PA BAR Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PA BAR facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Under Pennsylvania contract law, which element is NOT required for an enforceable contract? → A written document
2. In Pennsylvania, how is marital property generally divided during a divorce? → Equitably
3. In Pennsylvania, a deed conveying real property must be delivered to be effective. Which of the following constitutes a valid delivery? → The grantor physically hands the deed to the grantee with intent to transfer title
4. Under Pennsylvania law, voluntary manslaughter differs from murder primarily because the defendant acts: → Under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation
5. Under Pa. R.E. 612, if a witness uses a writing to refresh their memory before testifying, the adverse party: → Is entitled to inspect the writing and may use it to cross-examine the witness
6. Pennsylvania recognizes a marital communications privilege that protects: → Confidential communications made between spouses during a valid marriage
7. Under Pennsylvania law, which doctrine imposes vicarious liability on an employer for torts committed by an employee acting within the scope of employment? → Respondeat superior
8. Pennsylvania adopted a modified comparative negligence system. Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 7102, a plaintiff may recover damages only if their own negligence is: → Less than 50% (does not exceed 50%)
9. Pennsylvania's 'corpus delicti' rule historically required corroboration of a defendant's confession by proof that: → A crime actually occurred, independent of the confession
10. In Pennsylvania, what is the proper citation format for a Pennsylvania Supreme Court case in a legal brief? → Case Name, Vol. Number Reporter Page (Year).
11. Pennsylvania's 'castle doctrine' under 18 Pa. C.S. § 505(b)(2.1) permits a person to use deadly force without retreating when: → They are in their dwelling or curtilage and did not provoke the attacker
12. Under Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 600, a defendant must generally be brought to trial within how many days of the filing of the criminal complaint? → 365 days
13. Pennsylvania's economic loss doctrine generally bars tort claims for: → Pure economic losses in the absence of physical injury or property damage
14. Under Pennsylvania's 'discovery rule,' when does the statute of limitations begin to run for a latent injury? → When the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known of the injury and its cause
15. Under Pennsylvania law, which remedy places the non-breaching party in the position they would have been in had the contract been performed? → Expectation damages
16. Pennsylvania courts measure damages for breach of a service contract primarily by: → The cost of completion or the diminution in market value, whichever is less
17. Under Pennsylvania strict liability law (Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A), a product is defective when it: → Is in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer
18. Under Pennsylvania law, which duty of care does a landowner owe to an undiscovered trespasser? → No duty, except to refrain from willful and wanton misconduct
19. Pennsylvania recognizes which type of damages in negligence actions to compensate for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering? → General (non-economic) damages
20. Under Pennsylvania defamation law, a private-figure plaintiff need only prove which standard of fault to recover? → Negligence
21. Pennsylvania recognizes which of the following as a complete defense to a criminal charge based on law enforcement inducement? → Entrapment
22. Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 407 bars evidence of subsequent remedial measures when offered to prove: → Negligence or culpable conduct in causing the underlying incident
23. In Pennsylvania, what is the standard for determining child custody? → Best interests of the child
24. What is the default form of business organization when two or more people start a business together without formalizing their arrangement? → General Partnership
25. Which of the following is a ground for a no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania? → Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage
26. In Pennsylvania, the Statute of Frauds requires that a contract for the sale of real property must be: → In writing and signed by the party to be charged
27. What is the role of a registered agent in Pennsylvania business entities? → To receive legal documents on behalf of the company
28. Which discovery device in Pennsylvania allows a party to obtain sworn testimony from a non-party witness before trial? → Deposition upon oral examination
29. Under Pennsylvania law, the doctrine of impossibility of performance excuses a party's contractual obligation when: → An unforeseen event makes performance objectively impossible
30. When writing a legal brief, what is the primary purpose of the “Statement of Facts” section? → To present a neutral and objective account of the relevant facts