Writs of coram nobis, coram vobis, audita querela, and bills of review and bills in the nature of a bill of review, are abolished, and the procedure for obtaining any relief from a judgment shall be as provided in Rule 60.02 or 60.03.
Rule 60.05.Writs abolished.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 60.05 abolishes the old common-law writs of coram nobis, coram vobis, and audita querela along with bills of review, and directs that any relief once sought through those devices must now come through Rule 60.02 or 60.03.
Full Text of Rule 60.05
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
Kentucky courts once had a scattering of old writs and bills for attacking a judgment after it became final: coram nobis, coram vobis, audita querela, and bills of review. Rule 60.05 wipes them off the books. Anyone seeking relief from a judgment now has one path: Rule 60.02 or Rule 60.03.
This rule does not create new grounds for relief. It removes the old procedural labels and consolidates everything into the modern rules governing relief from judgment. A litigant who might once have filed a writ of coram nobis now files a Rule 60.02 motion instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a writ of coram nobis in Kentucky?
No. Rule 60.05 abolishes writs of coram nobis, coram vobis, audita querela, and bills of review. Relief from a judgment now comes through Rule 60.02 or 60.03.
What replaced the old common-law writs for attacking a judgment?
Rule 60.02 and Rule 60.03 now provide the procedure for any relief that the old writs and bills of review once offered.
Does Rule 60.05 change what relief is available from a judgment?
No. It abolishes the old procedural forms and channels all such relief into Rule 60.02 or 60.03; it does not itself define the grounds for relief.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 60.05). 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: Rule 60.05 KentuckyCR 60.05writ of coram nobis abolishedbill of review Kentuckyaudita querela Kentucky procedure