There shall be a complaint and an answer; a reply to counterclaim denominated as such; an answer to a cross claim, if the answer contains a cross claim; a third-party complaint, if leave is given under Rule 14 to summon a person who was not an original party; and a third-party answer, if a third-party complaint is served. No other pleading shall be allowed, except that the court may order a reply to an answer or a third-party answer.
Rule 7.01.Pleadings.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 7.01 lists the only pleadings allowed in a Kentucky civil case -- complaint, answer, reply to a counterclaim, answer to a cross claim, and third-party complaint and answer -- and bars any other pleading unless the court orders a reply.
Full Text of Rule 7.01
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 7.01 sets the complete list of pleadings a Kentucky civil case can contain: a complaint, an answer, a reply when the answer contains a counterclaim, an answer to a cross claim when the answer raises one, and a third-party complaint and answer when a party brings in someone new under Rule 14. Nothing else counts as a pleading -- a party cannot file a general reply to an answer just to argue back, unless the court orders one. That keeps the paper trail short: the case moves from complaint to answer, with any counterclaim or cross claim getting its own answer or reply, without extra rounds of pleadings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a reply to the defendant's answer in a Kentucky lawsuit?
Only if the court orders one. Rule 7.01 allows a reply to an answer only when the court directs it; the list of pleadings in the rule does not otherwise include a general reply.
What pleadings does Kentucky Rule 7.01 allow?
A complaint, an answer, a reply to a counterclaim, an answer to a cross claim, and, when a third party is brought in under Rule 14, a third-party complaint and a third-party answer.
Do I need to answer a third-party complaint in Kentucky?
Yes. Rule 7.01 calls for a third-party answer whenever a third-party complaint is served.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 7.01). 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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