Rule 4:5-2.Claim for relief
Last amended September 1, 1994 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
Full Text of Rule 4:5-2
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Source-R.R. 4:8-1. Amended December 20, 1983 to be effective December 31, 1983; amended November 5, 1986 to be effective January 1, 1987; amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994.
Plain-English Summary
This is New Jersey’s notice-pleading standard. Any claim for relief — a complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim — must state the facts on which it rests, show that the pleader is entitled to relief, and demand a judgment for that relief. A party may demand relief in the alternative or of several types.
The rule bars pleading a specific dollar figure for unliquidated damages outside the Special Civil Part; damages are demanded generally instead. A defendant who wants the number can serve a written request, and the claimant must supply a statement of the amount within five days, though that statement is not filed except by court order. The approach spares juries and the public a headline damages figure while still letting the defendant learn the exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a complaint contain in New Jersey?
A statement of the facts on which the claim is based, showing the pleader is entitled to relief, and a demand for judgment for that relief. Relief may be demanded in the alternative or in several forms.
Can a New Jersey complaint state a specific dollar amount of damages?
Outside the Special Civil Part, unliquidated damages are demanded generally, without specifying an amount. A defendant may request a written statement of the amount claimed, which the claimant must furnish within five days.