “Applicability The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under: (1) Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, granting emergency relief from abuse, and (2) Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6110(b) — 1 case

In Re: Order Amending Rules 206 & 1201-1209, & the Off. Notes to Rules 112, 215 & 1210-1211 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial Dist. Judges (Pa. 2015). “Applicability The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, and Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6110(c) — 1 case

In Re: Order Amending Rules 206 & 1201-1209, & the Off. Notes to Rules 112, 215 & 1210-1211 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial Dist. Judges (Pa. 2015). “Applicability The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, and Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6110(d) — 3 cases

In Re: Order Amending Rules 206 & 1201-1209, & the Off. Notes to Rules 112, 215 & 1210-1211 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial Dist. Judges (Pa. 2015). “Applicability The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, and Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

— 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6110(e) — 1 case

In Re: Order Amending Rules 206 & 1201-1209, & the Off. Notes to Rules 112, 215 & 1210-1211 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Before Magisterial Dist. Judges (Pa. 2015). “Applicability The rules in this chapter apply to the exercise by a hearing officer of jurisdiction under Section 6110 of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6110, and Section 62A09 of Title 42, 42 Pa.”

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