These rules are titled, "North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure," and may be cited as "N.D.R.Civ.P."
Rule 85.Title and Citation
Group XI: General Provisions · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceRule 85 gives the rules their official title — the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure — and fixes the short citation form, N.D.R.Civ.P., that courts and lawyers use to refer to them.
Full Text of Rule 85
Plain-English Summary
Rule 85 settles two small but essential facts: what these rules are called, and how to abbreviate that name in a brief, an order, or a citation. The rules are titled the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 85 fixes N.D.R.Civ.P. as the accepted short form.
There is no procedural substance beyond that. Rule 85 sets vocabulary rather than conduct — it is the rule other rules, statutes, and court documents rely on so that everyone citing this body of law uses the same name and the same abbreviation. Unlike most of the rules, Rule 85 carries no explanatory note or recorded amendment history; it has stood as adopted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official title of these rules?
The "North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure," as set out in Rule 85.
What is the standard abbreviation for citing the rules?
"N.D.R.Civ.P.," the citation form Rule 85 establishes.
Does Rule 85 have any procedural substance beyond naming the rules?
No. Unlike most rules, which govern conduct in litigation, Rule 85 is purely a naming and citation rule.
Why does a naming rule like Rule 85 matter?
It standardizes how courts, lawyers, and other rules and statutes refer to this entire body of rules, so citations across briefs, orders, and other rules stay consistent.
Does Rule 85 have an explanatory note or amendment history like other rules?
No. Rule 85 carries no explanatory note and no recorded amendment history in the official rules, unlike nearly every other rule in the set.
Source & verification. Rule text and the Explanatory Note are
reproduced verbatim from the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of North Dakota. Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
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