Last amended July 1, 1970 · Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 18 lets any party asserting a claim — whether an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim — join as many legal or equitable claims as it has against an opposing party, and lets a claim that could once be brought only after another claim was resolved be joined with that other claim in the same action.
A party asserting a claim to 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.
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
Effective Date: July 1, 1970
Plain-English Summary
Division (A) removes any limit on how many claims a party may join against an opposing party in a single action, whether the claims are related or not, and regardless of whether they sound in law or equity. A party asserting an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim may bundle in every other claim it has against that same opponent rather than filing separate lawsuits.
Division (B) addresses claims that once could not be brought until another claim had already been carried to a conclusion — for example, a claim to set aside a fraudulent conveyance, which traditionally could not be pursued until the underlying debt was reduced to judgment. This rule lets both claims be joined in a single action, though the court grants relief only in line with the parties’ actual substantive rights; a plaintiff may, for instance, join a claim for money with a claim to set aside a conveyance as fraudulent without first having obtained judgment on the money claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many claims can a party bring against the same opponent in one lawsuit?
As many as it has, related or not, legal or equitable. Rule 18(A) places no limit on joinder of claims between the same parties.
Can a party join a fraudulent conveyance claim with the underlying debt claim?
Yes. Rule 18(B) specifically allows a plaintiff to join a claim for money with a claim to set aside a fraudulent conveyance without first obtaining a judgment on the money claim, though relief is still limited by the parties’ actual substantive rights.
Does joining many claims mean they all have to be tried together?
No. The court retains authority under other rules to order separate trials when doing so serves fairness or efficiency, even though Rule 18 allows the claims to be joined in the same pleading.
Source & verification. The rule text, Effective Date, Amended dates, and Staff Notes are reproduced verbatim from the
official Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure (Ohio R. Civ. P. 18). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Ohio (Ohio Constitution, Art. IV, § 5(B)). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 1, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:joinder of claimsjoinder of remediesfraudulent conveyance claims