Rule 1920.51 - Appointment Of Master(a) In all divorce or annulment actions where there are unresolved issues properly referable to a master under the applicable statutes or rules of court, a party may move for the appointment of a master. The form of the motion shall be as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. The court may also appoint a master upon its own motion. The order of appointment shall specify the matters which are referred to the master. Masters shall be appointed by the court from its list of practicing members of the bar of the county. An attorney may be excused from performing such service at the discretion of the court.(b) At the time of filing a motion for appointment of a master the moving party shall deposit Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) with the Prothonotary as security for payment of master's fees and costs. No master will be appointed until the Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) has been deposited. Should the court appoint a master on its own motion, the court shall direct in its order of appointment the party responsible for deposit of funds with the Prothonotary. No action will be taken by the master until such sums have been deposited.
(c) The master shall schedule a preliminary conference immediately after the issuance of the order of appointment. The preliminary conference shall be held at the earliest possible convenience, but no later than sixty (60) days following the appointment of the master. The preliminary conference shall be attended by the master, the parties and their counsel. Those present shall explore the possibility of resolving the issues without further litigation. Should no resolution be reached at the preliminary conference, or if less than all the issues are resolved, the master shall forthwith order the moving party to deposit an additional One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1500.00) with the Prothonotary, to be applied to master's and stenographer's fees. As soon as the additional One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1500.00) has been deposited with the Prothonotary, the master shall schedule an evidentiary hearing and shall provide notice of the hearing as set forth in the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. The master shall schedule an evidentiary hearing only after the master has ascertained that the additional funds have been deposited with the Prothonotary.
(d) The standard hourly fee to be charged by court appointed masters shall be determined from time to time by order of court. In a matter involving complex issues of law or fact the court, in its discretion, may adjust the hourly fee paid to the master.(e) Should the master at any time determine that the sum deposited with the Prothonotary is insufficient to provide for the services of the master and any stenographer required, the master shall move the court to order additional deposits unless the parties agree to such additional deposits. The master shall not be required to proceed further until such sum of additional deposits as ordered or agreed upon are made to the Prothonotary.Amended effective 7/1/2005.