Article II. Rules on Civil Proceedings in the Trial Court · Part B. Pleadings and Other Papers · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 136 lets a party deny a whole paragraph of allegations at once and says new matter in a reply is treated as denied unless the court orders a response.
(a)Form of Denials. If a pleader can in good faith deny all the allegations in a paragraph of
the opposing party’s pleading, or all the allegations in the paragraph that are not specifically admitted, he may do so without paraphrasing or separately describing each allegation denied.
(b)Pleadings after Reply. Unless the court orders otherwise, no response to a reply or subsequent pleading is required and any new matter in a reply or subsequent pleading shall be taken as denied.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 136(a) simplifies how denials are written. If a party can in good faith deny every allegation in a paragraph of the opposing pleading, or every allegation that was not specifically admitted, they can say so in one sentence rather than picking apart and separately addressing each individual claim.
Rule 136(b) then addresses what happens after a reply is filed. Unless the court says otherwise, no party has to respond to a reply or any pleading that follows it, and any new factual matter raised in that reply is automatically treated as denied, without anyone needing to file a formal denial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deny an entire paragraph of a complaint in one sentence?
Yes, as long as you can in good faith deny everything in it, or everything not already specifically admitted. Rule 136(a) does not require you to paraphrase or address each allegation separately.
Do I have to respond to the other side’s reply?
Not unless the court orders it. Rule 136(b) says no response to a reply or later pleading is required by default.
What happens to new facts raised in a reply if nobody responds to them?
They are automatically treated as denied, so you do not lose the ability to contest them just because no formal response was filed.
Does Rule 136 allow a general denial of an entire complaint?
No. It streamlines how paragraph-level denials are worded, but it does not permit denying an entire pleading in one blanket statement.
Why would a rule automatically treat unaddressed new matter as denied?
It keeps the pleadings moving without requiring an endless chain of responsive filings, while still preserving the responding party’s ability to contest those new facts later in the case.
Committee Comments
Paragraph (a)
This provision is new. It is designed to clarify section 40 of the Illinois Civil Practice Act. When several allegations in a paragraph are to be denied, the responsive pleading may be more intelligible if they are identified without a paraphrase or separate description of each one. Doubt has been cast on this method of pleading by Johnson v. Schuberth, 40 Ill. App. 2d 467, 189 N.E.2d 768 (1st Dist. 1963). Compare, however, Dennehy v. Wood Co., 285 Ill. App. 598, 2 N.E.2d 586 (2d Dist. Abst. Op. 1936). The new rule permits pleading substantially as in the following illustration:
“5. Defendant denies the allegations of paragraph 5 of the complaint and each of them.” Or, if some of the allegations of a paragraph are to be admitted and some denied, the pleader may state substantially as follows:
“5. Defendant admits [stating facts admitted] and denies the remaining allegations of paragraph 5 and each of them.” The new rule is based in part upon provisions in Rule 8(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See also 2 Moore, Federal Practice, par. 8.23 (2d ed. 1965). Unlike the Federal rule, however, the new rule does not permit a general denial of an entire pleading, even in the very unusual case in which such a denial would be appropriate. Not only does section 40 of the Civil Practice Act forbid this result, but the disciplinary effect of requiring the pleader to address himself separately to each paragraph and allegation therein is highly desirable and should be preserved.
Paragraph (b)
Paragraph (b), an express statement of what the committee believes to be the existing rule, is based upon Rule 8(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:denying allegations illinois pleadinggeneral denial rulereply to answer requirementsnew matter deemed deniedanswering a complaint paragraph by paragraph