(a) Pleadings. There shall be a complaint and 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; a third-party answer, if a third-party complaint is served; and there may be a reply to an affirmative defense. No other pleading shall be allowed, except upon order of court.
Rule 7.Pleadings Allowed: Form of Motions
Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified July 10, 2026
In one sentenceRule 7 identifies the small set of pleadings Colorado courts allow (complaint, answer, and a few narrow additions), bans older common-law devices like demurrers, and requires every motion to be in writing, state its grounds, and ask for specific relief.
Full Text of Rule 7
(b) Motions and Other Papers.
(1) An application to the court for an order shall be made 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) These rules applicable to captions, signing and other matters of form of pleadings apply to all motions and other papers provided for by these rules.
(c) Demurrers, Pleas, etc., Abolished. Demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading shall not be used.
(d) Agreed Case, Procedure. Parties to a dispute which might be the subject of a civil action may, without pleadings, file, in the court which would have had jurisdiction if an action had been brought, an agreed statement of facts. The same shall be supported by an affidavit that the controversy is real and that it is filed in good faith to determine the rights of the parties. The matters shall then be deemed an action at issue and all proceedings thereafter shall be as provided by these rules.
Amendment History
The source reproduced here (current through June 1, 2026) records no amendment to this rule since its original adoption — no Credits line appears for it in the compiled rules. For the underlying adopting order and any later amendments, see the Colorado General Assembly.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 7 spells out exactly which pleadings a Colorado civil case may contain: a complaint and answer, a reply to a counterclaim, an answer to a cross-claim, a third-party complaint when someone new is brought into the case under Rule 14, a third-party answer, and — only if a party chooses to file one — a reply to an affirmative defense. Anything beyond that list needs a court order. The rule also throws out older pleading devices such as demurrers, special pleas, and exceptions for insufficiency; objections that used to require a separate pleading now get raised by motion instead.
The rule sets baseline requirements for motions: unless made orally during a hearing or trial, a motion must be in writing, spell out the grounds for the request with particularity, and state exactly what relief the party wants. A written notice of hearing that includes this information can double as the motion itself. Section (d) also lets parties skip pleadings in a real, good-faith dispute by filing an agreed statement of facts, supported by an affidavit, which the court then treats as an action ready for decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pleadings does Colorado allow in a civil case?
Rule 7(a) permits only a complaint, an answer, a reply to a counterclaim, an answer to a cross-claim, a third-party complaint and answer under Rule 14, and — if a party wants one — a reply to an affirmative defense; anything else needs a court order.
Can I still file a demurrer in Colorado?
No. Rule 7(c) abolishes demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading; the objections they used to raise are handled by motion instead.
Does a motion have to be in writing?
Generally yes — unless it is made during a hearing or trial, Rule 7(b) requires a motion to be in writing, state its grounds with particularity, and identify the relief sought.
What is an agreed case under Rule 7(d)?
It lets parties with a real, good-faith dispute skip pleadings and file an agreed statement of facts, supported by an affidavit, which the court then treats as an action ready for further proceedings.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (Colo. R. Civ. P. 7). 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: what pleadings are allowed in Coloradoform of motions CRCPdemurrer abolished Coloradoagreed case statement of factshow to write a motion Colorado courtthird-party complaint pleadingreply to affirmative defense