(a) Effect. In all actions tried upon the facts without a jury or with an advisory jury, the court shall find the facts specially and state separately its conclusions of law thereon, and judgment shall be entered pursuant to Rule 58; and in granting or refusing interlocutory injunctions the court shall similarly set forth the findings of fact and conclusions of law which constitute the grounds of its action. The findings of a master, to the extent that the court adopts them, shall be considered as the findings of the court. It will be sufficient if the findings of fact and conclusions of law are stated orally and recorded in open court following the close of the evidence or appear in an opinion or memorandum of decision filed by the court. Findings of fact and conclusions of law are unnecessary on decisions of motions under Rules 12 or 56 or any other motion except as provided in Rule 59 and subdivision (c) of this rule.
Rule 52.Findings by the Court; Judgment on Partial Findings.
Current through February 2024 · Last verified July 8, 2026
In one sentenceRule 52 requires a judge trying a case without a jury to make specific findings of fact and separate conclusions of law, lets a party ask the judge to amend or add findings after judgment, and lets the judge enter judgment on partial findings before all the evidence is in.
Full Text of Rule 52
(c) Judgment on Partial Findings. If during a trial without a jury a party has been fully heard on an issue and the court finds against the party on that issue, the court may enter judgment as a matter of law against that party with respect to a claim or defense that cannot under the controlling law be maintained or defeated without a favorable finding on that issue, or the court may decline to render any judgment until the close of all the evidence. Such a judgment shall be supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law as required by subdivision (a) of this rule. In lieu of ordering judgment as a matter of law, the court, on motion or on its own initiative, may order the action dismissed without prejudice on such terms and conditions as are just.
Amendment History
Rhode Island does not publish a per-rule amendment history inside the compiled rules text reproduced here. The text above is verified current through the source’s own February 2024 printing; for the underlying adopting orders and any later amendments, see the Rhode Island Judiciary’s compiled rules page.
Plain-English Summary
When a case is tried to the judge alone, or with an advisory jury, Rule 52 requires the judge to find the facts specially and state conclusions of law separately, with judgment entered under Rule 58 following those findings. The same requirement applies when the judge grants or refuses an interlocutory injunction. If a master’s findings are involved and the judge adopts them, they count as the judge’s own findings. The judge can satisfy this requirement by stating findings and conclusions on the record right after the evidence closes, or in a written opinion or memorandum of decision — no particular format is required. Findings and conclusions are not required on decisions under Rule 12 or Rule 56, or most other motions, except as Rule 59 or subdivision (c) of this rule requires.
A party can ask the judge, within ten days after entry of judgment, to amend the findings or make additional findings, and to amend the judgment to match. This motion can be joined with a motion for a new trial under Rule 59.
Rule 52 also lets the judge rule before all the evidence is in. If, during a trial without a jury, a party has been fully heard on an issue and the judge finds against that party on it, the judge may enter judgment as a matter of law against that party on any claim or defense that depends on a favorable finding on that issue — or decline to rule at all until the close of all the evidence. A judgment entered this way still needs supporting findings and conclusions under subdivision (a). Instead of entering judgment as a matter of law, the judge may order the action dismissed without prejudice, on motion or on the judge’s own initiative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a judge have to explain findings after a bench trial?
Yes. Rule 52 requires the judge to find the facts specially and state conclusions of law separately before judgment enters. The judge may do this orally on the record right after the evidence closes, or in a written opinion or memorandum.
Can I ask the judge to change the findings after judgment?
Yes. Within ten days after entry of judgment, a party can move to amend the findings, add findings, or amend the judgment accordingly. This motion can be joined with a motion for a new trial under Rule 59.
What is judgment on partial findings?
It lets the judge rule against a party on an issue as soon as that party has been fully heard on it during a trial without a jury, without waiting for all the evidence to come in, so long as the ruling is supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Rhode Island Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure (R.I. Super. Ct. R. Civ. P. 52). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-6-2). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 8, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: findings of fact and conclusions of lawbench trial findings Rhode Islandamend findings after judgmentjudgment on partial findingsmotion to amend findingsfindings by the court Rule 52