Group III: Pleadings and Motions · Last amended March 1, 2019 · Last verified July 14, 2026
Advisory Committee Note — 2019 Amendment: Rule 7.1 is similar to its federal counterpart, except that this rule applies to any nongovernmental party other than an individual natural person.
Adopted 11-4-11, eff. 1-3-12; Amended eff. 3-1-19.
Corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and similar entities that appear as parties must tell the court who stands behind them financially. Rule 7.1 requires such a party to file a statement identifying any parent entity and any publicly held entity that owns 10% or more of its stock or other ownership interest — or, if no such entity exists, to say so plainly. Individual people are not covered; the rule targets nongovernmental parties that are not natural persons, which is broader than the federal version of this rule that focuses mainly on corporations.
The disclosure is not a one-time formality. A party must file it with its first appearance, pleading, petition, motion, response, or other request directed to the court, and it must file a supplemental statement promptly whenever the required information changes, such as after a merger or a change in ownership. Judges use these statements to check for financial interests that might call for recusal or disclosure.
No. Rule 7.1 applies only to nongovernmental parties that are not natural persons, so a person suing or being sued in an individual capacity is not covered.
The party still must file a statement, but it can state that no such parent or qualifying public entity exists.
It must be filed with the party's first appearance, pleading, petition, motion, response, or other request addressed to the court — not held back until later in the case.
Rule 7.1 requires the party to file a supplemental statement promptly once any required information changes.
The disclosure lets judges identify financial relationships that might bear on recusal or conflicts of interest before the case proceeds.