FEDERAL RULES OF CIVILPROCEDURE
III. Pleadings and Motions
Rule 7 Pleadings Allowed;Forms of Motions
(a) Pleadings. There shallbe a complaint and an answer; a reply to a counterclaimdenominated as such; an answer to a cross-claim, if the answercontains a cross-claim; a third-party complaint, if a person whowas not an original party is summoned under the provisions of Rule 14; and a third-party answer, if athird-party complaint is served. No other pleading shall beallowed, except that the court may order a reply to an answer ora third-party answer.
(b) Motions and Other Papers.
(1) An application to thecourt for an order shall be by motion which, unless made during ahearing or trial, shall be made in writing, shall state withparticularity the grounds therefor, and shall set forth therelief or order sought. The requirement of writing is fulfilledif the motion is stated in a written notice of the hearing of themotion.
(2) The rules applicable tocaptions and other matters of form of pleadings apply to allmotions and other papers provided for by these rules.
(3) All motions shall besigned in accordance with Rule 11.
(c) Demurrers, Pleas, Etc.,Abolished. Demurrers, pleas, and exceptions for insufficiencyof a pleading shall not be used.
[As amended Dec. 27, 1946, eff.Mar. 19, 1948; Jan. 21, 1963, eff. July 1, 1963; Apr. 28, 1983,eff. Aug. 1, 1983.]
