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Pending Rules and Forms Amendments

Any change to the federal rules must be designed to promote simplicity in procedure, fairness in administration, the just determination of litigation, and the elimination of unjustifiable expense and delay.

An amendment to a federal rule generally takes about three years. As described in more detail at Overview for the Bench, Bar and Public, a proposed rule change is usually considered by an advisory committee and published for comment as part of a document called a Preliminary Draft during the first year of the process. It is considered by the Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure (the “Standing Committee”) and the Judicial Conference in the second year, and by the Supreme Court and Congress in the third year.

Below are the proposed amendments organized by the year they are projected to go into effect with links to the relevant Congressional, Supreme Court, Judicial Conference, Standing Committee, and Preliminary Draft materials, as such materials become available.1

December 1, 2024

  • Appellate Rules 32, 35, 40, and Appendix on Length Limits.
  • Bankruptcy Restyled Rules Parts I through IX, Rules 1007, 4004, 5009, 7001, 9006, and proposed new Rule 8023.1.
  • Civil Rule 12.
  • Evidence Rules 613, 801, 804, 1006, and new Rule 107.

Congressional Package (pdf) – April 2024

Supreme Court Package (pdf) – October 2023

Standing Committee Report to the Judicial Conference (pdf) – September 2023

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules (pdf) – August 2022 (Bankruptcy Restyled Rules Parts VII through IX and the other rules and form listed above)

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules (pdf) – August 2021 (Bankruptcy Restyled Rules Parts III through VI)

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules (pdf) – August 2020 (Bankruptcy Restyled Rules Parts I and II)

December 1, 2025

  • Appellate Rules 6 and 39.
  • Bankruptcy Rules 3002.1 and 8006.
    • Official Bankruptcy Forms 410, 410C13-M1, 410C13-M1R, 410C13-N, 410C13-NR, 410C13-M2, and 410C13-M2R.
  • Civil Rules 16, 26, and new Rule 16.1.

Supreme Court Package (pdf) – October 2024

Standing Committee Report to the Judicial Conference (pdf) – September 2024

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules (pdf) – August 2023

December 1, 2026

  • Appellate Rules 29 and 32, Appendix on Length Limits, and Form 4;
  • Bankruptcy Rules 1007, 3018, 5009, 9006, 9014, 9017, new Rule 7043, and Official Form 410S1; and
  • Evidence Rule 801.

Preliminary Draft of Proposed Amendments to the Federal Rules (pdf) – August 2024

1 Although the rules are projected to go into effect on the dates listed, they can be delayed for various reasons or withdrawn entirely.  Rule and form changes being considered by advisory committees can be found in their most recent agenda books or reports.