Current Rules of Practice & Procedure

Below are links to the national federal rules and forms in effect, as well as local rules (which are required to be consistent with the national rules) prescribed by district courts and courts of appeal.

The following amended and new rules and forms became effective December 1, 2023:

• Appellate Rules 2, 4, 26, and 45
• Bankruptcy Rules 3011, 8003, 9006, and new Rule 9038
  • Official Bankruptcy Forms 410A and 417A

  Federal Rules of Procedure

  Find information on the rules of procedure, effective December 1, 2023.

  • Rules of Appellate Procedure
  • Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure
  • Rules of Civil Procedure
  • Rules of Criminal Procedure
  • Rules of Evidence
  • Rules Governing Section 2254 and Section 2255 Proceedings

  Forms Accompanying the Federal Rules of Procedure

  • Appellate Rules Forms
  • Bankruptcy Forms
  • National Court Forms

  Other Court Rules

  Rules of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

  The Rules of Procedure for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court were promulgated pursuant to 50 U.S.C. § 1803(g). They govern all proceedings in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and were last amended in 2010.

  Local Court Rules

  United States district courts and courts of appeals often prescribe local rules governing practice and procedure. Such rules must be consistent with both Acts of Congress and the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure, and may only be prescribed after notice and an opportunity for public comment. A court's authority to prescribe local rules is governed by both statute and the Federal Rules of Practice and Procedure. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 2071(a)-(b); Fed. R. App. P. 47; Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9029; Fed. R. Civ. P. 83; Fed. R. Crim. P. 57.

  Section 205 of the E-Government Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-347, requires that federal courts post local rules on their websites. Visit the Federal Court Finder for a listing of all federal court websites.

  Additional resources on local rules are linked below.

  • Report on Local Rules Project (February 1, 2004) (pdf)
  • Report on Local Rules Project (June 21, 1990) (pdf)
  • Report to the Judicial Conference (September 1988) (pdf)
  • Uniform Numbering System for Local Bankruptcy Court Rules (January 2012) (pdf)
  • Uniform Numbering System for Local Rules of Court (April 1996) (pdf)