Federal Practice

Federal Court Rules

The federal rules are the operating manual of every U.S. federal court. Whether you are filing a complaint, opposing a motion to dismiss, taking an appeal, or requesting agency records under FOIA, the procedures below control what you can do, when you must do it, and how the court will rule. Use these hubs as a launching point and always verify with the official source.

A note on local rules: Every federal district and circuit supplements these national rules with local rules and individual judges' standing orders. Always check all three layers before filing.