42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 931

Original jurisdiction and venue.

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SUBCHAPTER C

JURISDICTION OF COURTS OF COMMON PLEAS

Sec.

931. Original jurisdiction and venue.

932. Appeals from minor judiciary.

933. Appeals from government agencies.

934. Writs of certiorari.

§ 931. Original jurisdiction and venue.

(a) General rule.--Except where exclusive original jurisdiction of an action or proceeding is by statute or by general rule adopted pursuant to section 503 (relating to reassignment of matters) vested in another court of this Commonwealth, the courts of common pleas shall have unlimited original jurisdiction of all actions and proceedings, including all actions and proceedings heretofore cognizable by law or usage in the courts of common pleas.

(b) Concurrent and exclusive jurisdiction.--The jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas under this section shall be exclusive except with respect to actions and proceedings concurrent jurisdiction of which is by statute or by general rule adopted pursuant to section 503 vested in another court of this Commonwealth or in the magisterial district judges.

(c) Venue and process.--Except as provided by section 5101.1 (relating to venue in medical professional liability actions) and Subchapter B of Chapter 85 (relating to actions against Commonwealth parties), the venue of a court of common pleas concerning matters over which jurisdiction is conferred by this section shall be as prescribed by general rule. The process of the court shall extend beyond the territorial limits of the judicial district to the extent prescribed by general rule. Except as otherwise prescribed by general rule, in a proceeding to enforce an order of a government agency the process of the court shall extend throughout this Commonwealth.

(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Sept. 28, 1978, P.L.788, No.152, eff. imd.; Oct. 5, 1980, P.L.693, No.142, eff. 60 days; Oct. 17, 2002, P.L.880, No.127, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days)

2004 Amendment. Act 207 amended subsec. (b). See sections 28 and 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to applicability and construction of law.

2002 Amendment. Act 127 amended subsec. (c). Section 5 of Act 127 provided that the amendment of subsec. (c) shall apply to all medical professional liability actions filed on or after the effective date of section 5.

1980 Amendment. Act 142 added present section 931 and repealed former section 931 relating to the same subject matter.

Cross References. Section 931 is referred to in section 7796 of Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 166 cases (47 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Bethea

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Commonwealth v. Bethea (2003) pa · cites it 6× “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

Commonwealth v. McPhail (1997) pa · cites it 8× “42 Pa.C.S. § 931 (emphasis added). By constitution and by statute, the court of common pleas has unlimited original jurisdiction in all cases, actions, and proceedings, and is thus empowered, subject to a few statutory exceptions, [1] to decide any matter arising under the laws…”

Ciamaichelo v. Independence Blue Cross (2006) pa · cites it 6× “§§ 5508, 5791-5793; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931. Turning to the competing positions the parties presently set forth for our consideration in applying this legal framework, Appellants contend that the Commonwealth Court made two errors.”

In Re Administrative Order No. 1-Md-2003 (2007) pa · cites it 3× “It explains that under 42 Pa.C.S. § 931, the courts of common pleas have very broad and general jurisdiction.”

Commonwealth v. Perfetto (2017) pasuperct · cites it 2× “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(b). One such example of where the exclusive jurisdiction of the court of common pleas is superseded by the exclusive jurisdiction of a minor court or magistrate district judge is found in 42 Pa.”

Deyarmin v. Consolidated Rail Corp. (2007) pasuperct · cites it 3× “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

Troutman v. Court of Common Pleas of Berks County (2007) pa · cites it 3× “It explains that under 42 Pa.C.S. § 931, the courts of common pleas have very broad and general jurisdiction.”

Schultz v. MMI Products, Inc. (2011) pasuperct · cites it 3× “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

Commonwealth v. McGarry (2017) pasuperct “All courts of common pleas have statewide subject matter jurisdiction in cases arising under the Crimes Code [pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 931].” Commonwealth v. Gross, 627 Pa.”

Stackhouse v. Commonwealth (2003) pa · cites it 2× “, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 931(b), (c), 1105(a), (b), 1123(c), 1143(b), 1515(b).”

Philadelphia Entertainment & Development Partners, L.P. v. City of Philadelphia (2007) pa · cites it 2× “See 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 931(a), 5103; Pa.R.A.P. 751.”

Commonwealth v. Martorano (2014) pasuperct · cites it 4× “42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a)-(b) (emphasis added).”

Show all 166 citing cases →

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 931(a) — 89 cases

Commonwealth v. Bethea (2003) pa “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

In Re Administrative Order No. 1-Md-2003 (2007) pa “It explains that under 42 Pa.C.S. § 931, the courts of common pleas have very broad and general jurisdiction.”

Troutman v. Court of Common Pleas of Berks County (2007) pa “It explains that under 42 Pa.C.S. § 931, the courts of common pleas have very broad and general jurisdiction.”

Philadelphia Entertainment & Development Partners, L.P. v. City of Philadelphia (2007) pa “See 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 931(a), 5103; Pa.R.A.P. 751.”

Commonwealth v. Elia (2013) pasuperct

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 931(a)(c) — 1 case

Mistecka v. Commonwealth (1979) pacommwct

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 931(b) — 14 cases

Commonwealth v. Perfetto (2017) pasuperct “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(b). One such example of where the exclusive jurisdiction of the court of common pleas is superseded by the exclusive jurisdiction of a minor court or magistrate district judge is found in 42 Pa.”

Commonwealth v. Bethea (2003) pa “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

Stackhouse v. Commonwealth (2003) pa “, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 931(b), (c), 1105(a), (b), 1123(c), 1143(b), 1515(b).”

Commonwealth v. McPhail (1997) pa “42 Pa.C.S. § 931 (emphasis added). By constitution and by statute, the court of common pleas has unlimited original jurisdiction in all cases, actions, and proceedings, and is thus empowered, subject to a few statutory exceptions, [1] to decide any matter arising under the laws…”

Deyarmin v. Consolidated Rail Corp. (2007) pasuperct “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 931(c) — 13 cases

Commonwealth v. Bethea (2003) pa “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

Deyarmin v. Consolidated Rail Corp. (2007) pasuperct “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

Mazzuca, J. v. Abreu, S. (2024) pasuperct

Schultz v. MMI Products, Inc. (2011) pasuperct “at 428 ; 42 Pa.C.S. § 931(a) (defining the unlimited original jurisdiction of the courts of common pleas).”

Searles v. Estrada (2004) pasuperct

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