1. (a) Every complaint filed by a plaintiff and every complaint filed by a defendant against an additional defendant shall begin with a notice to defend in substantially the form set forth in subdivision (b). No other notice to plead to a complaint shall be required.

2. (b) [CAPTION]
   Notice

   You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after this complaint and notice are served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the court without further notice for any money claimed in the complaint or for any other claim or relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.

   YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A LAWYER.

   IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE OR NO FEE.

3. (Name)

4. (Address) (Telephone Number)

   Official Note

   The above notice does not change any of the rules relating to the pleading of objections and defenses. This rule applies to all complaints including those where service is by publication. For the mandatory content of the publication in such cases see Rule 430(b). When a defendant is served outside the United States, Rule 1026(b) provides a sixty-day period for pleading.

5. (c) Each court shall be local rule designate the officer, organization, agency or person to be named in the notice from whom information can be obtained.
6. (d) A court may by local rule require the notice to be repeated in one or more designated languages other than English.

Source

The provisions of this Rule 1018.1 adopted January 23, 1975, effective July 1, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 326; amended July 1, 1975, effective August 1, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 1824; amended May 15, 1979, effective June 1, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 1854; amended June 10, 2003, effective September 1, 2003, 33 Pa.B. 2974. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (212294) and (271787).