Rule 2.One Form of Action.

Last verified July 6, 2026

In one sentenceRule 2 abolishes any separate forms of action in Alaska's courts, so every civil dispute — whatever remedy it seeks — proceeds under the single label of a “civil action.”

Full Text of Rule 2

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There shall be one form of action to be known as a “civil action.”

Amendment History

(Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959)

Plain-English Summary

Courts once split lawsuits into different tracks depending on the relief sought — a claim for money damages followed one set of procedures, while a claim for an injunction or other equitable relief followed another, often in a different court. Rule 2 erases that divide for Alaska.

Every civil dispute, no matter what a plaintiff is asking for, is a “civil action,” governed by the same set of rules from filing through judgment. A single complaint can ask for damages and an injunction together without satisfying two separate procedural systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can one Alaska lawsuit seek both damages and an injunction?

Yes. Because Rule 2 merges every kind of civil claim into one form of action, a complaint may combine legal relief, like damages, with equitable relief, like an injunction.

Does Alaska still separate "law" and "equity" cases procedurally?

No. Every civil dispute proceeds as a single civil action under the same set of rules, regardless of the kind of relief sought.

Why does Rule 2 matter if it’s only one sentence long?

It eliminates an older, more complicated system that required different pleadings and procedures depending on whether a claim was legal or equitable, simplifying every case that follows.

Source & verification. The rule text, Amendment History, and Notes are reproduced verbatim from the official Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure (Alaska R. Civ. P. 2). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Alaska (Alaska Const. art. IV, § 15). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: one form of actioncivil action Alaskalaw and equity mergerAlaska R. Civ. P. 2