Rule · Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Rule 13. Counterclaim and Crossclaim
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure § 13
- Type
- Rule
- Source
- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Date
- 2026-07-10
- Topic
- general
Rule 13. Counterclaim and Crossclaim (a) Compulsory Counterclaim. (1) In General. A pleading must state as a counterclaim any claim that — at the time of its service — the pleader has against an opposing party if the claim: (A) arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the opposing party's claim; and (B) does not require adding another party over whom the court cannot acquire jurisdiction. (2) Exceptions.
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Rule13. Counterclaim and Crossclaim
(a) Compulsory Counterclaim.(1)In General.A pleading must state as a counterclaim any claim that — at the time of its service — the pleader has against an opposing party if the claim:(A)arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the opposing party's claim; and(B)does not require adding another party over whom the court cannot acquire jurisdiction.(2)Exceptions.The pleader need not state the claim if:(A)when the action was commenced, the claim was the subject of another pending action; or(B)the opposing party sued on its claim by attachment or other process that did not establish personal jurisdiction over the pleader on that claim, and the pleader does not assert any counterclaim under this rule.(b) Permissive Counterclaim.A pleading may state as a counterclaim against an opposing party any claim that is not compulsory.(c) Relief Sought in a Counterclaim.A counterclaim need not diminish or defeat the recovery sought by the opposing party. It may request relief that exceeds in amount or differs in kind from the relief sought by the opposing party.(d) Counterclaim Against the United States.These rules do not expand the right to assert a counterclaim — or to claim a credit — against the United States or a United States officer or agency.(e) Counterclaim Maturing or Acquired After Pleading.The court may permit a party to file a supplemental pleading asserting a counterclaim that matured or was acquired by the party after serving an earlier pleading.(f) [Abrogated](g) Crossclaim Against a Coparty.A pleading may state as a crossclaim any claim by one party against a coparty if the claim arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the original action or of a counterclaim, or if the claim relates to any property that is the subject matter of the original action. The crossclaim may include a claim that the coparty is or may be liable to the crossclaimant for all or part of a claim asserted in the action against the crossclaimant.(h) Joining Additional Parties.Rules19and20govern the addition of a person as a party to a counterclaim or crossclaim.(i) Separate Trials; Separate Judgments.If the court orders separate trials under Rule42(b), it may enter judgment on a counterclaim or crossclaim under Rule54(b) when it has jurisdiction to do so, even if the opposing party's claims have been dismissed or otherwise resolved.
[Amended April 30, 2007, effective December 1, 2007, effective December 1, 2009.]