(a) Appointment of Receiver. Whenever in a pending legal or equitable proceeding it appears to the court that a receiver is necessary to keep, preserve and protect any business, business interest or property, including money or other thing deposited in court or the subject of a tender, the court, or any judge thereof in vacation, may appoint a receiver whose duty it shall be to keep, preserve and protect, to the extent and in the manner that the court may direct, that which the receiver is ordered to take into the receiver’s charge.
Rule 68.02.Receivers in Circuit Courts.
Part I · Rule 68: Masters and Receivers · Last amended January 1, 1994 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 68.02 authorizes a circuit court to appoint a receiver to keep, preserve, and protect property or funds at issue in a pending case, requires the receiver to post bond and hold attachment-receiver powers, and lets the court set reasonable compensation.
Full Text of Rule 68.02
(b) Bond of Receiver. Such receiver shall give bond, and have the same powers and be subject to all the provisions, as far as they may be applicable, enjoined upon a receiver appointed by virtue of the law providing for suits by attachment.
(c) Compensation of Receiver. The court shall allow the receiver reasonable compensation for his services to be charged upon such of the parties, or paid out of any fund or subject matter of the action which is in the custody or control of the court, as the court may direct.
Amendment History
Adopted Feb. 1, 1972, eff. Sept. 1, 1972. Amended Sept. 28, 1993, eff. Jan. 1, 1994.
Official Comment
The source of paragraph (a) is prior Rule 68.24. Paragraph (b) is the same as prior Rule 68.25. The sources of paragraph (c) are Rule 53(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and prior Rule 68.26. Compare: Rule 53 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Plain-English Summary
When property, a business, or money tied up in a lawsuit needs looking after while the case is pending, Rule 68.02 gives the court a tool for that: appointing a receiver. The court, or a judge in vacation, can appoint someone whose job is to keep, preserve, and protect whatever the court orders into the receiver's charge, to the extent and in the manner the court directs.
The receiver doesn't take on that role without accountability. The rule requires the receiver to give bond and hold the same powers, subject to the same provisions as far as applicable, as a receiver appointed under the law governing suits by attachment. That ties the receiver's authority and obligations to an established body of receivership law instead of inventing a separate standard.
Compensation is left to the court's judgment. The court allows the receiver reasonable compensation, chargeable against the parties or payable out of any fund or subject matter of the action in the court's custody or control, whichever the court directs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a Missouri circuit court appoint a receiver?
Whenever it appears in a pending legal or equitable proceeding that a receiver is necessary to keep, preserve, and protect a business, business interest, or property, including money or something deposited in court or subject to a tender.
Does a receiver need to post a bond?
Yes, the receiver must give bond and is subject to the provisions that apply to a receiver appointed under the law governing suits by attachment.
Who decides how much a receiver gets paid?
The court sets reasonable compensation and directs whether it's charged to the parties or paid from the fund or subject matter in the court's custody.
What kinds of property can a receiver be appointed to protect?
Any business, business interest, or property, including money or other things deposited in court or that are the subject of a tender.
Where does a receiver's authority come from under this rule?
The rule ties the receiver's powers to those enjoined upon a receiver appointed under the law providing for suits by attachment, as far as applicable.
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: appointing a receiverreceiver bond requirementreceiver compensationprotecting property during litigation