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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7533 (2026)

 Construction of documents.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 7533.  Construction of documents.

Any person interested under a deed, will, written contract, or other writings constituting a contract, or whose rights, status, or other legal relations are affected by a statute, municipal ordinance, contract, or franchise, may have determined any question of construction or validity arising under the instrument, statute, ordinance, contract, or franchise, and obtain a declaration of rights, status, or other legal relations thereunder.

 

Cross References.  Section 7533 is referred to in section 7536 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 100 cases (16 in the last 5 years), 1982–2026 · leading case: Rendell v. Pennsylvania State Ethics Comm'n, 983 A.2d 708 (Pa. 2009).
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Rendell v. Pennsylvania State Ethics Comm'n, 983 A.2d 708 (Pa. 2009). · cites it 8× “42 Pa.C.S. § 7533 (emphasis added). Under the plain language of the statute, only persons who " are affected by a statute," the Ethics Act here, may seek a declaratory judgment.”
Redevelopment Auth. of Cambria Cnty. v. Int'l Ins. Co., 685 A.2d 581 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). · cites it 2× “2d 906, 907-908 (1974); 42 Pa.C.S. § 7533 (construction of documents).”
Pressley v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Corp., 817 A.2d 1131 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003). · cites it 2× “2d 906, 907-908 (1974); 42 Pa.C.S. § 7533 (construction of documents) (citation omitted).”
Dept. of Pub. Welfare v. Portnoy, 566 A.2d 336 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1989). · cites it 4× “*480 Section 7533 of the Declaratory Judgments Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7533, provides that any person whose rights, status or other legal relations are affected by a statute may have determined any question of construction or validity arising under the statute and obtain a declaration…”
Buehl v. Beard, 54 A.3d 412 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “Essentially, this count is redundant of the mandamus count. Section 7533 of the Declaratory Judgments Act provides that any person with rights under a statute may have a court establish the meaning of that statute and the individual’s rights thereunder.”
Allegheny Sportsmen's League v. Ridge, 790 A.2d 350 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2002). · cites it 2× “" Section 7533 of DJA, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7533. The declaration of rights sought by Petitioners is premised upon their interpretation of the Firearms Act.”
Summit Twp. Indus. & Econ. Dev. Auth. v. Cnty. of Erie, 980 A.2d 191 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009). · cites it 4× “To resolve the controversy between the parties, and in accordance with 42 Pa.Cons.Stat. § 7533, Plaintiffs [Appellees] request a declaration by this Court that all grants from the Restricted Gaming revenue made pursuant to 4 Pa.”
Larry Pitt & Assocs., P.C. v. Butler, 785 A.2d 1092 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2001). · cites it 4× “" 42 Pa.C.S. § 7533. Under Section 7533, constitutional challenges to a statute's validity, such as those raised in the instant matter, may be decided by declaratory judgment.”
Warner v. Cont'l/CNA Ins. Companies, 688 A.2d 177 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). · cites it 2× “Construction of documents Any person interested under a deed, will, written contract, or other writings constituting a contract, or whose rights, status, or other legal relations are affected by a statute, municipal ordinance, contract, or franchise, may have determined any…”
Nat'l Rifle Ass'n v. City of Philadelphia, 977 A.2d 78 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009). · cites it 2× “42 Pa.C.S. § 7533. "Although the Declaratory Judgments Act is to be liberally construed, one limitation on a court's ability to issue a declaratory judgment is that the issues involved must be ripe for judicial determination, meaning that there must be the presence of an actual…”
Konidaris v. Portnoff Law Assocs.., Ltd., 884 A.2d 348 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). · cites it 2× “[11] Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 7533, any person whose rights or other legal relations are affected by a statute, such as the Act as amended by the 1996 Amendment, may have determined any question of construction or validity and obtain a declaration of rights or legal relations…”
Pennsylvania Tpk. Comm'n v. Hafer, 597 A.2d 754 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1991). · cites it 3× “The Auditor General contends her audit report does not constitute a “document” pursuant to Section 7533 of the DJA, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7533 8 , and that there is no controversy because she does not have the authority to require the Commission to accept any of her findings and that the…”
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