(a) Pleadings Allowed. There shall be a complaint and an answer; an answer to a counterclaim denominated as such; an answer to a cross-claim, if the answer contains a cross-claim; a third-party complaint pursuant to R. 4:8; a third-party answer, if a third-party complaint is served; and a reply, if an affirmative defense is set forth in an answer and the pleader wishes to allege any matter constituting an avoidance of the defense. No other pleading is allowed.
Rule 4:5-1.General Requirements for Pleadings
Last amended July 1, 2010 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:5-1 lists the pleadings New Jersey allows, and requires each party's first pleading to carry a Case Information Statement, a certification about other actions and potentially liable non-parties, and a confidential-identifier compliance certification.
Full Text of Rule 4:5-1
(b) Requirements for First Pleadings.
(1) Case Information Statement. A Case Information Statement in the form prescribed by Appendix XII-B(1) (Civil Actions General) or Appendix XII-B(2) (Foreclosure Actions) shall be annexed as a cover sheet to each party’s first pleading in all civil actions except civil commitment actions brought pursuant to Rule 4:74-7, probate actions, and all non-foreclosure general equity actions.
(2) Notice of Other Actions and Potentially Liable Persons. Each party shall include with the first pleading a certification as to whether the matter in controversy is the subject of any other action pending in any court or of a pending arbitration proceeding, or whether any other action or arbitration proceeding is contemplated; and, if so, the certification shall identify such actions and all parties thereto. Further, each party shall disclose in the certification the names of any non-party who should be joined in the action pursuant to R. 4:28 or who is subject to joinder pursuant to R. 4:29-1(b) because of potential liability to any party on the basis of the same transactional facts. Each party shall have a continuing obligation during the course of the litigation to file and serve on all other parties and with the court an amended certification if there is a change in the facts stated in the original certification. The court may require notice of the action to be given to any non-party whose name is disclosed in accordance with this rule or may compel joinder pursuant to R. 4:29-1(b). If a party fails to comply with its obligations under this rule, the court may impose an appropriate sanction including dismissal of a successive action against a party whose existence was not disclosed or the imposition on the noncomplying party of litigation expenses that could have been avoided by compliance with this rule. A successive action shall not, however, be dismissed for failure of compliance with this rule unless the failure of compliance was inexcusable and the right of the undisclosed party to defend the successive action has been substantially prejudiced by not having been identified in the prior action.
(3) Certification of Compliance with Rule 1:38-7(c). The first filed pleading of any party in an action in the Chancery Division, General Equity Part, the Chancery Division, Probate Part, or in the Law Division, Special Civil Part shall include a certification of compliance as required in R. 1:38-7(c) that states, “I certify that confidential personal identifiers have been redacted from documents now submitted to the court, and will be redacted from all documents submitted in the future in accordance with Rule 1:38-7(b).”
(c) Designation of Trial Counsel. Designation of trial counsel may be made in the party’s first pleading. If trial counsel is not designated in the pleading, designation shall be made as required in R. 4:25-4.
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Source-R.R. 4:7-1; amended July 26, 1984 to be effective September 10, 1984; caption and text; amended November 26, 1990 to be effective April 1, 1991; paragraph (c) added July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraph (b)(2); amended July 10, 1998 to be effective September 1, 1998; paragraph (b)(1); amended July 5, 2000 to be effective September 5, 2000; paragraph (b)(1); amended July 9, 2008 to be effective September 1, 2008; paragraph (b)(3) adopted July 16, 2009 to be effective September 1, 2009; paragraph (b)(3); amended June 23, 2010 to be effective July 1, 2010.
Plain-English Summary
Paragraph (a) sets a closed list of pleadings: a complaint and answer, an answer to a counterclaim or cross-claim, a third-party complaint and answer, and a reply when an answer raises an affirmative defense the pleader wants to avoid. No other pleading is allowed, which keeps the exchange orderly.
Paragraph (b) loads the first pleading with three requirements. A Case Information Statement goes on top as a cover sheet in most civil actions. A certification must disclose any other pending or contemplated action or arbitration and name any non-party who should be joined or who may be liable on the same facts — the disclosure that supports New Jersey’s entire-controversy practice, backed by the threat of sanctions for an inexcusable, prejudicial failure to disclose. A third certification confirms that confidential personal identifiers have been redacted as Rule 1:38-7 requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pleadings are allowed in a New Jersey civil case?
A complaint, an answer, an answer to a counterclaim or cross-claim, a third-party complaint and its answer, and a reply when an affirmative defense is raised. The rule says no other pleading is allowed.
What is a Case Information Statement?
A cover sheet, in the form prescribed by Appendix XII, that must be annexed to each party’s first pleading in most civil actions. It classifies the case for track-assignment and management purposes.
What must the first pleading disclose about other cases?
A certification identifying any other pending or contemplated action or arbitration involving the controversy, and naming any non-party who should be joined or who may be liable on the same transactional facts. Failing to disclose can lead to sanctions, including dismissal of a later action against an undisclosed party.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:5-1). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: pleadings allowedCase Information StatementCISfirst pleading requirementsentire controversy disclosureconfidential identifier certification