K.S.A. 60-254.Judgment

Last amended July 1, 2010 · Last verified July 28, 2026

In one sentenceKansas Rule 60-254 defines a judgment as the final determination of the parties' rights, lets a court certify partial judgment on fewer than all claims or parties only when there's no just reason for delay, and caps default-judgment relief to what the pleadings demand.

Full Text of K.S.A. 60-254

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c)

(a) Definition. A judgment is the final determination of the parties' rights in an action.

(b) Judgment on multiple claims or involving multiple parties. When an action presents more than one claim for relief, whether as a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim or third-party claim, or when multiple parties are involved, the court may direct entry of a final judgment as to one or more, but fewer than all, claims or parties only if the court expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay. Otherwise, any order or other decision, however designated, that adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties does not end the action as to any of the claims or parties and may be revised at any time before the entry of a judgment adjudicating all the claims and all the parties' rights and liabilities.

(c) Demand for judgment; relief to be granted. A default judgment must not differ in kind from, or exceed in amount, what is demanded in the pleadings. Before a default judgment is taken in an action in which the pleading of the party seeking relief states only that the amount sought as damages is in excess of $75,000, without demanding a specific amount of money, as provided in subsection (a) of K.S.A. 60-208, and amendments thereto, the party seeking relief must notify the party against whom relief is sought of the amount of money for which judgment will be taken. Notice must be given by return receipt delivery, or as the court orders, at least 14 days before the date judgment is sought. Every other final judgment should grant relief to which each party is entitled, even if the party has not demanded that relief in its pleadings.

Amendment History

L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-254; L. 1973, ch. 233, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 215, § 10; L. 1990, ch. 203, § 2; L. 1997, ch. 173, § 28; L. 2010, ch. 135, § 127; July 1.

Plain-English Summary

Subsection (a) keeps the definition simple: a judgment is the final determination of the parties' rights in an action. Subsection (b) addresses cases with more than one claim, whether a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party claim, or with multiple parties involved. A court can direct entry of a final judgment on fewer than all the claims or parties, but only if it expressly determines there's no just reason for delay. Absent that determination, any order deciding fewer than all the claims or all the parties' rights doesn't end the action and stays open to revision until a judgment covering everything is entered.

Subsection (c) limits default judgments to what the pleadings demand — a default judgment can't differ in kind from, or exceed in amount, that demand. When a pleading only states that damages exceed $75,000 without naming a specific figure, as K.S.A. 60-208(a) allows, the party seeking relief must notify the party against whom relief is sought of the dollar amount it will seek, by return receipt delivery or as the court orders, at least 14 days before judgment is sought. Outside the default-judgment context, every other final judgment should grant the relief each party is entitled to, even beyond what that party demanded in its pleadings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a "judgment" under Kansas Rule 60-254?

The final determination of the parties' rights in the action, as subsection (a) defines it.

Can a Kansas court enter a final judgment on some claims while others are still pending?

Yes, under subsection (b), but only if the court expressly determines there's no just reason for delay. Otherwise, a ruling on fewer than all the claims or parties doesn't end the action and can be revised until a judgment covering everything is entered.

What notice do I have to give before taking a default judgment for damages over $75,000?

When the pleading states only that damages exceed $75,000 without a specific figure, subsection (c) requires notifying the party against whom relief is sought of the actual dollar amount, by return receipt delivery or as the court orders, at least 14 days before judgment is sought.

Can a Kansas court grant relief beyond what a party asked for in its pleadings?

For any judgment other than a default judgment, yes — subsection (c) says every other final judgment should grant the relief each party is entitled to, even if not demanded in the pleadings.

Is there a limit on how much a default judgment can award?

Yes. Subsection (c) bars a default judgment from differing in kind from, or exceeding in amount, what the pleadings demand.

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 final judgment definitionpartial judgment multiple claims kansasdefault judgment notice requirement kansasno just reason for delay kansas60-254 kansas rule