District court — civil · Pleadings
Third-Party Complaint
Brings in a nonparty who may be liable to the defendant for all or part of the claim.
Filed by: Defendant (third-party plaintiff)
Not yet verified. Compiled from the national rules and not yet verified by a reviewing attorney. The national rules are amended each December 1, and local rules, standing orders and judges' practices add to them. Confirm with the current rules before filing. This is not legal advice.
What it must include
- Caption: court name, title of the action, file number and document designation (FRCP 10(a)) adding the third-party defendant
- Claims against the third-party defendant
- Summons and service on the new party
- Signature of attorney of record with address, email and phone (FRCP 11(a))
Deadline and length
Deadline: Without leave within 14 days after serving the original answer; after that, by motion (FRCP 14(a)(1)).
Governing rules
- FRCP 14(a)
Check the local rules for
- Font, spacing, margin and page-limit rules
Applies in federal district courts. Find your court for its local requirements.
Other pleadings
Draft this filing in DraftAria.
Court-formatted template with this checklist built in, and brackets where your matter details go.