Last amended July 1, 2010 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceK.S.A. 60-207 lists the pleadings Kansas civil practice allows, requires motions to be written and to state their grounds and requested relief, requires a petition to carry a chapter 60 designation, and lets a court allow a substitute copy for a lost pleading.
(1)In general. A request for a court order must be made by motion. The motion must:
(A)Be in writing, unless made during a hearing or trial;
(B)state with particularity the grounds for seeking the order; and
(C)state the relief sought.
(2)Form. The sections of this article governing captions, signing and other matters of form in pleadings apply to motions and other papers.
(c)Designation of petition. A petition must designate immediately below the names of the parties in the caption that the petition is filed pursuant to chapter 60 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated. The designation is sufficient if labeled "Petition Pursuant to K.S.A. Chapter 60" immediately below the caption.
(d)Lost pleadings. If an original pleading is lost, destroyed, or withheld by any person, the court may allow a copy of the pleading to be substituted.
Amendment History
L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-207; L. 1976, ch. 251, § 2; L. 2010, ch. 135, § 74; July 1.
Plain-English Summary
Subsection (a) closes the list of pleadings a Kansas civil case can generate: a petition, an answer to the petition, an answer to a counterclaim, an answer to a crossclaim, a third-party petition, an answer to a third-party petition, and — only if the court orders one — a reply to an answer. Nothing outside that list qualifies as a pleading under this article.
Subsection (b) covers motions and other papers. A request for a court order must be made by motion, and unless it's made during a hearing or trial, the motion must be in writing, state with particularity the grounds for the request, and state the relief sought. The rules governing captions, signing, and other matters of form for pleadings apply equally to motions and other papers.
Subsection (c) requires a petition to designate, immediately below the parties' names in the caption, that it's filed under chapter 60. The label "Petition Pursuant to K.S.A. Chapter 60" satisfies that requirement. Subsection (d) addresses a pleading that's lost, destroyed, or withheld: the court may allow a copy to be substituted for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pleadings are allowed in a Kansas civil case?
Subsection (a) allows a petition, an answer to the petition, an answer to a counterclaim, an answer to a crossclaim, a third-party petition, an answer to a third-party petition, and, if the court orders it, a reply to an answer.
What must a written motion include under 60-207?
Subsection (b) requires the motion to be in writing unless made during a hearing or trial, state with particularity the grounds for the order sought, and state the relief requested.
How do I designate my petition as filed under chapter 60?
Subsection (c) requires the designation immediately below the parties' names in the caption, and states that the label "Petition Pursuant to K.S.A. Chapter 60" satisfies the requirement.
What happens if my pleading is lost or destroyed?
Subsection (d) allows the court to permit a copy of the pleading to be substituted.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the
Kansas Statutes Annotated, enacted by the Kansas Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:kansas pleadings allowed rule60-207 petition designation chapter 60kansas motion requirements writtenlost pleading substitute copy kansas