All pleadings shall be so construed as to do substantial justice.
Rule 8.06.Construction of pleadings.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 8.06 directs courts to construe all pleadings so as to do substantial justice between the parties, favoring resolution of disputes on their merits over dismissal for imperfect drafting or missed technicalities.
Full Text of Rule 8.06
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 8.06 is a single instruction to courts reading pleadings: construe them to do substantial justice. Courts favor deciding cases on their merits over dismissing them for a drafting slip, so a pleading that gives fair notice of the claim or defense will be read to reach that result rather than picked apart for imperfect phrasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my case get thrown out over a technical mistake in my pleading?
Rule 8.06 directs courts to construe pleadings to do substantial justice, which favors reading a pleading in a way that reaches the merits over dismissing it for a drafting defect.
How strict are Kentucky courts about the exact wording of a pleading?
Rule 8.06 does not require exact or technical wording. Courts construe pleadings broadly enough to do substantial justice between the parties.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 8.06). 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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