7.01 Pleadings There shall be a complaint and an answer (including such pleadings in a third-party proceeding when a third-party claim is asserted); a reply to a counterclaim denominated as such; and an answer to a cross-claim if the answer contains a cross-claim. No other pleading shall be allowed except that the court may order a reply to an answer. Demurrers, pleas and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading shall not be used.
Rule 7.Pleadings Allowed; Form of Motions
Last amended July 1, 2015 · Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 7 limits the pleadings allowed in a Minnesota case to a complaint, an answer, and a small set of replies, does away with old forms like demurrers, and requires every motion to be in writing, state its grounds with particularity, and describe the relief sought.
Full Text of Rule 7
7.02 Motions and Other Documents
a An application to the court for an order shall be by motion which, unless made during a hearing or trial, shall be in writing, shall state with particularity the grounds
therefor, and shall set forth the relief or order sought. The requirement of writing is fulfilled if the motion is stated in a written notice of the hearing of the motion. Motions provided in these rules are motions requiring a written notice to the party and a hearing before the order can be issued unless the particular rule under which the motion is made specifically provides that the motion may be made ex parte. The parties may agree to written submission to the court for decision without oral argument unless the court directs otherwise. Upon the request of a party or upon its own initiative, the court may hear any motion by telephone conference.
b The rules applicable for captions, signing, and other matters of form of pleadings apply to all motions and other documents provided for by these rules.
c All motions will be signed in accordance with Rule 11.
Amendment History
- (Amended effective July 1, 2015.)
Plain-English Summary
Rule 7.01 lists the only pleadings a case may have: a complaint and an answer, a reply to a counterclaim if the answer labels it as one, an answer to a cross-claim, a third-party complaint if a defendant brings in a third party, and a third-party answer. No other pleading is allowed unless the court orders a reply to an answer. The rule also abolishes older forms of pleading and motion practice, such as demurrers, pleas, and exceptions.
Rule 7.02 governs motions: except for those made during a hearing or trial, a motion must be in writing, state the grounds for it with particularity, and set out the relief or order being sought. A motion is properly made if its substance appears in a written notice of the hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents count as a “pleading” in a Minnesota case?
Only the complaint, the answer, and a short list of replies described in Rule 7.01 — a reply to a labeled counterclaim, an answer to a cross-claim, and third-party pleadings when a third party is brought in.
What has to be in a written motion?
Under Rule 7.02, the grounds for the motion stated with particularity and the relief or order the moving party is asking the court to grant.
Are old pleading forms like demurrers still used in Minnesota?
No. Rule 7.01 abolishes demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading.
Source & verification. The rule text and Advisory Committee Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
official Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure (Minn. R. Civ. P. 7). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Minnesota (Minn. Stat. § 480.051). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 1, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: pleadings allowedform of motionsreply to counterclaim