Praecipe for Entry of Judgement? How do I go about doing this?

Question

I won a court case for $650 in Luzerne County, PA (in the County courthouse). The defendent did not appeal but has yet to pay me. I went to the Prothonotary, and they told me I need to submit a praecipe to enter judgement against the defendent. What does this need to include? I have no idea how to do this, and they couldn't or wouldn't help me at the Prothonotary's office. I have been unable to find anything online.

Answer 1

Pennsylvania uses a lot of old (obsolete) terminology.

A "praecipe" is a petition for a writ. Basically, all it means is asking the court (in a formal petition) to order the judgment be enforced.

If there is not a specific form, and you don't have an attorney, then you need to find out what the proper format for the petition is.

Basically, it would need to include a copy of the court order that says you won the case (usually as an attachment), as well as as a formal request asking the court to enforce that judgment.