(a) Presentation. — Subject to the provisions of Rule 55(b) and unless otherwise ordered by the court, if the parties are unable to agree on the form and content of a proposed judgment or order, it shall be presented to the court and served upon the other parties within 14 days after the court’s decision is made known. Any objection to the form or content of a proposed judgment or order, together with an alternate form of judgment or order which cures the objection(s), shall be filed with the court and served upon the other parties within 5 days after service of the proposed judgment or order. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may sign the judgment or order. If objection is timely filed, the court will resolve the matter with or without a hearing.
Rule 58.Entering judgment
Group VII: Judgment · Last amended March 1, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 58 governs how a proposed judgment or order is presented to the court and objected to, what form a judgment must take, when a judgment counts as officially entered, and how a pending fee motion interacts with the appeal clock.
Full Text of Rule 58
(b) Form and Entry. — Subject to the provisions of Rule 54(b), in all cases, the judge shall promptly settle or approve the form of the judgment or order and direct that it be entered by the clerk. Every judgment shall be set forth on a separate document, shall be identified as such, and may include findings of fact and conclusions of law. The names of all parties shall be set out in the caption of all final orders, judgments and decrees. All judgments and orders must be entered on the journal of the court and specify clearly the relief granted or order made in the action.
(c) Time of Entry. — A judgment or final order shall be deemed to be entered whenever a form of such judgment or final order pursuant to these rules is filed in the office of the clerk of court in which the case is pending.
(d) Cost or Fee Awards. — Ordinarily, the entry of judgment may not be delayed, nor the time for appeal extended, in order to tax costs or award fees. But if a timely motion for attorney’s fees is made under Rule 54(d)(2), the court may act before a notice of appeal has been filed and become effective to order that the motion have the same effect under Wyoming Rule of Appellate Procedure 2.02(a) as a timely motion under Rule 59.
Amendment History
Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
When the parties cannot agree on the wording of a judgment, Rule 58 supplies the timetable: the proposed judgment or order must be presented to the court and served on the other side within 14 days after the court’s decision becomes known. Anyone who objects has five days to file that objection along with an alternative form of judgment that fixes the problem. If no one objects in time, the court can sign what was presented; if someone does object, the court resolves the dispute, with or without a hearing. Every judgment must stand as its own separate document, be labeled as a judgment, name all the parties in its caption, and be entered on the court’s journal with the relief or order stated clearly.
For appeal purposes, timing is everything, and Rule 58 fixes the moment a judgment becomes “entered”: whenever the signed judgment or order is filed with the clerk of court. As a general rule, that entry — and the appeal clock that starts running with it — should not be delayed just because costs or fees still need to be taxed or awarded. But the rule carves out an exception: if a party has made a timely motion for attorney’s fees under Rule 54(d)(2), the court can act before an appeal is filed to give that motion the same effect, for appellate timing purposes, as a timely motion under Rule 59.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to submit a proposed judgment to the court?
Fourteen days after the court's decision becomes known, if the parties cannot agree on the judgment's form and content and the court hasn't ordered otherwise.
How long do I have to object to the other side's proposed judgment?
Five days after being served with it. Your objection must come with an alternative form of judgment that fixes whatever you're objecting to.
What does a judgment have to contain?
It must be a separate document, labeled as a judgment, with all parties named in the caption, and it must be entered on the court's journal stating clearly what relief was granted or ordered. It may include findings of fact and conclusions of law.
When is a judgment officially 'entered' for purposes of the appeal deadline?
The moment the judgment or final order is filed with the clerk of the court where the case is pending. That filing date is what starts the clock.
Does a pending motion for attorney's fees delay entry of judgment?
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: entry of judgment ruleproposed judgment objectionform of judgment requirementswhen is a judgment enteredseparate document judgment rule