517.031. Petition required, form--affirmative defenses, counterclaims, cross-claims, filing--extension of filing, when. - Missouri Statutes

Petition required, form--affirmative defenses, counterclaims,cross-claims, filing--extension of filing, when.

517.031. 1. The plaintiff shall file a written petitioncontaining the facts upon which the claim is founded. A copy ofany written instrument or account in support of the petitionshould be attached and filed. The pleadings of the petitionshall be informal unless the court in its discretion requiresformal pleadings.

2. Affirmative defenses, counterclaims and cross claimsshall be filed in writing not later than the return date and timeof the summons unless leave to file the same at a later date isgranted by the court. No other responsive pleading need befiled. If no responsive pleading is filed, the statements madein the petition, affirmative defenses, counterclaims or crossclaims shall be considered denied except as provided in section517.132.

3. For good cause shown, the court may extend the time forfiling any pleading.

(L. 1985 S.B. 5, et al., A.L. 1988 H.B. 1660)