(a) Definition—Form—Preparation and Submission. “Judgment” as used in these rules includes a decree. A judgment shall not contain a recital of pleadings, the report of a master, or the record of prior proceedings. Judgments for the payment of money must be in the form required by Civil Rule 58.2. The procedure for the preparation and submission of proposed judgments and orders is governed by Rule 78.
Rule 54.Judgments—Costs.
Last amended January 1, 2019 · Last verified July 6, 2026
In one sentenceRule 54 defines what counts as a judgment, sets a strict test for entering final judgment on only part of a multi-claim or multi-party case, caps default judgments at what was demanded, and awards costs to the prevailing party as a matter of course.
Full Text of Rule 54
(b) Judgment Upon Multiple Claims or Involving Multiple Parties. When more than one claim for relief is presented in an action, whether as a claim, counterclaim, cross- claim, or third-party claim, or when multiple parties are involved, the court may direct the entry of a final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or parties only upon an express determination that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express direction for the entry of judgment. In the absence of such determination and direction, any order or other form of decision, however designated, which adjudicates fewer than all of the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties shall not terminate the action as to any of the claims or parties, and the order or other form of decision is subject to revision at any time before the entry of judgment adjudicating all the claims and the rights and liabilities of all the parties.
(c) Demand for Judgment. A default judgment shall not be different in kind from or exceed in amount that prayed for in the demand for judgment. Except as to a party against whom a default judgment is entered, every final judgment shall grant the relief to which the party in whose favor it is rendered is entitled, even if the party has not demanded such relief in the pleadings.
(d) Costs. Except when express provision therefor is made either in a statute of the state or in these rules, costs shall be allowed as of course to the prevailing party unless the court otherwise directs. The procedure for the taxing of costs by the clerk and review of the clerk’s action by the court shall be governed by Rule 79.
Amendment History
(Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; amended by SCO 258 effective November 15, 1976; by SCO 554 effective April 4, 1983; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1415 effective October 15, 2000; and by SCO 1939 effective January 1, 2019)
Notes
Note: AS 25.24.150(f), 25.24.155, and 25.24.160(c), added by ch. 76. §§ 1–3, SLA 1991, amended Civil Rule 54(b) by prohibiting the separation of claims in an action for divorce or an action declaring a marriage void without compliance with AS 25.24.155, as added by ch. 76, § 2, SLA 1991.
Note: Chapter 65, SLA 2018 (HB 170) enacted comprehensive changes to securities laws. According to section 30(b) of the Act, AS 45.56.650(f), enacted by section 25 of the Act, have the effect of changing Civil Rule 54, effective January 1, 2019, by expanding the definition of judgments to include final judgments of the administrator (in the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development) issued under AS 45.56.650.
Plain-English Summary
A "judgment" under these rules includes a decree, but it can't recite the pleadings, a master's report, or the record of earlier proceedings, and a judgment for money must follow the form a separate rule requires. When a case involves more than one claim or more than one party, the court can enter final judgment on just some of them only if it expressly finds no just reason for delay and expressly directs that judgment be entered; without that finding, any partial ruling doesn't end the case as to any claim or party and stays open to revision until every claim against every party is resolved. A default judgment can't give more, or something different in kind, than what the complaint demanded, but any other final judgment can grant whatever relief the winning party has earned, whether or not it was specifically requested in the pleadings.
Absent a statute or rule saying otherwise, the prevailing party gets costs as a matter of course unless the court orders differently, with the mechanics of taxing those costs set out in a separate rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a court enter final judgment on just one claim in a multi-claim lawsuit?
Yes, but only if the court expressly finds there's no just reason for delay and expressly directs entry of judgment on that claim; otherwise a partial ruling doesn't end the case and can still be revised.
Can a default judgment award more than what I asked for in my complaint?
No — a default judgment can't exceed in amount or differ in kind from what the demand for judgment requested.
Who pays court costs after a case is decided?
The prevailing party gets its costs as a matter of course unless a statute, rule, or the court itself says otherwise.
Source & verification. The rule text, Amendment History, and Notes are reproduced verbatim from the
official Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure (Alaska R. Civ. P. 54). 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: final judgment multiple claims Alaskadefault judgment limits Alaska ruleprevailing party costs Alaska civil caseAlaska R. Civ. P. 54