(a) Signature. Every pleading, written motion and other paper must be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's name, or by a party personally if the party is unrepresented. The paper must state the signer's address, e-mail address, telephone number and fax number. Unless a rule or statute specifically states otherwise, a pleading need not be verified or accompanied by an affidavit or a declaration pursuant to K.S.A. 53-601, and amendments thereto. The court must strike an unsigned paper unless the omission is promptly corrected after being called to the attorney's or party's attention.
K.S.A. 60-211.Signing of pleadings, motions and other papers; representations to the court; sanctions
Last amended July 1, 2011 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceK.S.A. 60-211 requires every pleading, motion, or paper to be signed, sets out what presenting it to the court certifies about purpose, legal and factual support, and lets the court sanction an attorney, firm, or party for a violation after notice and a chance to respond.
Full Text of K.S.A. 60-211
(b) Representations to the court. By presenting to the court a pleading, written motion or other paper, whether by signing, filing, submitting or later advocating it, an attorney or unrepresented party certifies that to the best of the person's knowledge, information and belief formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances:
(1) It is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, cause unnecessary delay or needlessly increase the cost of litigation;
(2) the claims, defenses and other legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extending, modifying or reversing existing law or for establishing new law;
(3) the factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, will likely have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and
(4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably based on belief or a lack of information.
(c) Sanctions. If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the court determines that subsection (b) has been violated, the court may impose an appropriate sanction on any attorney, law firm or party that violated the statute or is responsible for a violation committed by its partner, associate or employee. The sanction may include an order to pay to the other party or parties that* reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred because of the filing of the pleading, motion or other paper. A motion for sanctions under this section may be served and filed at any time during pendency of the action, but must be filed not later than 14 days after the entry of judgment.
(d) Inapplicability to discovery. Subsections (a) through (c) do not apply to disclosures and discovery requests, responses, objections and motions that are subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 60-226 through 60-237, and amendments thereto.
(e) Applicability to the state. The state of Kansas, including an agency or political subdivision thereof, is subject to this section.
(f) Monetary sanctions against inmate. If the court imposes monetary sanctions on an inmate in the custody of the secretary of corrections, the secretary is authorized to disburse any money in the inmate's account to pay the sanctions.
Amendment History
L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-211; amended by Supreme Court order dated July 28, 1976; L. 1982, ch. 241, § 2; L. 1986, ch. 215, § 1; L. 1997, ch. 173, § 6; L. 2010, ch. 135, § 78; L. 2011, ch. 48, § 6; July 1.
Revisor's Note
* The word "that" should have been "the" instead.
Plain-English Summary
Subsection (a) requires every pleading, written motion, and other paper to carry the signature of at least one attorney of record, or the party personally if unrepresented, along with the signer's address, e-mail address, telephone number, and fax number. A pleading generally doesn't need to be verified or accompanied by an affidavit or declaration unless some other rule or statute specifically requires it. If a paper comes in unsigned, the court must strike it — unless the omission is corrected promptly once it's brought to the attorney's or party's attention.
Subsection (b) spells out what a signature, or filing, submitting, or later advocating a paper, certifies to the court: that, to the signer's knowledge and belief after a reasonable inquiry, the paper isn't presented for an improper purpose such as harassment, unnecessary delay, or needlessly increasing litigation costs; that the claims, defenses, and legal contentions are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument to change it; that the factual contentions have evidentiary support, or are likely to after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and that denials of factual contentions are warranted by the evidence or reasonably based on belief or a lack of information.
Subsection (c) lets the court impose an appropriate sanction — after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond — on an attorney, law firm, or party who violates subsection (b), including responsibility for a violation by a partner, associate, or employee. A sanction can include an order to pay the other party's reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, caused by the filing, and a motion for sanctions can be filed anytime the action is pending, but no later than 14 days after judgment is entered.
The remaining subsections narrow and extend the rule's reach. Subsection (d) exempts disclosures and discovery requests, responses, objections, and motions governed by K.S.A. 60-226 through 60-237 from subsections (a) through (c). Subsection (e) makes the state of Kansas, including its agencies and political subdivisions, subject to this section. And subsection (f) authorizes the secretary of corrections to disburse money from an inmate's account to pay a monetary sanction the court imposes on that inmate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to sign a pleading or motion filed in Kansas?
Subsection (a) requires at least one attorney of record to sign, or the party personally if unrepresented, along with the signer's address, e-mail address, telephone number, and fax number.
What happens if I file an unsigned paper?
The court must strike it, unless the omission is corrected promptly after being brought to the attorney's or party's attention.
What does signing a pleading certify to the court?
Subsection (b) certifies that the paper isn't filed for an improper purpose, that the legal contentions are warranted by existing law or a nonfrivolous argument to change it, and that the factual contentions and denials have or are likely to have evidentiary support.
How long do I have to file a motion for sanctions under 60-211?
Subsection (c) allows the motion to be served and filed anytime during the action, but no later than 14 days after entry of judgment.
Does 60-211 apply to discovery requests?
No. Subsection (d) exempts disclosures and discovery requests, responses, objections, and motions governed by K.S.A. 60-226 through 60-237 from subsections (a) through (c).
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from the
Kansas Statutes Annotated, enacted by the Kansas Legislature. Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
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