Rule 29.Stipulations About Discovery Procedure

Last amended December 1, 2007 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 29 lets the parties stipulate to change how discovery is conducted — including taking a deposition at any time or place and modifying other discovery procedures — though a stipulation that would affect a court-set deadline needs the court’s approval.

Full Text of Rule 29

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

Unless the court orders otherwise, the parties may stipulate that:

(a) a deposition may be taken before any person, at any time or place, on any notice, and in the manner specified—in which event it may be used in the same way as any other deposition; and

(b) other procedures governing or limiting discovery be modified—but a stipulation extending the time for any form of discovery must have court approval if it would interfere with the time set for completing discovery, for hearing a motion, or for trial.

End

Amendment History

(Amended March 30, 1970, effective July 1, 1970; April 22, 1993, effective December 1, 1993; April 30, 2007, effective December 1, 2007.)

Plain-English Summary

Rule 29 gives litigants room to run discovery by agreement. Unless the court orders otherwise, the parties may stipulate that a deposition be taken before any authorized person, at any time or place, and on any notice, and that it be used like any other deposition.

They may also stipulate to modify other discovery procedures. The one limit: if a stipulation would extend the time to respond in a way that interferes with a deadline the court has set — for completing discovery, hearing a motion, or trial — it requires the court’s approval. Rule 29 reflects the rules’ general preference for letting parties manage routine discovery without burdening the court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the parties change discovery procedures by agreement?

Yes. Rule 29 lets them stipulate about depositions and modify other discovery procedures, except that a change affecting a court-set deadline needs the court’s approval.

Does a discovery stipulation need to be filed with the court?

Rule 29 does not require court approval for most stipulations — only one that would interfere with a deadline the court has already set, such as the close of discovery or the trial date.

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the official Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P. 29), a public-domain work of the U.S. Government. Prescribed by the United States Supreme Court under the Rules Enabling Act. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: FRCP 29Fed. R. Civ. P. 29stipulations about discoverydiscovery agreements