Rule 81.Applicability

Rule 15-6-81 marks the boundaries of the whole civil procedure chapter. Subdivision (a) preserves existing procedure for the statutory and other proceedings included in, but not limited to, those listed in Appendix A to the chapter, insofar as those existing procedures are inconsistent or conflict with the chapter. Those specialized proceedings keep running on their own track rather than automatically folding into the general civil rules. This page skips from subdivision (a) to subdivision (c) because subdivision (b) is omitted and carries no current text.

Subdivision (c) protects a specific category from being displaced: the chapter does not supersede statutes governing appeals to the circuit courts. Those appellate statutes keep controlling that process on their own terms.

Subdivision (d) works in the opposite direction, pulling proceedings into the chapter rather than excluding them. Where any statute, whether enacted before or after this chapter and whether or not it is listed in Appendix A, provides that an act in a civil proceeding must be done in the manner provided by law, that act is done in accordance with this chapter. So a statute that defers to whatever procedure the law provides ends up pointing back at these rules.