Rule 1206. Commencement of proceedings.

 A. A proceeding for emergency relief from abuse shall be commenced by the filing of a petition by the plaintiff with the hearing officer on a form which shall be prescribed by the State Court Administrator. The petition shall be signed by the plaintiff and shall set forth the names and addresses of the plaintiff and the defendant and the names, addresses and ages of any person on whose behalf the plaintiff is seeking relief. The plaintiff shall also allege in the petition, in general terms, the cause for seeking relief from abuse.

 B. Upon issuance of an emergency order, the hearing officer shall provide the plaintiff with instructions regarding the commencement of proceedings in the court of common pleas and regarding the procedures for initiating a contempt charge should the defendant violate the emergency order. The hearing officer shall also advise the plaintiff of the existence of programs for victims of domestic violence in the county or in nearby counties and inform the plaintiff of the availability of legal assistance without cost if the plaintiff is unable to pay therefor.

 C. The petition shall be filed and service shall be made without prepayment of costs.

   Official Note

   It was thought desirable to require the petition to be on a simple, prescribed form since this is an emergency proceeding and the plaintiff is apt to be in an excited state at the time of the filing. Subdivision B is added to assure compliance with the requirement of Section 6110(d) of the Protection From Abuse Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §  6110(d). Practice varies among the judicial districts as to what procedures the plaintiff must follow to continue in effect a protection order in the court of common pleas upon the certification of an emergency protection order to the court of common pleas. The hearing officer should provide clear instructions to the plaintiff as to what must be done to continue in effect the protection order in the court of common pleas. See Rule 1210 and Note and Rule 1211 and Note. Subdivision C is derived from Section 6106(b) of the Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §  6106(b) and reflects the practice when a temporary order is issued at the common pleas level.

   The provisions of this Rule 1206 amended March 27, 1992, effective immediately, 22 Pa.B. 1900; amended November 2, 2001, effective February 1, 2002, 31 Pa.B. 6385. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (256537).