A party may amend his pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served or, if the pleading is one to which no responsive pleading is permitted and the action has not been placed upon the trial calendar, he may so amend it at any time within 20 days after it is served. Otherwise a party may amend his pleading only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse party; and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires. A party shall plead in response to an amended pleading within the time remaining for response to the original pleading or within 10 days after service of the amended pleading, whichever period may be longer, unless the court otherwise orders.
Rule 15.01.Amendments.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceLets a party amend a pleading once without court permission before a response is served, or within 20 days if no response is allowed and the case isn't yet on the trial calendar; otherwise amendment requires leave of court or the other side's consent, freely granted when justice requires.
Full Text of Rule 15.01
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 15.01 covers how and when a party can change a complaint, answer, or other pleading already on file. A party gets one free amendment as a matter of course any time before the other side serves a responsive pleading. If no response is allowed for that pleading -- an answer, for instance -- the party can still amend on its own within 20 days of serving it, as long as the case hasn't yet been placed on the trial calendar.
Past that point, amendment requires either the court's permission or the written consent of the opposing party. The rule directs courts to grant leave freely whenever justice calls for it, which keeps pleadings from locking a case into its original shape when new facts or theories surface. Once an amended pleading is served, the other party must respond within whatever time remained to respond to the original pleading, or within 10 days of the amendment, whichever gives more time, unless the court sets a different deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my complaint without asking the court?
Yes, once. Rule 15.01 lets a party amend a pleading as a matter of course any time before the other side serves a response, or within 20 days after serving a pleading that doesn't call for a response, so long as the case isn't yet on the trial calendar.
How do I amend a pleading after the free-amendment window closes?
You need leave of court or the written consent of the adverse party. Rule 15.01 directs courts to grant leave freely when justice requires it.
How much time do I have to respond to an amended pleading?
Rule 15.01 gives the responding party whatever time remained to respond to the original pleading, or 10 days after service of the amended pleading, whichever period is longer, unless the court orders otherwise.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 15.01). 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: how to amend a complaint in kentuckyCR 15.01 amendment as a matter of coursedeadline to respond to amended pleading kentuckyleave of court to amend pleadingkentucky civil procedure amending pleadings