Rule 1920.55-1. Alternative Hearing Procedures for Matters Referred to a Master.

 (a)  Matters referred to a master for hearing shall proceed as prescribed by Rule 1920.55-2 unless the court by local rule adopts the alternative procedure of Rule 1920.55-3.

 (b)  The president judge or the administrative judge of Family Division of each county shall certify that all divorce proceedings which are referred to a master in that county are conducted in accordance with either Rule 1920.55-2 or Rule 1920.55-3. The certification shall be filed with the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee and shall be substantially in the following form:

 I hereby certify that

   Official Note

   Pursuant to Rule 1920.55-1, the following counties have certified to the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee that divorce proceedings referred to a master are conducted in accordance with the rule specified below.

   The proposed amendments create alternative procedures for appeal from the recommendation of a master in divorce. Rule 1920.55-1 states that, if the court chooses to appoint a master, the exceptions procedure set forth in proposed Rule 1920.55-2 will be used unless the court has, by local rule, adopted the alternative procedure of proposed Rule 1920.55-3.

   The provisions of this Rule 1920.55-1 adopted September 11, 1995, effective January 1, 1996, 25 Pa.B. 4097; amended March 16, 2011, effective immediately, 41 Pa.B. 1758. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (324716).