Rule 1920.55.2 - Report Of The Master. Notice. Exceptions. Final Decree(a) Exceptions to the report and recommendations of the master shall be filed with the Prothonotary and a copy shall be delivered to the Office of the Court Administrator - Civil Division. They shall then schedule argument on the exceptions or order that the matter will be decided on the briefs. The Prothonotary shall mail notices of the date and time of the argument on the exceptions, if one is scheduled, by first class mail to the counsel for the parties or to the parties if unrepresented.(b) Exceptions may be filed to a preliminary master's report and recommendations only if the preliminary report and recommendations addresses the underlying basis for the divorce and must be limited to that issue only. In such a case, exceptions must be filed within twenty (20) days after the preliminary report and recommendations are mailed or received by the parties, whichever occurs first. No exceptions may be taken to any other issues included in the preliminary master's report and recommendations. Such issues will be included in the final master's report and recommendations, and parties may take exceptions thereto at that time.(c) If exceptions are filed by a party, any other party may file exceptions within twenty (20) days of the date of service of the original exceptions.(d) The excepting party must file its brief with the judge to whom the case is assigned no later than twenty (20) days before the scheduled argument, and the non-excepting party must file its brief no later than ten (10) days before the scheduled argument. If both parties file exceptions, the first party to file the exceptions must file its brief no later than twenty (20) days before the scheduled argument, and the opposing party must file its brief no later than ten (10) days before the scheduled argument. The Court may order submission on the briefs or the parties may agree to submit to the Court on the briefs without argument.(e) Oral arguments shall be restricted to issues addressed in the exceptions.(f) The Judge may remand the case to the master for further review, hear argument, conduct an evidentiary hearing, or grant any other appropriate relief.Wash. Cnty. Pa. 1920.55.2
Amended effective 1/1/2022