# Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 8: Rule 8. General rules of pleading

> Delaware · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R8

## Section

- **Citation:** Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 8
- **Heading:** Rule 8. General rules of pleading
- **Jurisdiction:** Delaware
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Delaware Court Rules / Justice of the Peace Court / Justice of the Peace Court Civil Rules / Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 8

## Text

(a) Claims for relief. -- A pleading which sets forth a claim for relief, whether an original
claim, counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party claim, shall contain (1) a short and plain
statement of the claim and (2) what relief is sought.
(b) Defenses; form of denials. -- Omitted.
(c) Affirmative defenses. -- Omitted.
(d) Effect of failure to deny. -- Omitted.
(dd) Allegations admitted unless denied by affidavit. -- Omitted.
(e) Pleading to be concise and direct--Consistency. --
(1) Each averment of a pleading shall be simple, concise and direct.
(2) A party may set forth two or more statements of a claim or defense alternately or
hypothetically. The party may also state as many separate claims or defenses as the party has
regardless of consistency. All statements shall be made subject to the obligations set forth in

## Nearby sections

- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 1 Rule 1. Scope of Rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R1.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 2 Rule 2. One form of action](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R2.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 3 Rule 3. Commencement of action](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R3.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 4 Rule 4. Process](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R4.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 5 Rule 5. Service and filing of pleadings and other papers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R5.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 6 Rule 6. Time](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R6.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 7 Rule 7. Pleadings allowed; motions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R7.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 8 Rule 8. General rules of pleading](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R8.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 9 Rule 9. Pleadings and special matters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R9.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 10 Rule 10. Form of pleadings, motions and other papers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R10.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 11 Rule 11. Signing of pleadings, motions, and other papers: representations to Court, sanctions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R11.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 12 Rule 12. Defenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R12.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 13 Rule 13. Counterclaims and cross-claims](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R13.md)
- [Del. J.P. Ct. Civ. R. 14 Rule 14. Third-party practice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R14.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_DE_DEJPCIV_R8. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.