Oklahoma Local Rules of Civil Procedure lay down the rules that should be followed by Oklahoma state courts.  These local rules are promulgated to supplement the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.  In Oklahoma, a civil action commences with the filing of a complaint or other document.  A party who commences the action is called the plaintiff, and the opposite party is called the defendant.  A civil action can be classified into various stages that include: pleading stage, discovery stage, trial stage, and judgment stage.

Pleadings in Oklahoma courts include:  complaint, answer to complaint, counter claim, reply to counterclaim, cross claim, reply to cross claim, third party complaint and third party answer.  A complaint should be filed by the real party in interest.  Parties may obtain discovery by oral examination or written questions; written interrogatories; and requests for admission.

At the trial stage, a party may demand for trial by jury.  A judgment is passed after trial.  Generally, cost of litigation is adjudged to the prevailing party.