Rule 12.Defenses and Objections – When and How Presented – By Pleading or Motion – Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.

Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified September 11, 2026

In one sentenceRule 12 gives a defendant 20 days to answer, lists the seven defences that may be raised by motion instead, and says which of them are waived if left out.

Full Text of Rule 12

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

(a) (a) When presented. A defendant shall serve an answer within 20 days after the service of the summons and complaint upon that defendant, except when service is made under Rule 4(e) of these Rules and a different time is prescribed in an order of court under a statute or rule of court. A party served with a pleading stating a cross-claim against that party shall serve an answer thereto within 20 days after the service upon that party. The plaintiff shall serve a reply to a counterclaim in the answer within 20 days after service of the answer or, if a reply is ordered by the court, within 20 days after service of the order, unless the order otherwise directs. The service of a motion permitted under this rule alters these periods of time as follows, unless a different time is fixed by order of the court:

(1) (1) if the court denies the motion or postpones its disposition until the trial on the merits, the responsive pleading shall be served within 10 days after notice of the court’s action; or

(2) (2) if the court grants a motion for a more definite statement the responsive pleading shall be served within 10 days after the service of the more definite statement.

(b) (b) How presented. Every defense, in law or fact, to a claim for relief in any pleading, whether a claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim, shall be asserted in the responsive pleading thereto if one is required, except that the following defenses may at the option of the pleader be made by motion:

(1) (1) lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter,

(2) (2) lack of jurisdiction over the person,

(3) (3) improper venue,

(4) (4) insufficiency of process,

(5) (5) insufficiency of service of process,

(6) (6) failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and

(7) (7) failure to join a party under Rule 19 of these Rules.

A motion making any of these defenses shall be made before pleading if a further pleading is permitted. No defense or objection is waived by being joined with one or more other defenses or objections in a responsive pleading or motion. If a pleading sets forth a claim for relief to which the adverse party is not required to serve a responsive pleading, the adverse party may assert at the trial any defense in law or fact to that claim for relief. If, on a motion asserting the defense numbered (6) to dismiss for failure of the pleading to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, matters outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in Rule 56 of these Rules, and all parties shall be given reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent to such a motion by Rule 56.

(c) (c) Motion for judgment on the pleadings. After the pleadings are closed but within such time as not to delay the trial, any party may move for judgment on the pleadings. If, on a motion for judgment on the pleadings, matters outside the pleadings are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in Rule 56 of these Rules, and all parties shall be given reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent to such a motion by Rule 56 of these Rules.

(d) (d) Preliminary hearings. The defenses specifically enumerated (1) - (7) in subdivision (b) of this Rule, whether made in a pleading or by motion, and the motion for judgment allowed by subdivision (c) of this Rule shall be heard and determined before trial on application of any party unless the court orders that the hearing and determination thereof be deferred until the trial.

(e) (e) Motion for more definite statement. If a pleading to which a responsive pleading is permitted is so vague or ambiguous that a party cannot reasonably be required to frame a responsive pleading, the party may move for a more definite statement before interposing a responsive pleading. The motion shall point out the defects complained of and the details desired. If the motion is granted and the order of the court is not obeyed within 10 days after notice of the order or within such other time as the court may fix, the court may strike the pleading to which the motion was directed or make such order as it deems just.

(f) (f) Motion to strike. Upon motion made by a party before responding to a pleading or, if no responsive pleading is permitted by these Rules, upon motion made by a party within 20 days after the service of the pleading upon the party or upon the court’s own initiative at any time, the court may order stricken from any pleading any insufficient defense or any redundant, immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous matter.

(g) (g) Consolidation of defenses in motion. A party who makes a motion under this rule may join with it any other motions herein provided for and then available to the party. If a party makes a motion under this rule but omits therefrom any defense or objection then available to the party which this rule permits to be raised by motion, the party shall not thereafter make a motion based on the defense or objection so omitted, except a motion as provided in subdivision (h)(2) of this Rule on any of the grounds there stated.

(h) (h) Waiver or preservation of certain defenses.

(1) (1) A defense of lack of jurisdiction over the person, improper venue, insufficiency of process, or insufficiency of service of process is waived

(A) (A) if omitted from a motion in the circumstances described in subdivision (g), or

(B) (B) if it is neither made by motion under this rule nor included in a responsive pleading or an amendment thereof permitted by Rule 15(a) of these Rules to be made as a matter of course.

(2) (2) A defense of failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, a defense of failure to join a party indispensable under Rule 19 of these Rules, and an objection of failure to state a legal defense to a claim may be made in any pleading permitted or ordered under Rule 7(a) of these Rules, or by motion for judgment on the pleadings, or at the trial on the merits.

(3) (3) Whenever it appears by motion of the parties or otherwise that the court lacks jurisdiction of the subject matter, the court shall dismiss the action.

End

Amendment History

The Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s compiled text of this rule carries no amendment order for this rule. For the adopting orders and any later amendments, see the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary’s rules page.

Plain-English Summary

Twenty days is the basic period: to answer a complaint after service of the summons and complaint, to answer a cross-claim, and to reply to a counterclaim. A motion under this rule suspends the clock. If the motion is denied or deferred to trial, the responsive pleading is due 10 days after notice of the ruling; if a more definite statement is ordered, 10 days after it is served.

Seven defences may be made by motion rather than in the answer: lack of subject matter jurisdiction, lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, insufficiency of process, insufficiency of service of process, failure to state a claim, and failure to join a party under Rule 19. Such a motion comes before pleading where a further pleading is permitted, and joining defences together waives none of them. A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim that draws in matters outside the pleading becomes a summary judgment motion under Rule 56, and everyone gets a reasonable chance to present material.

The waiver provisions are where cases are lost. Lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, insufficiency of process and insufficiency of service are waived if omitted from a motion that raised other defences, or if they appear neither in a motion nor in a responsive pleading or an amendment allowed as of course. Failure to state a claim, failure to join an indispensable party and failure to state a legal defence survive longer and may be raised through trial on the merits. Subject matter jurisdiction is never waived: whenever it appears the court lacks it, the action must be dismissed.

Two further tools sit here. A pleading too vague to answer draws a motion for a more definite statement, and disobeying the resulting order within 10 days may cost the party its pleading. Insufficient defences and redundant, immaterial, impertinent or scandalous matter may be struck, on motion or by the court on its own initiative.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to answer in Hawaii family court?

Twenty days after service of the summons and complaint, unless service was made under Rule 4(e) and a court order under a statute or rule sets a different time.

Which defences can be raised by motion?

Seven: lack of subject matter jurisdiction, lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, insufficiency of process, insufficiency of service of process, failure to state a claim, and failure to join a party under Rule 19.

Which defences are waived if I leave them out?

Lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, insufficiency of process and insufficiency of service of process, if omitted from a motion raising other defences or from the responsive pleading.

Can subject matter jurisdiction be waived?

No. Whenever it appears that the court lacks jurisdiction of the subject matter, the court shall dismiss the action.

What happens if a motion to dismiss relies on outside evidence?

It is treated as a motion for summary judgment under Rule 56, and all parties get a reasonable opportunity to present pertinent material.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Hawaii Family Court Rules (Haw. Fam. Ct. R. 12). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 11, 2026. · Official source

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