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District Court Rules of Civil Procedure – 2026

A separate, shorter set modifying civil practice before district judges and magistrate judges. Rule 1 is the one to read: it lists which Civil Rules apply, which apply with modifications, and which are inapplicable in their entirety. Small claims is a procedure inside this set rather than a ruleset of its own.

Browse all 27 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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I. Proceedings Before District II. Small Claims Rules* III. Proceedings After V. Special Proceedings VI. Title—effective Date

I. Proceedings Before District

Rule 1 Scope of Rules—Construction Rule 2 Record of Proceedings—Transcript as Evidence Rule 3 Notice of Orders or Judgments Rule 4 Assignment and Hearing of Cases— Calendars Rule 5 Jurors Rule 6 Instructions to the Jury Rule 7 Appointment and Authority of Clerk

II. Small Claims Rules*

Rule 8 Scope and Applicability Rule 9 Informality Rule 10 Pleadings Rule 11 Process Rule 12 Venue Rule 13 Defenses and Objections—When and How Presented Rule 14 Joinder of Parties and Claims Rule 15 Attorneys—Interns Rule 16 Trial Rule 17 Judgment Rule 18 Appeal Rule 19 Relief from Judgment Rule 20 Remedies Rule 21 Assistance to Litigants—Handbook Rule 22 Legal Effect of Rules

III. Proceedings After

Rule 24 Stay of Proceedings to Enforce Judgment

V. Special Proceedings

Rule 32 Presumption of Death

VI. Title—effective Date

Rule 33 Title Rule 34 Effective Date Rule 35 Legal Effect of Rules—Procedural Portions of Statutes Superseded