Pa. R.A.P. 1614 (2026)
Review of Orders Denying Waiver of Fees and Costs.
Rule 1614. Review of Orders Denying Waiver of Fees and Costs.
Appellate review of an order denying an application for a waiver of fees and costs by a court of record pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 1990 shall be initiated by petition for specialized review pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1601—1606 subject to the following:
(a) Time for Filing. A petition for specialized review shall be filed within 30 days after the entry of the order denying an application for the waiver of fees and costs by a court of record. The filing office shall docket the legal action and the application or praecipe without the party paying the filing fee.
(b) Ex Parte Review. Appellate review shall be conducted in an ex parte manner. As such, no other party shall be named as respondent, only the court of record denying the application shall be served the petition, and no response to the petition by any other party shall be permitted.
(c) Contents. In addition to the content requirements of Pa.R.A.P. 1603(c)(1)—(c)(5) and (c)(7)-(c)(8), the requirement of Pa.R.A.P. 1603(c)(6) shall be satisfied with a concise statement of the reasons why the court of record that denied the application erred.
See Pa.R.A.P. 701 (petitions for specialized review shall be filed in the appellate court having jurisdiction of final orders in such matters).
Subdivision (b) continues the ex parte procedure of Pa.R.J.A. 1990(e)(4) to appellate review. The proscriptions of subdivision (b) are intended to limit the application of Pa.R.A.P. 1603(a) (captions and parties), Pa.R.A.P. 1604 (service), and Pa.R.A.P. 1605 (response to petition).
See Pa.R.A.P. 1701(e) for the ability to seek a stay or supersedeas of a trial court order under Chapter 17 upon the filing of a petition for specialized review.
To determine the number of copies to be filed, see Pa.R.A.P. 124(c) and its Official Note.
The provisions of this Rule 1614 added April 21, 2026, effective November 1, 2026, 56 Pa.B. 2515.