Any action in which no pleading has been filed or other action taken for a year and in which no motion or demurrer has been pending during any part of said year shall be dismissed without prejudice by the court on its own motion after notice to the parties or their attorneys of record; providing, the court may upon written application and for good cause shown, by order in writing allow the action to remain upon its docket.
§ 1083.Dismissal of Any Actions In Which No Pleadings Have Been Filed For a Year
Chapter 18: Revivor of Actions · Last amended November 1, 2007 · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1083 requires a court to dismiss without prejudice, on its own motion after notice, any action with no pleading filed or other action taken for a year and no pending motion or demurrer, unless the court allows the case to remain on the docket for good cause shown.
Full Text of § 1083
Amendment History
Added by Laws 1965, HB 820, c. 299, §5, eff. 6/24/1965; Amended by Laws 2007, SB 634, c. 12, §4, eff. 11/1/2007.
Plain-English Summary
This section is a docket-clearing rule. If a year passes on a case with no pleading filed, no other action taken, and no motion or demurrer pending during that year, the court dismisses it without prejudice on its own motion, after notifying the parties or their attorneys of record. The court can keep the case alive anyway, on written application and for good cause shown, by a written order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Oklahoma court dismiss my case just for inactivity?
Yes. If no pleading has been filed or other action taken for a year, and no motion or demurrer has been pending, the court dismisses the case without prejudice on its own motion.
Do I get notice before this type of dismissal?
Yes. The court must give notice to the parties or their attorneys of record before dismissing under this section.
Is "without prejudice" dismissal permanent?
No. A dismissal without prejudice under this section doesn't itself bar refiling, subject to whatever limitation period otherwise applies.
Can I keep my case on the docket even after a year of inactivity?
Yes, if you show good cause in a written application, the court may allow the action to remain on its docket by written order.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: oklahoma dismissal for lack of prosecution one yearno pleading filed for a year oklahoma dismissal12 O.S. § 1083docket dismissal without prejudice oklahoma