- Pennsylvania exhibit marking and exchange rule (Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5) (Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5)
Governs exhibit marking, exchange deadlines, and disclosure for family law cases in Pennsylvania courts.
Family Law Exhibits in Pennsylvania
The custody hearing is on Thursday. You have screenshots of text threads, a year of bank statements, a school attendance report and a parenting calendar, and the scheduling order calls for marked exhibits to be exchanged before the hearing. Your client is the respondent, so the labels have to say so.
Complete guide to preparing family law exhibits that comply with Pennsylvania court requirements. Learn the correct labeling conventions, exchange deadlines, and e-filing procedures.
- Pennsylvania's primary rule governing exhibit preparation is Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5.
- Plaintiffs in Pennsylvania label exhibits with Numbers (P-1, P-2, P-3...).
- Defendants in Pennsylvania label exhibits with Numbers with D prefix (D-1, D-2, D-3...).
- Pennsylvania courts require electronic exhibits to be filed through Permitted or required by local rule (Pa.R.C.P. 205.4(a)(1)).
- Exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel 20 days before trial (Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5) under Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5.
- Common family law exhibits in Pennsylvania include financial declarations, tax returns, property documents.
- ExhibitPrep applies Pennsylvania exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so family law case files never leave the user's computer.
What goes wrong with family law exhibits, and how it is handled
What goes wrongPetitioner and respondent exhibits carry different labels, and the convention differs from one court to the next.
How ExhibitPrep handles itChoose your state in the tool and the labels default to the convention that state's record uses — 50 states and federal — for the side you represent; the default is a starting point you can change.
What goes wrongText-message evidence arrives as phone screenshots from the client or as an RSMF export from a collection tool.
How ExhibitPrep handles itPhone screenshots become PDF pages like any image; an RSMF message export from a collection or review tool renders to a transcript instead — every message with its time, sender and account identifier, deleted and edited messages marked, the export's hash on the first page — and is then stamped in the same sequence as everything else.
What goes wrongBank statements and tax returns hold account numbers and other details that should not leave your office.
How ExhibitPrep handles itDocument bytes are processed locally in your browser and are not uploaded to our servers.
What goes wrongYou want to see the marked pages before paying for anything.
How ExhibitPrep handles itEvery stamped page is free to preview — the real stamped file, page by page. The download is the step you pay for.
Essential tools for family law exhibits
Stamp exhibits
29 templates, with labels in the convention your court uses — 50 states and federal
How it worksBatch stamping
Sequential labels across the whole set — 1, 2, 3 or A, B, C — from the starting value you choose
How it worksExhibit list
A captioned Exhibit List PDF built from the labels and titles you assigned
How it worksPennsylvania Exhibit Requirements at a Glance
| Plaintiff Exhibits | Numbers (P-1, P-2, P-3...) |
| Defendant Exhibits | Numbers with D prefix (D-1, D-2, D-3...) |
| Exchange Deadline | 20 days before trial (Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5) |
| Primary Rule | Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5 |
| E-Filing System | Permitted or required by local rule (Pa.R.C.P. 205.4(a)(1)) |
Common Family Law Exhibits
Financial Declarations
Income and expense declarations, asset schedules. For Pennsylvania e-filing on Permitted or required by local rule (Pa.R.C.P. 205.4(a)(1)), confirm the current file-size cap (No statewide limit located — confirm with the county prothonotary) before uploading.
Tax Returns
Personal and business returns for relevant years
Property Documents
Deeds, appraisals, mortgage statements
Bank Statements
Account statements showing assets and transactions
Parenting Evidence
School records, medical records, communications
Business Valuations
Professional valuations of business interests
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Pennsylvania-Specific Considerations
- Pennsylvania allows a mutual-consent divorce after a 90-day waiting period, or a unilateral divorce after one year of separation, making the separation date itself a frequent exhibit issue
- Property division follows an 11-factor equitable distribution test under 23 Pa.C.S. § 3502 rather than a presumption of an equal split
- Support calculations run through the statewide guidelines in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 et seq., built from both parties' net income documentation
- Philadelphia's Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas uses the same P-1/D-1 prefix convention shown statewide but manages its own separate docket and scheduling
How to Prepare Your Exhibits
Gather Your Documents
Collect all documents relevant to your family law case. This typically includes financial declarations, tax returns, property documents, and other supporting evidence.
Convert to PDF
Convert all documents to PDF format. Pennsylvania courts require electronic exhibits to be filed via Permitted or required by local rule (Pa.R.C.P. 205.4(a)(1)). Scan paper documents at 300 DPI.
Apply Exhibit Labels
Use ExhibitPrep to add exhibit stamps for Pennsylvania filing review. Plaintiffs commonly use Numbers (P-1, P-2, P-3...), while defendants commonly use Numbers with D prefix (D-1, D-2, D-3...); verify the governing rules.
Exchange with Opposing Counsel
Exchange your exhibit list and copies with opposing counsel 20 days before trial (Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5) per Pa. R.C.P. 4003.5.
Save Hours on Exhibit Preparation
ExhibitPrep stamps all your family law exhibits in minutes, not hours. Upload your documents, select the correct Pennsylvania template, and download court-ready exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can a Pennsylvania divorce actually finalize?
Pennsylvania allows a mutual-consent divorce after a 90-day waiting period once both spouses sign the required affidavits, or a unilateral divorce after one year of separation if only one spouse consents. The separation date itself is frequently contested, so calendars, communications, or lease records establishing when the parties stopped living as a couple often become their own exhibit.
What standard governs how Pennsylvania divides marital property?
23 Pa.C.S. § 3502 sets out an 11-factor equitable distribution test rather than a presumption of a 50/50 split, weighing each spouse's contribution, earning capacity, and the marriage's length. Because no single factor is dispositive, a Pennsylvania property exhibit set usually needs to address several factors at once rather than resting on one document, like a single appraisal.
How does Pennsylvania calculate child and spousal support?
Support follows the statewide guidelines in Pa.R.C.P. 1910.16-1 et seq., built primarily from both parties' net incomes, so pay stubs, tax returns, and any self-employment records are the exhibits a support conference actually relies on. Check the court's support rules for what documentation a deviation from the guideline amount requires.
Why does Pennsylvania use P- and D- prefixes instead of plain numbers or letters?
Pennsylvania courts commonly mark plaintiff and petitioner exhibits P-1, P-2, P-3 and defendant or respondent exhibits D-1, D-2, D-3, which keeps the offering party clear at a glance even when exhibits from both sides get interfiled during a hearing. ExhibitPrep's Petitioner and Respondent templates apply the correct prefix automatically.
Does Philadelphia's Family Division use different exhibit numbering than the rest of the state?
Philadelphia's Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas follows the same P-1/D-1 convention used statewide, but it manages its own docket and scheduling separate from the county's civil and criminal divisions. Confirm the assigned Family Division judge's specific exhibit-exchange deadline rather than assuming the general Pa.R.C.P. 4003.5 discovery timeline applies unchanged.
Related Resources
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ExhibitPrep formats documents; it does not provide legal advice or filing approval. Some guidance remains unverified. Citations support only their stated claims and scope. Review the finished files against current court instructions and case orders before filing. Check requirements and the finished PDF before filing.