contents & context
These rules govern the conduct of all civil actions brought in Federal district courts. While they do not apply to suits in state courts, the rules of many states have been closely modeled on these provisions.
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (2004)
(incorporating the revisions that took effect Dec. 1, 2003)
I. SCOPE OF RULES--ONE FORM OF ACTION
II. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS, PLEADINGS, MOTIONS, AND ORDERS
III. PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS
IV. PARTIES
V. DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY
VI. TRIALS
VII. JUDGMENT
VIII. PROVISIONAL AND FINAL REMEDIES
IX. SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS
X. DISTRICT COURTS AND CLERKS
XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
XII. APPENDIX OF FORMS
XIII. SUPPLEMENTAL RULES FOR CERTAIN ADMIRALTY AND MARITIME CLAIMS
I. SCOPE OF RULES--ONE FORM OF ACTION
II. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS, PLEADINGS, MOTIONS, AND ORDERS
- 3. Commencement of Action
- 4. Summons
- 4.1. Service of Other Process
- 5. Service and Filing of Pleadings and Other Papers
- 6. Time
- 7. Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions
- 7.1. Disclosure Statement
- 8. General Rules of Pleading
- 9. Pleading Special Matters
- 10. Form of Pleadings
- 11. Signing of Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to Court; Sanctions
- 12. Defenses and Objections--When and How Presented--By Pleading or Motion--Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
- 13. Counterclaim and Cross-Claim
- 14. Third-Party Practice
- 15. Amended and Supplemental Pleadings
- 16. Pretrial Conferences; Scheduling; Management
- 17. Parties Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity
- 18. Joinder of Claims and Remedies
- 19. Joinder of Persons Needed for Just Adjudication
- 20. Permissive Joinder of Parties
- 21. Misjoinder and Non-Joinder of Parties
- 22. Interpleader
- 23. Class Actions
- 23.1. Derivative Actions by Shareholders
- 23.2. Actions Relating to Unincorporated Associations
- 24. Intervention
- 25. Substitution of Parties
- 26. General Provisions Governing Discovery; Duty of Disclosure
- 27. Depositions Before Action or Pending Appeal
- 28. Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken
- 29. Stipulations Regarding Discovery Procedure
- 30. Deposition Upon Oral Examination
- 31. Depositions Upon Written Questions
- 32. Use of Depositions in Court Proceedings
- 33. Interrogatories to Parties
- 34. Production of Documents and Things and Entry Upon Land for Inspection and Other Purposes
- 35. Physical and Mental Examination of Persons
- 36. Requests for Admission
- 37. Failure to Make or Cooperate in Discovery; Sanctions
- 38. Jury Trial of Right
- 39. Trial by Jury or by the Court
- 40. Assignment of Cases for Trial
- 41. Dismissal of Actions
- 42. Consolidation; Separate Trials
- 43. Taking of Testimony
- 44. Proof of Official Record
- 44.1. Determination of Foreign Law
- 45. Subpoena
- 46. Exceptions Unnecessary
- 47. Selection of Jurors
- 48. Number of Jurors--Participation in Verdict
- 49. Special Verdicts and Interrogatories
- 50. Judgment as a Matter of Law in Jury Trials; Alternative Motion for New Trial; Conditional Rulings
- 51. Instructions to Jury; Objection
- 52. Findings by the Court; Judgment on Partial Findings
- 53. Masters
- 54. Judgments; Costs
- 55. Default
- 56. Summary Judgment
- 57. Declaratory Judgments
- 58. Entry of Judgment
- 59. New Trials; Amendment of Judgments
- 60. Relief from Judgment or Order
- 61. Harmless Error
- 62. Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment
- 63. Inability of a Judge to Proceed
VIII. PROVISIONAL AND FINAL REMEDIES
- 64. Seizure of Person or Property
- 65. Injunctions
- 65.1 Security: Proceedings Against Sureties
- 66. Receivers Appointed by Federal Courts
- 67. Deposit in Court
- 68. Offer of Judgment
- 69. Execution
- 70. Judgment for Specific Acts; Vesting Title
- 71. Process in Behalf of and Against Persons Not Parties
- 71A. Condemnation of Property
- 72. Magistrate Judges; Pretrial Orders
- 73. Magistrate Judges; Trial by Consent and Appeal Options
- 74. [Abrogated]
- 75. [Abrogated]
- 76. [Abrogated]
- 77. District Courts and Clerks
- 78. Motion Day
- 79. Books and Records Kept by the Clerk and Entries Therein
- 80. Stenographer; Stenographic Report or Transcript as Evidence
- 81. Applicability in General
- 82. Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected
- 83. Rules by District Courts; Judge's Directives
- 84. Forms
- 85. Title
- 86. Effective Date
XII. APPENDIX OF FORMS (pdf)
XIII. SUPPLEMENTAL RULES FOR CERTAIN ADMIRALTY AND MARITIME CLAIMS