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Minnesota Court Rules
Minnesota Rules of Civil ProcedurePleadings and Motions
Rule 12 - Defenses and Objections; When and How Presented; By Pleading or Motion; Motion for Judgment on Pleadings
Rule 12.01 - When Presented

Minn. R. Civ. P. 12.01

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As amended through October 28, 2024
Rule 12.01 - When Presented

Defendant shall serve an answer within 20 days after service of the summons upon that defendant unless the court directs otherwise pursuant to Rule 4.043. A party served with a pleading stating a cross-claim against that party shall serve an answer thereto within 20 days after the service upon that party. The plaintiff shall serve a reply to a counterclaim in the answer within 20 days after service of the answer or, if a reply is ordered by the court, within 20 days after service of the order, unless the order otherwise directs. The service of a motion permitted under this rule alters these periods of time as follows unless a different time is fixed by order of the court:

(1) If the court denies the motion or postpones its disposition until the trial on the merits, the responsive pleading shall be served within ten days after service of notice of the court's action;
(2) if the court grants a motion for a more definite statement, the responsive pleading shall be served within ten days after the service of the more definite statement.

Minn. R. Civ. P. 12.01

Amended effective 7/1/2018.

Advisory Committee Comment-2018 Amendments

Rule 12.01 establishes the time to respond to a complaint. In 2017 the Minnesota Legislature adopted a statute that extends the time to respond to certain actions relating to architectural barriers to public access to buildings. See Minn. Laws 2017, ch. 80, §§ 7 & 3, to be codified as Minn. Stat. § 363A.331, subds. 2 & 2a. The statute applies to actions brought on or after May 24, 2017.