(a) Pleadings. There shall be a complaint and an answer; a reply to a counterclaim noted as such; an answer to a cross-claim, if the answer contains a cross-claim; a third-party complaint, if a person who was not an original party is summoned under the provisions of Rule 14; and a third-party answer, if a third-party complaint is served. No other pleading shall be allowed, except that the court may order a reply to an answer, or a third-party answer. A demand for a jury trial shall be a separate pleading.
Rule 7.Pleadings Allowed — Form of Motions.
Current through February 2024 · Last verified July 8, 2026
In one sentenceRule 7 lists the only pleadings allowed in a Rhode Island civil case, sets the requirements for how a motion must be made, and identifies a set of routine motions that get granted automatically unless someone objects in time.
Full Text of Rule 7
(b) Motions and Other Papers
(1) An application to the court for an order shall be by motion which, unless made during a hearing or trial or during the course of a deposition, shall be made in writing, shall state with particularity the grounds therefor, and shall set forth the relief or order sought. The requirement of writing is fulfilled if the motion is stated in a written notice of the hearing of the motion.
(2) The rules applicable to captions, signing, and other matters of form of pleadings apply to all motions and other papers provided for by these rules.
(3) The following motions and the notice of the hearing of such a motion shall be served and filed not later than ten (10) days before the time specified for the hearing. The following motions shall be deemed to be granted as a matter of course and shall not be placed on the motion calendar unless objection stating the particular ground therefor is served and filed at least three (3) days before the time specified for its hearing:
(A) A motion to assign, which shall indicate the calendar to which assignment is desired;
(B) A motion to consolidate cases for trial;
(C) A motion to enlarge the time for permitting an action to be done under Rule 6(b)(2) after the expiration of the specified period;
(D) A motion for leave to serve third-party complaints under Rule 14;
(E) A motion to amend pleadings under Rule 15;
(F) A motion for an order for physical or mental examination under Rule 35;
(H) A motion to attach wages or a notice of a nonwage attachment pursuant to Rule 69. A motion to compel discovery or more responsive answers thereto shall specify the number of days for compliance. The provisions of Rule 6(d) shall not apply to this subdivision.
(4) Any hearing required or permitted under these rules may be conducted in whole or in part by remote means on the Court's own initiative, or upon request by a party and at the Court's discretion. A Request for a Remote Hearing may be made:
(i) By the moving party at the time of filing the motion; and
(ii) By any non-moving parties within five (5) days of service of the motion.
A Request for Remote Hearing shall be accompanied by a short, concise statement of the grounds on which such request is based, except that no applicant shall be required to reveal health care information.
(5) All motions shall be signed in accordance with Rule 11.
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
Rule 7 keeps the pleading stage narrow. A case has a complaint and an answer, plus a handful of specific responses — a reply to a counterclaim, an answer to a cross-claim, a third-party complaint under Rule 14, and a third-party answer. Nothing else is allowed unless the court orders a reply to an answer or a third-party answer. If a party wants a jury, that demand has to be its own separate pleading, not buried in another document.
Motions have their own form requirements. Unless made during a hearing, trial, or deposition, a motion must be in writing, state its grounds with particularity, and spell out the relief requested; a written hearing notice that states the motion can satisfy the writing requirement. The same rules on captions, signatures, and format that apply to pleadings apply to motions and other papers too, and every motion must be signed consistent with Rule 11.
The rule then singles out a list of routine motions — to assign a case, consolidate cases for trial, enlarge time under Rule 6(b)(2), get leave to serve a third-party complaint, amend pleadings, order a physical or mental exam, obtain a protective order or compel discovery, or attach wages or other property. These must be served and filed at least ten days before the hearing, and they’re treated as granted automatically unless someone files an objection stating specific grounds at least three days before the hearing. A motion to compel discovery has to spell out how many days the other side gets to comply, and the one-extra-day rule for mailed or electronic service doesn’t apply to any of this group.
The rule also allows a hearing to be held remotely, whether the court initiates it or a party requests it. The moving party can ask for a remote hearing when filing the motion; any other party has five days after being served to make the same request, and either request needs a short statement of its grounds, though no one has to disclose health information to justify it. When a case uses electronic filing, pleadings and motions follow the filing procedures in Rule 1(b)(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
What pleadings am I allowed to file in a Rhode Island civil case?
The rule limits pleadings to a complaint, an answer, a reply to a counterclaim, an answer to a cross-claim, and, where a third party is brought in under Rule 14, a third-party complaint and answer. No other pleading is permitted unless the court specifically orders a reply.
What happens if I don't object to a motion like one to consolidate or amend pleadings?
Certain motions listed in the rule — to assign, consolidate, enlarge time, add a third-party complaint, amend pleadings, order an exam, or resolve a discovery dispute, among others — are treated as granted automatically once ten days’ notice has passed, unless an objection stating specific grounds is filed at least three days before the hearing.
Can I ask for a hearing to be held remotely?
Yes. The moving party can request a remote hearing when filing the motion, and any other party can request one within five days of being served with the motion. Either request needs a short statement of the reasons behind it, though the requesting party doesn’t have to reveal health care information to support it.
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. 7). 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: motion practice formatwhat pleadings are allowedhow to write a motionthird party complaint procedurejury demand separate pleadingmotion granted automatically unless objectedremote hearing requestmotion to compel discovery deadline