If a responding party has knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of an averment, the party shall admit or deny the specific averment. If the responding party is without knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of a specific averment, the party shall so state, and this has the effect of a denial. Denials shall fairly meet the substance of the averments denied. When a party intends in good faith to deny only a part or a qualification of an averment, the party shall specify so much of it as is true and shall deny only the remainder. A party shall respond to all specific averments as provided in this Rule 55.07 and shall not generally deny all the specific averments.
Rule 55.07.Defenses--Form of Denials.
Part I · Rule 55: Pleadings, Motions and Hearing · Last amended January 1, 1994 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 55.07 requires a responding party to admit or deny each specific averment, or state a lack of knowledge sufficient to form a belief, which counts as a denial, and it bars a party from generally denying all the averments in a pleading.
Full Text of Rule 55.07
Amendment History
Adopted Jan. 19, 1973, eff. Sept. 1, 1973. Amended June 1, 1993, eff. Jan. 1, 1994.
Plain-English Summary
When responding to a pleading, a party must admit or deny each specific averment based on its knowledge or information. If the party lacks enough knowledge or information to form a belief about whether an averment is true, saying so has the same legal effect as a denial — there’s no need to guess.
Denials must address the substance of what’s being denied, and a party can deny just part of an averment: the rule lets a responder specify what part is true and deny only the rest, so long as that partial denial is made in good faith. What the rule doesn’t allow is a blanket denial of every specific averment in a pleading. Each specific averment gets its own response under this rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How must a defendant respond to a petition’s allegations in Missouri?
By admitting or denying each specific averment based on the responder’s knowledge or information.
What if I don’t know whether an allegation is true?
State that you lack knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief. That statement has the effect of a denial.
Can I deny only part of a paragraph in an answer?
Yes, as long as it’s done in good faith — specify what part is true and deny only the remainder.
Is a general denial of the whole petition allowed in Missouri?
No. Rule 55.07 requires a response to each specific averment and prohibits a general denial of all of them.
What happens if I fail to properly deny an averment?
Under Rule 55.09, an averment that should have been denied but wasn’t is deemed admitted, except as to the amount of damages.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: form of denialsadmit or deny avermentsgeneral denial not allowedanswering a petition Missourilack of knowledge denial