Rule 54.Judgment; Costs

Last amended December 1, 2009 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 54 defines a judgment, allows final judgment on fewer than all claims or parties only with an express no-just-reason-for-delay determination, and sets how costs are taxed and how a party claims attorney’s fees by motion within 14 days.

Full Text of Rule 54

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) Definition; Form. “Judgment” as used in these rules includes a decree and any order from which an appeal lies. A judgment should not include recitals of pleadings, a master's report, or a record of prior proceedings.

(b) Judgment on Multiple Claims or Involving Multiple Parties. When an action presents more than one claim for relief— whether as a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party claim—or when multiple parties are involved, the court may direct entry of a final judgment as to one or more, but fewer than all, claims or parties only if the court expressly determines that there is no just reason for delay. Otherwise, any order or other decision, however designated, that adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties does not end the action as to any of the claims or parties and may be revised at any time before the entry of a judgment adjudicating all the claims and all the parties' rights and liabilities.

(c) Demand for Judgment; Relief to Be Granted. A default judgment must not differ in kind from, or exceed in amount, what is demanded in the pleadings. Every other final judgment should grant the relief to which each party is entitled, even if the party has not demanded that relief in its pleadings.

(d) Costs; Attorney's Fees.

(1) Costs Other Than Attorney's Fees. Unless a federal statute, these rules, or a court order provides otherwise, costs—other than attorney's fees—should be allowed to the prevailing party. But costs against the United States, its officers, and its agencies may be imposed only to the extent allowed by law. The clerk may tax costs on 14 days' notice. On motion served within the next 7 days, the court may review the clerk's action.

(2) Attorney's Fees.

(A) Claim to Be by Motion. A claim for attorney's fees and related nontaxable expenses must be made by motion unless the substantive law requires those fees to be proved at trial as an element of damages.

(B) Timing and Contents of the Motion. Unless a statute or a court order provides otherwise, the motion must:

(i) be filed no later than 14 days after the entry of judgment;

(ii) specify the judgment and the statute, rule, or other grounds entitling the movant to the award;

(iii) state the amount sought or provide a fair estimate of it; and

(iv) disclose, if the court so orders, the terms of any agreement about fees for the services for which the claim is made.

(C) Proceedings. Subject to Rule 23(h), the court must, on a party's request, give an opportunity for adversary submissions on the motion in accordance with Rule 43(c) or 78. The court may decide issues of liability for fees before receiving submissions on the value of services. The court must find the facts and state its conclusions of law as provided in Rule 52(a).

(D) Special Procedures by Local Rule; Reference to a Master or a Magistrate Judge. By local rule, the court may establish special procedures to resolve fee-related issues without extensive evidentiary hearings. Also, the court may refer issues concerning the value of services to a special master under Rule 53 without regard to the limitations of Rule 53(a)(1), and may refer a motion for attorney's fees to a magistrate judge under Rule 72(b) as if it were a dispositive pretrial matter.

(E) Exceptions. Subparagraphs (A)-(D) do not apply to claims for fees and expenses as sanctions for violating these rules or as sanctions under 28 U.S.C. § 1927.

End

Amendment History

(Amended December 27, 1946, effective March 19, 1948; April 17, 1961, effective July 19, 1961; March 2, 1987, effective August 1, 1987; April 22, 1993, effective December 1, 1993; April 29, 2002, effective December 1, 2002; March 27, 2003, effective December 1, 2003; April 30, 2007, effective December 1, 2007; March 26, 2009, effective December 1, 2009.)

Plain-English Summary

Rule 54 ties together what a judgment is and what comes with it. “Judgment” includes any decree or order from which an appeal lies, and a judgment should grant the relief a party is entitled to even if the party did not demand it — except that a default judgment may not differ in kind from, or exceed, what the complaint demanded.

When a case has multiple claims or parties, the court may enter a final, appealable judgment on fewer than all of them only if it expressly determines there is no just reason for delay; otherwise the decision is not final and can be revised at any time before the end of the case (Rule 54(b)). The rule also provides that costs other than attorney’s fees are generally allowed to the prevailing party, and that a claim for attorney’s fees is made by motion filed within 14 days after the entry of judgment unless a statute or order provides otherwise.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you ask for attorney’s fees after a judgment?

By motion filed no later than 14 days after the entry of judgment, unless a statute or court order sets a different time (Rule 54(d)(2)).

What is a Rule 54(b) judgment?

An order making a final, appealable judgment on some but not all claims or parties, which requires the court to expressly find there is no just reason for delay (Rule 54(b)).

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the official Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P. 54), a public-domain work of the U.S. Government. Prescribed by the United States Supreme Court under the Rules Enabling Act. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: FRCP 54Fed. R. Civ. P. 54judgmentcostsattorney's feesRule 54(b)