Rule 54.Judgment; Costs

Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified July 13, 2026

In one sentenceTrial Rule 54 defines what a judgment is, sets the standard for when a ruling on only some claims or parties becomes final and appealable, limits default judgments to the relief demanded, governs how costs are taxed, and treats judgments against multiple parties as separately enforceable and challengeable.

Full Text of Rule 54

Text sizeJump to: (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)

(A) Definition-Form. “Judgment”, as used in these rules, includes a decree and any order from which an appeal lies. A judgment shall contain all matters required by Rule 58 but need not contain a recital of pleadings, the report of a master, or the record of prior proceedings.

(B) Judgment upon multiple claims or involving multiple parties. When more than one [1] claim for relief is presented in an action, whether as a claim, coun- terclaim, 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 dir- ection, 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. A judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or parties is final when the court in writing expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay, and in writing expressly directs entry of judgment, and an appeal may be taken upon this or other issues resolved by the judgment; but in other cases a judgment, decision or order as to less than all the claims and parties is not final.

(C) Demand for judgment. A judgment by default shall not be different in kind from or exceed in amount 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 or in these rules, costs shall be allowed as of course to the prevailing party unless the court otherwise directs in accordance with any provision of law; but costs against any governmental organization, its officers, and agencies shall be imposed only to the extent permitted by law. Costs may be computed and taxed by the clerk on one [1] day’s notice. On motion served within five [5] days thereafter, the action of the clerk may be reviewed by the court.

(E) Judgments severable. Unless otherwise specified therein, judgments against two [2] or more persons or upon two [2] or more claims shall be deemed joint and several for purposes of:

(1) permitting enforcement proceedings jointly or separately against different parties or jointly or separately against their property; or

(2) permitting one or more parties to challenge the judgment (by appeal, motion and the like) as against one or more parties as to one or more claims or parts of claims. Nothing herein is intended to dispense with notice requirements, or provisions requiring or permitting parties to join or participate in the same appeal.

Amendment History

This rule’s current text took effect January 1, 1991. For the full history of earlier amendments and adoption orders, see the Indiana Office of Court Services.

Plain-English Summary

Trial Rule 54 opens by defining the word at the center of every civil case: a “judgment” is not only the document that ends a lawsuit outright — it includes a decree and any order a party can appeal, and it must contain everything Trial Rule 58 requires, without needing to recite the pleadings, a master’s report, or the history of the proceedings. Section B addresses a problem that comes up constantly in multi-claim or multi-party litigation: what happens when a court resolves one claim, or one party’s liability, while others remain pending? Ordinarily that partial ruling is not a final judgment at all — it stays open to revision until every claim and every party’s rights are resolved, and it cannot be appealed on its own. The one way around that rule is for the trial court to say, in writing, that there is no just reason to delay entry of judgment on the resolved piece, and to expressly direct that judgment be entered on it. Without both of those written statements, a decision touching less than the whole case is not final, no matter how it is labeled.

The remaining sections handle narrower but practical questions. Section C caps default judgments: a party who wins by default cannot recover more, in kind or amount, than what the complaint demanded, though a party who wins a contested case can be awarded relief beyond what the pleadings specifically asked for. Section D puts the everyday work of taxing costs in the clerk’s hands rather than the judge’s — the clerk computes and taxes costs on one day’s notice, and either side can ask the court to review that calculation by a motion filed within five days. Costs against a governmental entity are allowed only to the extent the law permits. Section E addresses judgments against more than one person, or resting on more than one claim: unless the judgment says otherwise, those judgments are joint and several, meaning a winning party can pursue enforcement against any one defendant or all of them, and any affected party can challenge the judgment — by appeal or motion — as to some parties or claims without every other party joining in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a “judgment” under Trial Rule 54?

A judgment is not limited to the document that resolves an entire case. Trial Rule 54(A) defines it to include a decree and any order a party can appeal, and it must contain everything Trial Rule 58 requires — though it does not need to recite the pleadings, a master’s report, or the history of prior proceedings in the case.

When does a ruling on part of a multi-party or multi-claim case become final enough to appeal?

Only when the trial court says so in writing, twice over: it must expressly determine there is no just reason to delay entry of judgment on the resolved claim or party, and it must expressly direct that judgment be entered on it. Without both statements, the ruling stays open to revision and cannot be appealed on its own, no matter how the court labels it.

Can a party who wins by default recover more than the complaint asked for?

No. Trial Rule 54(C) caps a default judgment at the relief demanded — it cannot be different in kind or larger in amount than what the complaint sought. A party who wins a contested case, by contrast, can be awarded relief the pleadings never specifically requested.

Who decides how much a losing party owes in court costs?

The clerk handles routine cost calculations, computing and taxing costs on one day’s notice under Trial Rule 54(D). Either party can ask the court to review that calculation by filing a motion within five days after the clerk acts. Costs against a governmental organization are limited to what other law allows.

If a judgment is entered against two defendants, do I have to collect from both of them together?

No. Trial Rule 54(E) makes judgments against multiple parties, or resting on multiple claims, joint and several by default — you can pursue enforcement against one defendant, several, or all of them, separately or together, unless the judgment itself says otherwise.

Can one defendant appeal a joint judgment without the others joining in?

Yes. Trial Rule 54(E) lets any affected party challenge a judgment — by appeal, motion, or similar means — as to some parties or some claims without every other party participating, though it does not eliminate any separate notice requirements that apply to that challenge.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure (T.R. 54). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Indiana, under its inherent constitutional rulemaking power (reaffirmed by Ind. Code 34-8-1-1 and 34-8-2-1); originally enacted by the Indiana General Assembly in 1969. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 13, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: trial rule 54 indianaindiana partial final judgmentno just reason for delay indianaindiana default judgment relief demandedwho pays court costs in an indiana lawsuitjoint and several judgment indiana