In actions for the recovery of real property, it shall be necessary for the plaintiff to set forth in detail the facts relied upon to establish his claim, and to attach to his petition copies of all deeds or other evidences of title, as in actions upon written contracts; and he must establish the allegations of his petition, whether answer be filed or not.
§ 1142.Actions to Recover Real Property
Chapter 20: Actions Regarding Real Property · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1142 requires a plaintiff suing to recover real property to plead the supporting facts in detail, attach copies of deeds or other title evidence to the petition, and prove the petition's allegations regardless of whether the defendant answers.
Full Text of § 1142
Amendment History
R.L. 1910, § 4928.
Plain-English Summary
This 1910-era section sets a higher pleading bar for real property recovery actions than ordinary civil cases. The plaintiff must lay out, in detail, the facts supporting the claim to the property, and attach copies of the deeds or other documents proving title -- the same way a party suing on a written contract must attach the contract. And even if the defendant never files an answer, the plaintiff still has to prove the petition's allegations; the claim isn't taken as admitted by default.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a plaintiff include in a petition to recover real property in Oklahoma?
A detailed statement of the facts supporting the claim, along with copies of the deeds or other documents proving title, attached to the petition.
If the defendant never answers, does the plaintiff automatically win?
No. Section 1142 requires the plaintiff to establish the petition's allegations whether or not the defendant files an answer.
Why does this section compare the pleading requirement to actions on written contracts?
Because it requires the same kind of documentary backup -- just as a contract suit attaches the written contract, a real property recovery suit attaches the deeds or other evidence of title.
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 ejectment pleading requirementsrecover real property petition oklahoma12 O.S. § 1142attach deed to petition oklahoma