Rule 57 Declaratory Judgment

A declaratory judgment is when you ask a court to officially declare your legal rights or the meaning of a law or contract, even if no one has harmed you yet. For example, you might ask a court to decide whether your insurance company is required to cover you before any actual dispute over a claim happens.

You can ask for a declaratory judgment even if you have other legal options available to you. Having another way to solve your problem does not stop you from using this type of action. The court can also move your case along quickly if the situation calls for it.