1. (a) General rule.— Whenever the Department of State rejects a document delivered for filing under this title, the original document or a copy thereof and any papers relating thereto may be delivered to the prothonotary or clerk of the court vested by or pursuant to Title 42 (relating to judiciary and judicial procedure) with jurisdiction of appeals from the department. Immediately the prothonotary or clerk shall transmit the papers to the court without formality or expense to the person who delivered the original document to the department. The question of the eligibility of the document for filing by the department shall thereupon, at the earliest possible time, be heard by a judge of the court, without jury, in the court or in chambers. The finding of the court, or any judge thereof, that the document is eligible for filing by the department shall be final and the department shall act in accordance therewith. The true intent of this section is to secure for applicants an immediate hearing in court and a determination by the court without delay or expense to the applicants.

   1. (1) (Deleted by amendment).
   2. (2) (Deleted by amendment).
   3. (3) (Deleted by amendment).
2. (b) Further appellate review.— The corporation or any incorporator of a proposed corporation or other aggrieved applicant may within the time and in the manner provided by law seek judicial review of an adverse order of court entered pursuant to subsection (a). The department shall not have any right in the exercise of its functions under this title to seek judicial review of an adverse order entered pursuant to subsection (a) and any such right which the department might otherwise enjoy under the Constitution of Pennsylvania or otherwise is hereby waived, but any department, board or commission of the Commonwealth which contends that the document fails to comply with section 135(a)(6) (relating to requirements to be met by filed documents) may seek judicial review of the order.

3. (c) Exceptions.—

   1. (1) This section shall not impair the right of any person to proceed under section 138 (relating to statement of correction) nor impair the right of the Attorney General to institute proceedings under section 503 (relating to actions to revoke corporate franchises).

   2. (2) A determination by the department with respect to the registrability of a label or other mark under Title 54 (relating to names) or otherwise affecting the status of a label or other mark shall be subject to judicial review under Title 2 (relating to administrative law and procedure) and not under this section.

      Saved from Suspension. Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure No. 5102, as amended July 7, 1997, provided that section 137 shall not be deemed suspended or affected by the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure.

      Cross References. Section 137 is referred to in section 384 of this title.

(Nov. 3, 2022, P.L.1791, No.122, eff. 60 days)

2022 Amendment. Act 122 amended subsec. (a).