(a) Joinder of claims. – A party asserting a claim for relief as an original claim, counterclaim, cross claim, or third-party claim, may join, either as independent or as alternate claims, as many claims, legal or equitable, as he has against an opposing party.
Rule 18.Joinder of claims and remedies.
Last amended 1969 · Last verified July 3, 2026
In one sentenceRule 18 lets a party join as many legal or equitable claims as it has against an opposing party in a single lawsuit, and lets a plaintiff combine a claim for money with a claim to set aside a fraudulent conveyance without first winning a judgment on the money claim.
Full Text of Rule 18
(b) Joinder of remedies; fraudulent conveyances. – Whenever a claim is one heretofore cognizable only after another claim has been prosecuted to a conclusion, the two claims may be joined in a single action; but the court shall grant relief in that action only in accordance with the relative substantive rights of the parties. In particular, a plaintiff may state a claim for money and a claim to have set aside a conveyance fraudulent as to him, without first having obtained a judgment establishing the claim for money.
Amendment History
(1967, c. 954, s. 1; 1969, c. 895, s. 7.)
Plain-English Summary
Rule 18(a) gives a party asserting a claim — whether an original claim, a counterclaim, a crossclaim, or a third-party claim — room to join as many claims against an opposing party as it has, legal or equitable, independent or in the alternative. The rule does not change what relief a party is entitled to; it only removes the procedural obstacle that would otherwise force separate lawsuits for separate claims against the same opponent.
Rule 18(b) addresses a narrower situation: claims that historically could only be brought after another claim had already been won. Those two claims may now be joined in one action, though the court still grants relief according to each party’s actual substantive rights. The rule gives one specific example — a plaintiff may combine a claim for money with a claim to set aside a conveyance as fraudulent, without first having to obtain a judgment establishing the money claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many claims can a party bring against an opponent in one lawsuit?
As many as it has, legal or equitable, whether pleaded independently or in the alternative — Rule 18(a) places no cap on the number of claims joined against the same opposing party.
Does Rule 18 create new rights or remedies?
No. It only lets existing claims be joined procedurally; relief is still granted according to the parties’ actual substantive rights.
Can a plaintiff sue to undo a fraudulent transfer before winning a money judgment?
Yes. Rule 18(b) lets a plaintiff join a claim for money with a claim to set aside a fraudulent conveyance without first obtaining a judgment on the money claim.
Source & verification. The rule text and history citation are reproduced verbatim from the
official North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 1A (N.C. R. Civ. P. 18). Enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly (S.L. 1967, c. 954, codified at N.C.G.S. § 1A-1). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 3, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: joinder of claimsalternative and independent claimsjoinder of remediesfraudulent conveyance claimcombining legal and equitable claims