Rule 54.Judgment; costs

Group VII: Judgment · Last amended March 1, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 54 defines what counts as a judgment, requires an express no-just-reason-for-delay finding before a court can finalize judgment on only part of a multi-claim or multi-party case, caps default judgments at what was demanded, and sets deadlines and content requirements for motions seeking costs or attorney's fees.

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. A court’s decision letter or opinion letter, made or entered in writing, is not a judgment.

(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 statute, these rules, or a court order provides otherwise, costs — other than attorney’s fees — should be allowed to the prevailing party, when a motion for such costs is filed no later than 21 days after the entry of judgment. But costs against the State of Wyoming, its officers, and its agencies may be imposed only to the extent allowed by law.

(2) Attorney’s Fees. —

(A) Claim to Be by Motion. — A claim for attorney’s fees and allowable costs shall 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 21 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(g), 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; Reference to a Master. — 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).

(E) Exceptions. — Subparagraphs (A)-(D) do not apply to claims for fees and expenses as sanctions for violating these rules.

(3) Contents of the Motion. — Unless a statute or a court order provides otherwise, any motion must:

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

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

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

End

Amendment History

Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, 2017.

Plain-English Summary

Rule 54 starts by pinning down what a “judgment” means: any decree or appealable order, but never a recitation of the pleadings, a master’s report, or a decision letter. That matters because when a case involves several claims or several parties, a court cannot make one piece of it final and appealable unless the judge expressly says there is no just reason to delay that piece; otherwise, everything stays open and revisable until the whole case is resolved. The rule also limits what a default judgment can award — it can never exceed or differ from what the pleadings demanded — while every other final judgment can give a winning party the relief it has earned, even if the pleadings never specifically asked for it.

The rest of Rule 54 covers the paperwork of winning a case. A prevailing party must generally move for costs within 21 days of judgment, though costs against the State of Wyoming are limited by law. Attorney’s fees work on their own track: the request must come by motion (unless the underlying law treats fees as an element of damages provable at trial), must be filed within 21 days, must identify the legal basis for the award, and must estimate or state the amount sought. The court can hold a hearing, decide who is liable for fees before addressing the value of the work, and may send the value question to a master under Rule 53. None of this applies to a request for fees as a sanction for violating the rules, which follows its own path.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a 'judgment' under this rule?

A judgment is a decree or any appealable order. It specifically does not include a recap of the pleadings, a master’s report, or a judge’s decision or opinion letter, even one made in writing.

Can I appeal right away if the court only decided some of my claims?

Only if the judge expressly states there is no just reason for delay and directs entry of a final judgment on that piece. Without that certification, a ruling on fewer than all claims or parties stays open and can still be revised before the whole case ends.

Can a court award more than what I asked for in my complaint?

It depends on the type of judgment. A default judgment can never exceed or differ from what the pleadings demanded. Any other final judgment, however, can grant the relief you have earned, even beyond what your pleadings requested.

How soon do I need to move for costs after winning?

Generally within 21 days after judgment is entered, unless a statute, the rules, or a court order says otherwise. Costs against the State of Wyoming and its agencies are capped by what the law separately allows.

What has to be in a motion for attorney's fees?

It must be filed within 21 days of judgment (absent a different deadline), identify the judgment and the legal basis for the fee award, state the amount sought or a fair estimate, and, if the court orders it, disclose the terms of any fee agreement.

Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of Wyoming. Last verified July 14, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: rule 54(b) certificationfinal judgment multiple claimsmotion for costsmotion for attorney’s feesdefault judgment demand cap