In addition to the participation of plaintiffs and defendants, a civil action may also involve third parties whenever third parties may be liable to a defendant in any pending action for all or part of the plaintiff's claim against said defendant or if said defendant may have a claim against third parties, depending upon the determination of an issue or issues in said pending action.
Rule 14.Third Parties
Group IV: Parties and their Representatives · Last amended October 1, 2013 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 14 recognizes that a civil action can bring in third parties beyond the plaintiff and defendant whenever a third party may be liable for part of the plaintiff’s claim, or the defendant may have a claim against a third party tied to an issue in the pending case.
Full Text of Rule 14
Comment
For pleadings related to third parties, see Rule 10.
Amendment History
Adopted May 22, 2013, eff. October 1, 2013.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 14 states, in a single sentence, that a lawsuit is not always limited to a plaintiff and a defendant. A defendant who believes someone else — a third party — may be liable for all or part of what the plaintiff is claiming, or who has a related claim against that third party, can bring that third party into the case.
The rule is a statement of principle; the mechanics for pleading and joining a third party sit in Rule 10, which sets the 30-day deadline and other requirements for filing a third-party action. Read together, Rule 14 answers who can be brought into a case and why, while Rule 10 answers how and by when.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a third party in a New Hampshire civil case?
Rule 14 describes a third party as someone brought into a pending civil action beyond the original plaintiffs and defendants, where that person may be liable to a defendant for the plaintiff’s claim or where the defendant may have a related claim against that person.
When can a defendant bring a third party into a case?
When the third party may be liable to the defendant for all or part of the plaintiff’s claim against the defendant, or when the defendant may have a claim against the third party that depends on the determination of an issue in the pending action.
Does Rule 14 set the deadline for filing a third-party claim?
No. Rule 14 states the underlying principle that third parties can be involved in a civil action. Its own Comment only cross-references Rule 10, which sets the pleading requirements, including the 30-day deadline for bringing a third party in.
Is Rule 14 the rule that governs how to plead a third-party claim?
No. Rule 14 explains why a third party may be part of a case. Rule 10 governs the pleading mechanics, including the Third-Party Complaint and the applicable time limits.
Can a defendant bring in a third party over a claim unrelated to the plaintiff’s case?
Rule 14 ties the third party’s involvement to the plaintiff’s claim against the defendant or to a claim the defendant has against the third party that depends on an issue in the pending action — not to unrelated matters.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Comments, and amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the New Hampshire Superior Court Civil Rules, adopted
by the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
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