In U.S. district courts, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) govern the civil legal process. Almost all the federal courts use the FRCP as their rules of procedure, even when state law is applicable to the substantive issues in the case. Thirty-five states have adopted the FRCP as their state courts’ rules of civil procedure.
Table of Contents for Rules
FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
TITLE I. SCOPE OF RULES; FORM OF ACTION 2
TITLE II. COMMENCING AN ACTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS, PLEADINGS,MOTIONS, AND ORDERS 7
Rule 4.1. Serving Other Process
Rule 5. Serving and Filing Pleadings and Other Papers
Rule 5.1. Constitutional Challenge to a Statute–Notice, Certification, and Intervention
Rule 5.2. Privacy Protection For Filings Made with the Court
Rule 6. Computing and Extending Time; Time for Motion Papers
TITLE III. PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS 18
Rule 7. Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions and Other Papers
Rule 7.1. Disclosure Statement
Rule 8. General Rules of Pleading [Part 1 of 2]
Rule 8. General Rules of Pleading [Part 2 of 2]
Rule 9. Pleading Special Matters
Rule 11. Signing Pleadings, Motions, and Other Papers; Representations to the Court; Sanctions [Part 2 of 2]
Rule 12. Defenses and Objections: When and How Presented; Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings; Consolidating
Rule 12. Defenses and Objections: When and How Presented; Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings; Consolidating
Rule 12. Defenses and Objections: When and How Presented; Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings; Consolidating
Rule 13. Counterclaim and Crossclaim
Rule 15. Amended and Supplemental Pleadings [Part 1 of 3]
Rule 15. Amended and Supplemental Pleadings [Part 2 of 3]
Rule 15. Amended and Supplemental Pleadings [Part 3 of 3]
Rule 16. Pretrial Conferences; Scheduling; Management
TITLE IV. PARTIES 16
Rule 17. Plaintiff and Defendant; Capacity; Public Officers
Rule 19. Required Joinder of Parties
Rule 20. Permissive Joinder of Parties
Rule 21. Misjoinder and Nonjoinder of Parties
Rule 23. Class Actions [Part 1 of 6]
Rule 23. Class Actions [Part 2 of 6]
Rule 23. Class Actions [Part 3 of 6]
Rule 23. Class Actions [Part 4 of 6]
Rule 23. Class Actions [Part 5 of 6]
Rule 23. Class Actions [Part 6 of 6]
Rule 23.2. Actions Relating to Unincorporated Associations
Rule 25. Substitution of Parties
TITLE V. DISCLOSURES AND DISCOVERY 16
Preceding Rule 26
Rule 26. Duty to Disclose; General Provisions Governing Discovery [Part 1 of 3]
Rule 26. Duty to Disclose; General Provisions Governing Discovery [Part 2 of 3]
Rule 26. Duty to Disclose; General Provisions Governing Discovery [Part 3 of 3]
Rule 27. Depositions to Perpetuate Testimony
Rule 28. Persons Before Whom Depositions May Be Taken
Rule 29. Stipulations About Discovery Procedure
Rule 30. Depositions by Oral Examination
Rule 31. Depositions by Written Questions
Rule 32. Using Depositions in Court Proceedings
Rule 33. Interrogatories to Parties
Rule 35. Physical and Mental Examinations
Rule 36. Requests for Admission
Rule 37. Failure to Make Disclosures or to Cooperate in Discovery; Sanctions [Part 1 of 2]
Rule 37. Failure to Make Disclosures or to Cooperate in Discovery; Sanctions [Part 2 of 2]
TITLE VI. TRIALS 17
Rule 38. Right to a Jury Trial; Demand
Rule 39. Trial by Jury or by the Court
Rule 40. Scheduling Cases for Trial
Rule 42. Consolidation; Separate Trials
Rule 44. Proving an Official Record
Rule 44.1. Determining Foreign Law
Rule 46. Objecting to a Ruling or Order
Rule 48. Number of Jurors; Verdict
Rule 49. Special Verdict; General Verdict and Questions
Rule 51. Instructions to the Jury; Objections; Preserving a Claim of Error
Rule 52. Findings and Conclusions by the Court; Judgment on Partial Findings
TITLE VII. JUDGMENT 15
Rule 55. Default; Default Judgment
Rule 56. Summary Judgment [Part 1 of 4]
Rule 56. Summary Judgment [Part 2 of 4]
Rule 56. Summary Judgment [Part 3 of 4]
Rule 56. Summary Judgment [Part 4 of 4]
Rule 59. New Trial; Altering or Amending a Judgment
Rule 60. Relief from a Judgment or Order [Part 1 of 2]
Rule 60. Relief from a Judgment or Order [Part 2 of 2]
Rule 62. Stay of Proceedings to Enforce a Judgment
Rule 62.1. Indicative Ruling on a Motion for Relief That is Barred by a Pending Appeal
Rule 63. Judge’s Inability to Proceed
TITLE VIII. PROVISIONAL AND FINAL REMEDIES 10
Preceding Rule 64
Rule 64. Seizing a Person or Property
Rule 65. Injunctions and Restraining Orders
Rule 65.1. Proceedings Against a Surety
Rule 70. Enforcing a Judgment for a Specific Act
Rule 71. Enforcing Relief For or Against a Nonparty
TITLE IX. SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS 8
Preceding Rule 71.1
Rule 71.1. Condemning Real or Personal Property
Rule 71A. [Transferred]
Rule 72. Magistrate Judges: Pretrial Order
Rule 73. Magistrate Judges: Trial by Consent; Appeal
Rule 74. [Abrogated]
Rule 75. [Abrogated]
Rule 76. [Abrogated]
TITLE X. DISTRICT COURTS AND CLERKS: CONDUCTING BUSINESS; ISSUING ORDERS 4
Rule 77. Conducting Business; Clerk’s Authority; Notice of an Order or Judgment
Rule 78. Hearing Motions; Submission on Briefs
Rule 79. Records Kept by the Clerk
Rule 80. Stenographic Transcript as Evidence
TITLE XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS 6
Rule 81. Applicability of the Rules in General; Removed Actions
Rule 82. Jurisdiction and Venue Unaffected
Rule 83. Rules by District Courts; Judge’s Directives
APPENDIX OF FORMS 37
Preceding Form 1
Form 1. Caption.
Form 2. Date, Signature, Address, E-mail Address, and Telephone Number.
Form 3. Summons.
Form 4. Summons on a Third-Party Complaint.
Form 5. Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons.
Form 6. Waiver of the Service of Summons.
Form 7. Statement of Jurisdiction.
Form 8. Statement of Reasons for Omitting a Party.
Form 9. Statement Noting a Party’s Death.
Form 10. Complaint to Recover a Sum Certain.
Form 11. Complaint for Negligence.
Form 12. Complaint for Negligence When the Plaintiff Does Not Know Who Is Responsible.
Form 13. Complaint for Negligence Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
Form 14. Complaint for Damages Under the Merchant Marine Act.
Form 15. Complaint for the Conversion of Property.
Form 16. Third-Party Complaint.
Form 17. Complaint for Specific Performance of a Contract to Convey Land.
Form 18. Complaint for Patent Infringement.
Form 19. Complaint for Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition.
Form 20. Complaint for Interpleader and Declaratory Relief.
Form 21. Complaint on a Claim for a Debt and to Set Aside a Fraudulent Conveyance Under Rule 18(b).
Form 30. Answer Presenting Defenses Under Rule 12(b).
Form 31. Answer to a Complaint for Money Had and Received with a Counterclaim for Interpleader.
Form 40. Motion to Dismiss Under Rule 12(b) for Lack of Jurisdiction, Improper Venue, Insufficient Service of
Form 41. Motion to Bring in a Third-Party Defendant.
Form 42. Motion to Intervene as a Defendant Under Rule 24.
Form 50. Request to Produce Documents and Tangible Things, or to Enter onto Land Under Rule 34.
Form 51. Request for Admissions Under Rule 36.
Form 52. Report of the Parties’ Planning Meeting.
Form 60. Notice of Condemnation.
Form 61. Complaint for Condemnation.
Form 70. Judgment on a Jury Verdict.
Form 71. Judgment by the Court without a Jury.
Form 80. Notice of a Magistrate Judge’s Availability.
Form 81. Consent to an Assignment to a Magistrate Judge.
Form 82. Order of Assignment to a Magistrate Judge.
