Rule 131 - Self-Representationa. An individual or sole proprietor may be represented by himself or herself, by an attorney at law, or by an authorized representative.b. A corporation as defined in Part II of Title 15 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes may be represented by an officer, an attorney at law, or by an authorized representative.c. A general partnership as defined in Part III of Title 15 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes may be represented by a partner, an attorney at law, or by an authorized representative. A limited partnership as defined in Part III of Title 15 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes may be represented by a general partner, an attorney at law, or by an authorized representative. A limited liability company as defined in Part III of Title 15 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes may be represented by a manager, an attorney at law, or by an authorized representative.d. A professional association as defined in Part IV of Title 15 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes may be represented by an officer of its board of governors, an attorney at law, or by an authorized representative.e. A business trust as defined in Part V of Title 15 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes may be represented by a trustee, an attorney at law, or by an authorized representativef. If appointed by a party, an authorized representative may take any action up to and until the conclusion of a trial in the Philadelphia Municipal Court that a party may take, including, but not limited to, filing a statement of claim, filing a landlord tenant complaint, testifying, and submitting documents into evidence. A party shall always have the right to file a document limiting or rescinding a person's right to act as an authorized representative. g. Notwithstanding the above, a party may not use an authorized representative in any action in which the City of Philadelphia is seeking fines, penalties, unpaid taxes, or unpaid water/sewer charges.Click here to view image
Original Rule 131 repealed and new rule adopted November 30, 2007, effective 30 days after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.Official Note: An authorized representative is defined in Rule 102. The addition of an authorized representative as a person who may be a representative of a party is intended to permit a party to select and appoint an individual who has knowledge of the facts and circumstances of the litigation to appear for that party up through the completion of trial in the Philadelphia Municipal Court. As noted in the definition of an authorized representative, an individual must file an appropriate authorization form prior to the commencement of trial in order to act as an authorized representative. Additionally, the phrase "personal knowledge" is to be interpreted in conformity with the use of that term in Pa.R.E. 602.
This rule is not intended to allow a non-lawyer to establish a business for the purpose of representing others in Court proceedings. The designation of an authorized representative must be made in each case. The Philadelphia Municipal Court will not accept for filing a blanket authorization by which a party seeks to empower an authorized representative to act for the party in all cases that the party may have pending in the Philadelphia Municipal Court.