procedural guides

Amended Answer in the United States District Court–At A Glance

Use this At A Glance Guide to learn the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that govern amended answers in the United States District Courts. For more detailed information, including local rules, on amended answers in a specific United States District Court, please see the SmartRules United States District Court Amended Answer Guide for the court where your action is pending.

Timing:

An answer may be amended once as a matter of right within twenty (20) days after the original answer is served. FRCP 15(a)(1)(B)(amended 12/01/07).

At any time during the action, leave of court may be sought to file an amended answer. FRCP 15(a)(2)(amended 12/01/07).

The court must set a cut-off date for the amendment of pleadings. FRCP 16(b)(3)(A)(amended 12/01/07).

Amended Answer Rules:

An answer may be amended once as a matter of course within twenty (20) days after the original answer is served. FRCP 15(a)(1)(B)(amended 12/01/07). To amend an answer by right, the amended answer is simply filed with the court and served on all parties. FRCP 5(a) and (d)(amended 12/01/07).

A party may also amend its answer with written consent of the opposing party. FRCP 15(a)(2)(amended 12/01/07).

To seek leave of court to amend an answer based on stipulation, the parties customarily execute a stipulation agreeing to the amendment of the answer, then the amending party submits an ex parte application to the court, based on the stipulation, requesting leave to file the amended answer.

At any time during the action, leave of court may be sought to file an amended answer. FRCP 15(a)(2)(amended 12/01/07).

Leave of court may be sought to amend an answer to conform to proof at trial. FRCP 15(b)(amended 12/01/07).