(1)In General. — A request for a court order must be made by motion. The motion must:
(A)be in writing unless made during a hearing or trial;
(B)state with particularity the grounds for seeking the order; and
(C)state the relief sought.
(2)The requirement of writing is fulfilled if the motion is stated in a written notice of the hearing of the motion. All motions filed pursuant to Rules 12 and 56 shall, and all other motions may, contain or be accompanied by a memorandum of points and authority.
(3)Form. — The rules governing captions and other matters of form in pleadings apply to motions and other papers.
(4)All motions shall be signed in accordance with Rule 11.
(c)Demurrers, pleas, etc. Abolished. — Demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for insufficiency of a pleading shall not be used.
Amendment History
Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, 2017.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 7 keeps a lawsuit's paperwork to a short, fixed list: a complaint, an answer, an answer to a counterclaim or crossclaim, a third-party complaint and its answer, and a reply — but only if the court orders one. Old-fashioned devices like demurrers and pleas no longer have a place in Wyoming practice; a party who thinks a pleading is deficient raises that through a motion instead.
The rule also governs motions themselves. A motion asking the court for an order must generally be in writing, spell out the specific grounds for the request, and say exactly what relief the party wants. Motions under Rules 12 and 56 must come with a supporting brief; other motions may include one. And like any other filing, a motion needs a signature that meets the standard set by Rule 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pleadings does Rule 7 allow in a Wyoming case?
Only a complaint, an answer, an answer to a counterclaim or crossclaim, a third-party complaint, an answer to that complaint, and — if the court specifically orders one — a reply to an answer. Nothing else counts as a pleading under the rule.
Can I file a reply to the other side's answer on my own?
No. A reply is only allowed if the court orders one. Without that order, the case moves forward on the pleadings already filed.
What does a written motion have to include?
It must be in writing unless made during a hearing or trial, state the specific grounds for the request with particularity, and identify the relief the party wants the court to grant.
Are demurrers still used in Wyoming courts?
No. Rule 7 abolishes demurrers, pleas, and similar objections to the sufficiency of a pleading. A party raises those objections by motion instead.
Do I have to attach a brief to every motion I file?
Motions filed under Rules 12 or 56 must include or be accompanied by a memorandum of points and authority. For other motions, a supporting memorandum is optional.
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
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