Rule 7 — Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions and Other Papers

Fed. R. Civ. P. 7

• Source: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
• Rule: 7
• TITLE III: PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS
• Citation: Fed. R. Civ. P. 7

Text

(a) PLEADINGS. Only these pleadings are allowed:
(1) a complaint;
(2) an answer to a complaint;
(3) an answer to a counterclaim designated as a counter-
claim;
(4) an answer to a crossclaim;
(5) a third-party complaint;
(6) an answer to a third-party complaint; and
(7) if the court orders one, a reply to an answer.
(b) MOTIONSANDOTHERPAPERS.
(1) In General. A request for a court order must be made by
motion. The motion must:
(A) be in writing unless made during a hearing or trial;
(B) state with particularity the grounds for seeking the
order; and
(C) state the relief sought.
(2) Form. The rules governing captions and other matters of
form in pleadings apply to motions and other papers.

Advisory Committee Notes

(As amended Dec. 27, 1946, eff. Mar. 19, 1948; Jan. 21, 1963, eff. July 1, 1963; Apr. 28, 1983, eff. Aug. 1, 1983; Apr. 30, 2007, eff. Dec. 1, 2007.)