A judgment is a written order of a court adjudicating a claim or claims in an action or proceeding. A final or appealable judgment is a final order adjudicating all the rights of all the parties in an action or proceeding, or a judgment made final under Rule 54.02. Where the context requires, the term "judgment" as used in these rules shall be construed "final judgment" or "final order."
Rule 54.01.Definition and construction.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 54.01 defines a judgment as any written order adjudicating a claim in an action, distinguishes a final or appealable judgment as one resolving the rights of all parties (or one made final under Rule 54.02), and directs that "judgment" be read as "final judgment" or "final order" wherever context requires.
Full Text of Rule 54.01
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
This rule sets the vocabulary for everything that follows in the judgments article. A judgment is a written order of a court that adjudicates a claim or claims in an action or proceeding -- it doesn't have to resolve the whole case. A final or appealable judgment is narrower: it's a final order that adjudicates all the rights of all the parties in the action, or it's a judgment that's been made final under Rule 54.02 even though other claims remain pending.
Because the rules use the word "judgment" in different places, this rule tells readers how to interpret it: wherever the context calls for it, "judgment" should be read to mean "final judgment" or "final order."
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a judgment and a final judgment in Kentucky?
A judgment is any written order adjudicating a claim. A final or appealable judgment is a final order that resolves all the rights of all the parties in the case, or one that's been made final under Rule 54.02.
Can a court make a judgment on part of a case final?
Rule 54.01 recognizes that a judgment can be made final under Rule 54.02, which lets it qualify as a final or appealable judgment even though it doesn't resolve every claim in the action.
Does 'judgment' always mean the same thing throughout the Rules?
Not necessarily. Where the context requires it, the term "judgment" is construed to mean "final judgment" or "final order."
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 54.01). 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
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