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File and serve pleadings (simplified civil process)

If the simplified civil process applies to your case, you must file and serve documents known as pleadings and a list of documents. Find out what they are.

Note

This page is for matters that the Rules of Court 2014 apply to. For content relating to matters that the Rules of Court 2021 apply, click here.

If you are uncertain as to which version of the Rules of Court applies to your matter, click here.

Note

About pleadings in a civil case

A pleading is a document in which a party states the facts on which they rely for their claim or defence.

Pleadings help parties to:

Clarify their position so that they may prepare for trial accordingly and not be taken by surprise.
Save time and expense so that the case will not be unnecessarily lengthened by matters that are not in dispute.

Both parties have to file pleadings for civil cases.

If you are filing a claim against another party, you are the plaintiff.

The other party is the defendant. Refer to How to respond to a Writ of Summons (simplified civil process) to find out about the pleadings you have to file if you contest the plaintiff's claim.

Pleadings and list of documents

For cases where the simplified civil process applies, when a party files and serves the pleadings on the other party, they must also file and serve a list of documents prepared according to Form 234 of the Rules of Court.

A list of documents sets out every documents that a party has in their possession, custody or power which the party relies or will rely on and can do any of the following:

Adversely affect their own case.
Adversely affect another party’s case.
Support another party’s case.

Example

Pleadings relating to the plaintiff

As a plaintiff, the pleadings in a civil action you may need to file include:

A Statement of Claim is a document containing the relevant facts which is relied on to establish your claim. You must file and serve the statement of claim on the defendant as the defendant may apply to the court for an order to dismiss your action if you fail to do so.

When to file

In general, you should file and serve a Statement of Claim on the defendant together with the Writ of Summons (Writ).

If the defendant wishes to contest your claim, the defendant will:

File and send a copy of a Memorandum of Appearance (MOA) to you within 8 days of service of the Writ (if the defendant is located in Singapore), or within 21 days of service of the Writ (if the defendant is located outside of Singapore).
- The filing of an MOA is also known as entering an appearance.
File and serve a copy of their defence on you within 14 days of the time limited for an appearance.

If you are served with the defence, you may choose to file and serve a reply on the defendant within 14 days of receiving the defence.

If the defendant files a counterclaim

The defendant may also make a counterclaim in the same action if they think that they have any claim against you. In this case, they will file and serve their counterclaim, together with their defence, on you.

If you receive a copy of the defence and counterclaim, you may file and serve a reply together with your defence to the counterclaim on the defendant within 14 days of receiving the defence and counterclaim.

How to file

You may choose to file the documents personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the documents will be filed by your lawyer.

If you are representing yourself, you must file your pleadings via eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

You must follow the Rules of Court and the State Courts Practice Directions to prepare your documents before heading down personally to do the filing.

Estimated fees

Refer to the following to find out the possible fees to file pleadings. You may also refer to Appendix B of the Rules of Court for the full list of court fees.

In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

Item or service	Fees
File a statement of claim	$10
File a reply	$10
File a defence to a counterclaim	$10
File a list of documents	$10

In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

Item or service	Fees
File a statement of claim	$20
File a reply	$20
File a defence to a counterclaim	$20
File a list of documents	$10

Close of pleadings

Both you and the defendant may not file and serve any pleading after pleadings are closed at the expiry of the following time limits:

14 days after service of the reply on the defendant.
14 days after service of the defence to counterclaim on the defendant (if there is no reply but only a defence to counterclaim).
14 days after the defendant serves their defence (or defence and counterclaim) on you (if you choose not to serve a reply or a defence to counterclaim on the defendant).

Entering a default judgment

You may consider entering a default judgment against the defendant if the defendant does either of the following:

Fails to file and send a copy of a Memorandum of Appearance (MOA) on you within 8 days of receiving the Writ (if the defendant is located in Singapore), or within 21 days of receiving the Writ (if the defendant is located outside of Singapore).
- The filing of an MOA is also known as entering an appearance.
Fails to file and serve a copy of their defence on you within 14 days of filing the time limited for the entry of appearance.

Need help?

The information here is for general guidance as the courts do not provide legal advice. If you need further help, you may want to get independent legal advice.

Find out more