Every pleading shall have a caption setting forth the name of the court, the style of the action, the file number, and a designation as in Rule 7.01. In the complaint the style of the action shall include the names of all the parties, but in other pleadings it is sufficient to state the name of the first party on each side with an appropriate indication of other parties.
Rule 10.01.Caption -- Names of parties.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceEvery pleading must carry a caption stating the court, the style of the action, the file number, and its Rule 7.01 designation, with the complaint naming all parties and later pleadings allowed to name only the first party on each side.
Full Text of Rule 10.01
Amendment History
The source reproduced here (current through June 18, 2026) records no amendment to this rule since its original adoption — no History line appears for it in the compiled rules. For the underlying adopting order and any later amendments, see the West’s Rules & Procedures.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 10.01 sets the required heading for every pleading filed in a case: the name of the court, the style of the action, the file number, and a designation identifying what kind of pleading it is under Rule 7.01 -- complaint, answer, reply, and so on.
The rule also controls how much party detail the caption needs. The complaint must list every party's name in the style of the action, since that filing establishes who is involved in the case. Pleadings filed after the complaint can shorten this: they need only name the first party on each side, along with an indication that other parties exist, rather than repeating the full roster every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has to appear in a pleading's caption?
The name of the court, the style of the action, the file number, and a designation as in Rule 7.01 identifying the type of pleading.
Do I have to list every party's name on every pleading?
Only the complaint must include the names of all the parties in the style of the action. Other pleadings need only state the first party on each side with an appropriate indication of other parties.
What is a Rule 7.01 designation in a caption?
It is the label identifying what kind of pleading is being filed, such as a complaint or an answer, as required by Rule 7.01.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 10.01). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Ky. Const. § 116). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: pleading caption requirements KentuckyCR 10.01style of the actionhow to caption a complaintlisting parties in a pleading caption