There is one form of action — the civil action.
Rule 2.One form of action
Group I: Scope of Rules; One Form of Action · Last amended March 1, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2 establishes that Wyoming has just one kind of civil proceeding, the civil action, having done away with separate procedures for lawsuits at law and suits in equity.
Full Text of Rule 2
Amendment History
Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, 2017. Distinction between actions at law and suits in equity has been abolished. — Thickman v. Schunk, 391 P.2d 939, 1964 Wyo. LEXIS 98 (Wyo. 1964). COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS: PLEADINGS, MOTIONS, AND ORDERS
Plain-English Summary
Rule 2 is short but it erased a historical divide. Courts once handled legal claims (mainly disputes over money damages) and equitable claims (like requests for an injunction) through separate proceedings, each with its own pleading forms and procedural quirks. Rule 2 collapses that divide into a single track: the civil action. Whatever relief a party is after, the case is filed and processed the same way.
In practice, this means a plaintiff does not need to choose between an "action at law" and a "suit in equity" or file in different forms depending on the remedy sought. A single complaint can ask for damages, an injunction, or both, and the same procedural rules apply throughout. The old labels survive in legal history and in some substantive doctrines, but they no longer dictate how a case moves through Wyoming's courts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does merging law and equity mean the two are now identical?
Procedurally, yes — one form of action applies to both. Substantively, some distinctions survive, such as which claims carry a right to a jury trial.
Can I request both damages and an injunction in a single complaint?
Yes. Because there is only one form of action, a plaintiff can combine legal and equitable relief in the same case.
Do I need to label my claim as "at law" or "in equity" when I file?
No. Rule 2 does away with that labeling requirement; the case is a civil action.
Does Rule 2 affect my right to a jury trial?
Not directly. Rule 2 unifies procedure, but whether a particular claim carries a jury-trial right depends on the nature of the claim itself, not on this rule.
Why did Wyoming get rid of the law/equity distinction?
The reform followed a broader modern trend toward simplified, unified civil procedure, replacing older systems that required different courts or forms depending on the type of relief sought.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Wyoming. Last verified July 14, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: civil action definition wyominglaw versus equity wyomingone form of action rulewrcp rule 2