FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
Articles III Rule 7

FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE

Articles III PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

Rule 7. Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions

(a) Pleadings.

There shall be a complaint and an answer; a reply to a counterclaim denominated as such;
an answer to a cross-claim, if the answer contains a cross-claim; a third-party complaint, if
a person who was not an original party is summoned under the provisions of Rule 14 ; and a
third-party answer, if a third-party complaint is served. No other pleading shall be allowed,
except that the court may order a reply to an answer or a third-party answer.

(b) Motions and Other Papers

(1) An application to the court for an order shall be by motion which, unless made during a
hearing or trial, shall be made in writing, shall state with particularity the grounds therefor,
and shall set forth the relief or order sought. The requirement of writing is fulfilled if the
motion is stated in a written notice of the hearing of the motion.

(2) The rules applicable to captions and other matters of form of pleadings apply to all
motions and other papers provided for by these rules.

(3) All motions shall be signed in accordance with Rule 11 .

(c) Demurrers, Pleas, etc.,

Abolished. Demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading shall not be
used.

Rule 7. Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions: Notes



Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Articles II Rule 4. Summons-LII
Notes: Rule 1. Scope and Purpose of Rules n
Federal Civil Procedure-Volume-56-Table of Contents   
Articles III PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS-Table of Contents-Links To LII

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Articles III Rule 7. Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions