An execution may issue for costs either before or after final judgment.
Rule 77.06.Execution for Costs.
Part I · Rule 77: Costs · Last amended January 1, 1981 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 77.06 allows an execution to issue for an award of costs either before or after the final judgment in the case, giving a prevailing party a way to enforce a cost award without waiting for the case to fully conclude.
Full Text of Rule 77.06
Amendment History
Adopted June 5, 1980, eff. Jan. 1, 1981.
Official Comment
This is substantially the same as prior Rule 77.30.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 77.06 addresses timing, and only timing. Once costs are owed, this rule confirms that an execution — the legal process used to collect a money award — can issue for those costs before final judgment or after it. Costs do not have to wait for the case's last step before they become collectible.
That flexibility matters in cases where costs accrue in stages, or where a court has already ruled on a cost dispute under Rule 77.05 while other aspects of the case remain open. Without this rule, a party might have to sit on an already-resolved cost issue until the entire case wrapped up. Rule 77.06 removes that requirement.
The official comment describes the rule as substantially the same as a prior rule, signaling that this is a settled, procedural piece of Missouri's cost framework instead of a provision that has generated shifting interpretations over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an 'execution' in this context?
It is the formal legal process used to enforce and collect a money award, here specifically an award of costs.
Does a party have to wait for final judgment to collect awarded costs?
No. The rule allows execution to issue either before or after final judgment.
Does this rule decide who owes costs?
No. That determination comes from rules like Rule 77.01, Rule 77.04, and the bill-of-costs review process in Rule 77.05. This rule only addresses when execution may issue.
Can execution issue for costs awarded mid-case, before the case ends?
Yes, the rule expressly allows execution before final judgment as well as after it.
Is this rule new to Missouri practice?
No. The official comment notes it is substantially the same as a prior rule, indicating continuity instead of a change in practice.
What rule governs the amount subject to execution if it's disputed?
Rule 77.05 provides the mechanism for a party to have a bill of costs reviewed by the court before enforcement proceeds.
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: execution for costsenforcing cost awardcollecting court costsexecution before final judgmentRule 77.06 Missouricost judgment enforcement