A party shall state in short and plain terms his defenses to each claim asserted and shall admit or deny the averments upon which the adverse party relies. If he is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of an averment, he shall so state and this has the effect of a denial. Denials shall fairly meet the substance of the averments denied. When a pleader intends in good faith to deny only a part or a qualification of an averment, he shall specify so much of it as is true and material and shall deny only the remainder. Unless the pleader intends in good faith to controvert all the averments of the preceding pleading, he may make his denials as specific denials of designated averments or paragraphs, or he may generally deny all the averments except such designated averments or paragraphs as he expressly admits; but, when he does so intend to controvert all its averments, he may do so by general denial subject to the obligations set forth in Rule 11.
Rule 8.02.Defenses -- Form of denials.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 8.02 requires a defendant to admit or deny each averment in short, plain terms, treats a stated lack of knowledge or information as a denial, demands that denials meet the substance of what's alleged, and allows either specific or general denials, subject to Rule 11's certification obligations.
Full Text of Rule 8.02
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 8.02 tells a defendant how to respond to the claims made against them. The response must admit or deny each averment the other side relies on, in short and plain terms. Saying there isn't enough knowledge or information to agree or disagree with a statement counts as a denial. A denial has to meet the substance of what was alleged - a denial that misses the point doesn't satisfy the rule.
The rule also allows partial denials: a party who agrees with part of an averment and disputes the rest can admit the true part and deny only what remains. Instead of responding line by line, a party can also deny everything in the opposing pleading with a general denial, provided the denial is made in good faith and the party means to contest the whole pleading -- and any such denial is subject to the certification obligations of Rule 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't know whether an allegation in the complaint is true?
Rule 8.02 lets a party state that there isn't enough knowledge or information to admit or deny an averment, and that statement has the effect of a denial.
Can I deny the whole complaint at once instead of answering paragraph by paragraph?
Yes, if the party in good faith means to contest every averment, Rule 8.02 allows a general denial. Otherwise, a party should deny only the specific averments or paragraphs it disputes and admit the rest.
Can I admit part of a sentence in the complaint and deny the rest?
Yes. Rule 8.02 allows a party who intends in good faith to deny only part or a qualification of an averment to admit what is true and material and deny only what remains.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 8.02). 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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