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Circuit Court — District Division Rules – 2026

The District Division handles misdemeanors and violations, civil claims up to $25,000, landlord-tenant matters and small claims. Rules 4.1 to 4.13 govern small claims, which are informal, e-filed, and heard without the Rules of Evidence. Two parallel civil series appear here: one for cases filed before the implementation of electronic filing and one for cases filed on or after it.

Browse all 153 rules of the 2026 edition organized by section 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.

Sections

Civil Rules Applicable to Cases Filed on or After the Implementation of Electronic Filing in Civil Cases in the District Division Civil Rules, with the Exceptions Noted Below, Applicable to Cases Filed Before the Implementation of Electronic Filing in Civil Cases in the District Division Criminal Rules Landlord and Tenant Actions Small Claims Actions Town Ordinance Violation Rules General General Principles Commencement of Action Pleadings and Motions Parties and Their Representatives Discovery Alternatives to Trial Trials Judgement Provisional and Final Remedies General Rules
Civil Rules Applicable to Cases Filed on or After the Implementation of Electronic Filing in Civil Cases in the District Division Small Claims Actions Civil Rules, with the Exceptions Noted Below, Applicable to Cases Filed Before the Implementation of Electronic Filing in Civil Cases in the District Division Rules 3.1 (pre-e-filing)–Civil Rules Applicable To Criminal Rules Civil Rules Landlord and Tenant Actions Rules 5.1–Town Ordinance Violation Rules Small Claims Actions Rules 4.1–Landlord and Tenant Actions Town Ordinance Violation Rules Rules 6.1–6.7 General Criminal Rules General Principles Rules 3.1–3.3 Commencement of Action Rules 3.4–3.5 Pleadings and Motions Rules 3.6–3.13A Parties and Their Representatives Rules 3.14–3.20 Discovery Rules 3.21–3.29 Alternatives to Trial Rules 3.30–3.34 Trials Rules 3.35–3.38 Judgement Rules 3.39–3.46 Provisional and Final Remedies Rules 3.47–3.52 General Rules Rules 1.1–1.28