The court may appoint a master to hear testimony on all or some issues, except issues of custody and paternity, and return the record and a transcript of the testimony together with a report and recommendation as prescribed by general rules, or a judge of the court in chambers may appoint a master to hold a nonrecord hearing and to make recommendations and return the same to the court, in which case either party may demand a hearing de novo before the court.
Suspension by Court Rule. Section 3321 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1920.91, as amended October 30, 2021, insofar as it prohibits the appointment of hearing officers in partial custody or visitation matters.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 33 - Dissolution of Marital Status
Section 3301 - Grounds for divorce
Section 3303 - Annulment of void and voidable marriages
Section 3304 - Grounds for annulment of void marriages
Section 3305 - Grounds for annulment of voidable marriages
Section 3306 - Proceedings to determine marital status
Section 3308 - Action where defendant suffering from mental disorder
Section 3309 - General appearance and collusion
Section 3321 - Hearing by master
Section 3323 - Decree of court
Section 3331 - Limitations on attacks upon decrees