Where several actions are brought on one bill of exchange, promissory note or other obligation, or instrument in writing, against several parties who might have been joined as defendants in the same action, no costs shall be recovered by the plaintiff in more than one of such actions, if the parties proceeded against in the other actions were, at the commencement of the previous action, openly within the state.
§ 931.Several Actions On Joint Instrument
Chapter 14: Costs · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceSection 931 bars a plaintiff from recovering costs in more than one of several separate lawsuits filed on a single joint note, bill, or written instrument if the other defendants were openly within the state and could have been joined in one action.
Full Text of § 931
Amendment History
R.L. 1910, § 5232.
Plain-English Summary
This section discourages splitting one claim on a joint instrument -- a note, bill of exchange, or similar obligation -- into multiple lawsuits against parties who could have been sued together. If the plaintiff brings separate actions against parties who might have been joined as defendants in one case, and those other parties were openly within the state when the first action began, the plaintiff can't collect costs in more than one of the resulting actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a plaintiff sue joint debtors separately and collect costs in every case?
Not if the other parties were openly within the state and could have been joined as defendants in one action -- the plaintiff can recover costs in only one of the actions.
What kinds of instruments does this section cover?
A bill of exchange, promissory note, or any other written obligation or instrument.
What must be true of the other defendants for this limit to apply?
They must have been openly within the state at the time the earlier action was commenced.
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: splitting lawsuits on joint note oklahoma costs12 O.S. § 931costs multiple actions joint instrument oklahoma