(a) Definition; Form. “Judgment” as used in these rules includes a decree and order to or from which an appeal lies. A judgment shall not contain a recital of pleadings, the report of a master, or the record of prior proceedings.
Rule 54.Judgments; Costs
Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified July 10, 2026
In one sentenceDefines what counts as a judgment, sets the certification standard for entering final judgment on part of a multi-claim or multi-party case, and collects rules on costs, judgments against partnerships, judgments after a party's death, in rem judgments, and reviving judgments that have gone dormant.
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 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 judgment by default shall not be different in kind from that prayed for in the demand for judgment. Except as to a party against whom a judgment is entered by default, 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 his pleadings.
(d) Costs. Except when express provision therefor is made either in a statute of this state or in these rules, reasonable costs shall be allowed as of course to the prevailing party considering any relevant factors which may include the needs and complexity of the case and the amount in controversy. But costs against the state of Colorado, its officers or agencies, shall be imposed only to the extent permitted by law.
(e) Against Partnership. Any judgment obtained against a partnership or unincorporated association shall bind only the joint property of the partners or associates, and the separate property of the parties personally served.
(f) After Death, How Payable. If a party dies after a verdict or decision upon any issue of fact, and before judgment, the court may, nevertheless, render judgment thereon. Such judgment shall not be a lien on the real property of the deceased party, but shall be paid as a claim against his estate.
(g) Against Unknown Defendants. The judgment in an action in rem shall apply to and conclude the unknown defendants whose interests are described in the complaint.
(h) Revival of Judgments. A judgment may be revived against any one or more judgment debtors whether they are jointly or severally liable under the judgment. To revive a judgment a motion shall be filed alleging the date of the judgment and the amount thereof which remains unsatisfied. Thereupon the clerk shall issue a notice requiring the judgment debtor to show cause within 14 days after service thereof why the judgment should not be revived. The notice shall be served on the judgment debtor in conformity with Rule 4. If the judgment debtor answer, any issue so presented shall be tried and determined by the court. A revived judgment must be entered within twenty years after the entry of the judgment which it revives, and may be enforced and made a lien in the same manner and for like period as an original judgment. If a judgment is revived before the expiration of any lien created by the original judgment, the filing of the transcript of the entry of revivor in the register of actions with the clerk and recorder of the appropriate county before the expiration of such lien shall continue that lien for the same period from the entry of the revived judgment as is provided for original judgments. Revived judgments may themselves be revived in the manner herein provided.
Amendment History
Amended effective January 1, 1989; January 1, 2012; July 1, 2015.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 54 opens by defining a judgment as any decree or order from which an appeal lies, and it bars a judgment from reciting the pleadings, a master's report, or the record of prior proceedings. When a case involves multiple claims or multiple parties, a court may enter final judgment on part of the case only if it expressly finds no just reason for delay and expressly directs entry of judgment; without that certification, an order resolving less than the whole case remains open to revision until the court decides everything. The rule also caps default judgments at the kind of relief demanded in the complaint, while judgments entered after a contested proceeding may grant whatever relief the evidence supports, whether or not the pleadings asked for it.
The remaining sections address recurring judgment issues. Costs go to the prevailing party as a matter of course, with the court weighing factors such as the case's needs, complexity, and amount in controversy, though costs against the state are limited to what the law allows. A judgment against a partnership or unincorporated association reaches only the joint property of its partners or associates plus the separate property of those personally served. If a party dies after a verdict or decision but before judgment, the court can still enter judgment, though it becomes a claim against the estate rather than a lien on real property. A judgment in an action in rem binds unknown defendants whose interests the complaint describes.
A judgment does not last forever. A judgment creditor who wants to keep collecting on an old judgment must move to revive it, prompting the clerk to notify the debtor to show cause within 14 days why the judgment should not be revived. A revived judgment must be entered within 20 years of the original judgment, and it can be enforced and made a lien the same way an original judgment can. Revived judgments may themselves be revived later under the same procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Rule 54(b) certification let a party do?
It lets a party appeal a judgment on fewer than all claims or all parties before the rest of the case is resolved, but only if the court expressly finds no just reason for delay and expressly directs entry of that judgment.
Can I recover more than I asked for in a default judgment?
No. A default judgment cannot be different in kind from what was demanded. In a case that is fully litigated rather than defaulted, though, the court can grant whatever relief a party is entitled to even without a matching demand in the pleadings.
How does a judgment against a partnership work?
It binds only the joint property of the partners or associates and the separate property of those who were personally served, not the separate property of every partner regardless of service.
How do I revive a judgment before it becomes unenforceable?
File a motion stating the date of the judgment and the amount still unsatisfied. The clerk then issues a notice requiring the judgment debtor to show cause within 14 days why the judgment should not be revived, and the revived judgment must be entered within 20 years of the original judgment.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (Colo. R. Civ. P. 54). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Colorado (C.R.S. § 13-2-108; Colo. Const. art. VI). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 10, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: CRCP 54final judgment certification multiple claims coloradoreviving a dormant judgment coloradocosts to the prevailing party coloradojudgment against a partnership coloradorule 54(b) certification