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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5503 (2026)

  Commencement of matters.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 5503.  Commencement of matters.

(a)  General rule.--A matter is commenced for the purposes of this chapter when a document embodying the matter is filed in an office authorized by section 5103 (relating to transfer of erroneously filed matters) or by any other provision of law to receive such document.

(b)  Implementing court rules.--Subsection (a) may be made more specifically applicable to particular classes of matters, including interparty claims therein, by general rules further defining the document which when filed shall constitute the commencement of a matter.

(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days)

 

1978 Amendment.  Act 53 amended subsec. (b).

Cross References.  Section 5503 is referred to in section 5552 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1993–2025 · leading case: Witherspoon v. City of Philadelphia, 768 A.2d 1079 (Pa. 2001).
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Witherspoon v. City of Philadelphia, 768 A.2d 1079 (Pa. 2001). · cites it 2× “" 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503(a) (emphasis added). Nothing in Pennsylvania's statutes requires service on a defendant in order to satisfy the limitations period that governs a particular action— the only requirement is that the action be filed in the appropriate office.”
Commonwealth v. Laventure, 894 A.2d 109 (Pa. 2006). “; 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503(b). In this regard, this Court has prescribed that criminal proceedings in court cases shall be instituted, inter alia, by the filing of a written complaint.”
Lafferty v. St. Riel, 397 F. Supp. 2d 602 (E.D. Pa. 2005). “See 42 Pa. Cons.Stat. Ann. §§ 5503 and 5524. Significantly, Pennsylvania law also provides: (a) .”
Pennsylvania Footwear Corp. v. Midlantic Bank, N.A. (In re Pennsylvania Footwear Corp.), 199 B.R. 534 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 1996). “The Debtor’s final argument, which we consider to be supported to some degree by McDowell , references 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503, which provides, in pertinent part, as follows: Commencement of matters (a) General Rule.”
Tambellini, J., Aplt. v. Erie Ins. (Pa. 2023). “§ 102, and provides that “a matter is commenced” for purposes of the statute of limitations when “a document embodying the matter” is filed in a court or magisterial district, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503. [J-13A-2023, J-13B-2023, J-13C-2023 and J-13D-2023] - 21 Were we to follow…”
Tambellini, J. v. Erie Ins., Aplt. (Pa. 2023). “§ 102, and provides that “a matter is commenced” for purposes of the statute of limitations when “a document embodying the matter” is filed in a court or magisterial district, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503. [J-13A-2023, J-13B-2023, J-13C-2023 and J-13D-2023] - 21 Were we to follow…”
HTR Restaurants, Aplt. v. Erie Ins. (Pa. 2023). “§ 102, and provides that “a matter is commenced” for purposes of the statute of limitations when “a document embodying the matter” is filed in a court or magisterial district, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503. [J-13A-2023, J-13B-2023, J-13C-2023 and J-13D-2023] - 21 Were we to follow…”
HTR Restaurants v. Erie Ins., Aplt. (Pa. 2023). “§ 102, and provides that “a matter is commenced” for purposes of the statute of limitations when “a document embodying the matter” is filed in a court or magisterial district, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503. [J-13A-2023, J-13B-2023, J-13C-2023 and J-13D-2023] - 21 Were we to follow…”
Ferraro, B. v. Patterson-Erie, Aplt. (Pa. 2024). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5503. Significantly, this Court’s Rules of Civil Procedure provide: Rule 1007.”
Morrison v. Harvey III (E.D. Pa. 2021). “at 671 (internal quotations omitted); 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5503 . Pursuant to Pennsylvania law and the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, commencement of an action takes place when either a praecipe for a writ of summons or a complaint is filed with the prothonotary.”
Ferraro, B. v. Patterson-Erie, Aplt. (Pa. 2024). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5503. Significantly, this Court’s Rules of Civil Procedure provide: Rule 1007.”
Sanders (W.D. Pa. 2025). “” 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5503. The initial complaint to police dispatch on the morning of October 8, 2021, specifically identified Sanders as having threatened to kill SC while she was outside her school.”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5503(a) — 1 case
Witherspoon v. City of Philadelphia, 768 A.2d 1079 (Pa. 2001). “" 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503(a) (emphasis added). Nothing in Pennsylvania's statutes requires service on a defendant in order to satisfy the limitations period that governs a particular action— the only requirement is that the action be filed in the appropriate office.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5503(b) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Laventure, 894 A.2d 109 (Pa. 2006). “; 42 Pa.C.S. § 5503(b). In this regard, this Court has prescribed that criminal proceedings in court cases shall be instituted, inter alia, by the filing of a written complaint.”
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