Missouri § 517.031 Petition required, form — affirmative defenses, counterclaims, cross-claims, filing — extension of filing, when.

Missouri Statutes

§ 517.031 — Petition required, form — affirmative defenses, counterclaims, cross-claims, filing — extension of filing, when.

Missouri § 517.031

Title XXXVCIVIL PROCEDURE AND LIMITATIONS

Ch. 517Procedure Before Certain Associate Circuit Judges

This text of Missouri § 517.031 (Petition required, form — affirmative defenses, counterclaims, cross-claims, filing — extension of filing, when.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 517.031 (2026).

Text

1.The plaintiff shall file a written petition containing the facts upon which the claim is founded. A copy of any written instrument or account in support of the petition should be attached and filed. The pleadings of the petition shall be informal unless the court in its discretion requires formal pleadings.

2.Affirmative defenses, counterclaims and cross claims shall be filed in writing not later than the return date and time of the summons unless leave to file the same at a later date is granted by the court. No other responsive pleading need be filed. If no responsive pleading is filed, the statements made in the petition, affirmative defenses, counterclaims or cross claims shall be considered denied except as provided in section 517.132 .

3.For good cause shown, the court

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1. The plaintiff shall file a written petition containing the facts upon which the claim is founded. A copy of any written instrument or account in support of the petition should be attached and filed. The pleadings of the petition shall be informal unless the court in its discretion requires formal pleadings.

2. Affirmative defenses, counterclaims and cross claims shall be filed in writing not later than the return date and time of the summons unless leave to file the same at a later date is granted by the court. No other responsive pleading need be filed. If no responsive pleading is filed, the statements made in the petition, affirmative defenses, counterclaims or cross claims shall be considered denied except as provided in section 517.132 .

3. For good cause shown, the court may extend the time for filing any pleading.