Rule 58 (Federal Rules of Civil Procedure)

Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure outlines the requirement for courts to enter judgment in civil cases. It states that a judgment must be set forth in a separate document to be effective. This means that simply making a decision in a court order isn’t enough; the court must officially record its final decision in a distinct document. This separate judgment clarifies the outcome of a case, making it easier for parties to understand the ruling and know when the time limits for appeals begin.