Pa. R.A.P. 551 (2026)
Continuation of Prior Waiver of Fees and Costs for Purposes of Appeal.
Rule 551. Continuation of Prior Waiver of Fees and Costs for Purposes of Appeal.
(a) General Rule. A previously granted waiver of fees and costs pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 1990 (application to waive fees and costs) shall continue in an appeal of the same case in the appellate court.
(b) Verified Statement. A court may, by order or rule, require a party previously granted a waiver to file a verified statement setting forth:
(1) The date on which the trial court entered the order granting the waiver;
(2) There has been no substantial change in the financial condition of the party since such date; and
(3) The party is unable to pay the fees and costs on appeal.
(c) Effect on Fees and Costs. The waiver continued pursuant to subdivision (a) shall permit the filing of an appeal and any related documents without the payment of any fees or costs required under Chapter 27.
The following commentary is historical in nature and represents statements of the Committee at the time of rulemaking:
In forma pauperis rules are revised to permit the appellate prothonotary to permit an appeal to be taken without payment of fee where the IFP documentation is completed promptly after demand therefor, to reflect the integration (by the amendments to Rules 905 and 907) of appellate docketing and the filing of the notice of appeal in the lower court, and to conform the procedures on nonpayment of required filing fees with the general requirements of Chapter 27.
The provisions of this Rule 551 amended May 16, 1979, effective September 30, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 1740; amended October 28, 2021, effective April 1, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 7050; amended April 21, 2026, effective November 1, 2026, 56 Pa.B. 2515. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (408489).