(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 leave is given under Rule 14 to summon a person who was not an original party; 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.
Rule 7.Pleadings Allowed—Form of Motions.
Last amended November 15, 1976 · Last verified July 6, 2026
In one sentenceRule 7 lists the only pleadings Alaska's civil rules allow — a complaint, an answer, and a handful of specific replies and third-party pleadings — bars older devices like demurrers entirely, and requires every other request for court action to be made by written motion.
Full Text of Rule 7
(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, signing, and other matters of form of pleadings apply to all motions and other papers provided for by these rules.
(3) The procedure for the submission and hearing of motions shall be as provided in Rule 77.
(c) Demurrers, Pleas, etc., Abolished. Demurrers, pleas and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading shall not be used.
Amendment History
(Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; amended by SCO 57 effective November 8, 1963; by SCO 258 effective November 15, 1976)
Notes
Note: Chapter 54 SLA 2005 (HB 95) enacted extensive amendments and new provisions related to public health, including public health emergencies and disasters. According to Section 13(a) of the Act, AS 18.15.375(c)(3),(d), and (e), and 18.15.385(d) –(k), enacted in Section 8, have the effect of amending Civil Rule 7 by adding special proceedings, timing, and pleading requirements for matters involving public health.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 7 keeps the list of allowed pleadings short: a complaint and an answer, a reply to a counterclaim, an answer to a cross-claim, a third-party complaint when the court has given leave to bring one in, and a third-party answer once that complaint is served. A court may order a reply to an answer or third-party answer, but nothing beyond this list is allowed — the rule specifically abolishes demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for the insufficiency of a pleading, devices that once let a party challenge a pleading's legal sufficiency without answering it.
Anything else a party wants from the court — short of a full pleading — goes through a motion instead: a writing that states the grounds with particularity and the relief sought, unless the motion is made during a hearing or trial. The same rules that govern the caption, signing, and form of pleadings apply to motions too, and the procedure for submitting and hearing them runs through Rule 77.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pleadings does Alaska recognize?
A complaint, an answer, a reply to a counterclaim, an answer to a cross-claim, a third-party complaint and answer, and a court-ordered reply to an answer or third-party answer — nothing else.
Can I still file a demurrer in Alaska?
No. Rule 7(c) abolishes demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading; a motion under Rule 12 is the modern substitute.
What must a motion contain?
A writing stating the grounds with particularity and the relief sought, unless it’s made during a hearing or trial; the procedure for submitting and hearing motions is set out in Rule 77.
Source & verification. The rule text, Amendment History, and Notes are reproduced verbatim from the
official Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure (Alaska R. Civ. P. 7). 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: pleadings allowed in Alaskademurrer abolished Alaskahow to file a motion Alaska courtthird party complaint AlaskaAlaska R. Civ. P. 7