Deposit into the Court Registry (CRIS)

When the deposit into the court registry is used

Timing: when money or property is in dispute and a party wants to deposit it with the court — for example, in interpleader or when a party disputes who is entitled to funds. Dispositive motions ask the court to decide all or part of a case without a full trial. They usually follow discovery.

What the rule requires

• First, if any part of the relief sought is a money judgment or the disposition of a sum of money or some other deliverable thing, a party may deposit all or part of the money or thing with the court — on notice to every other party and by leave of court — whether or not that party claims any of it (Fed. R. Civ. P. 67(a)).
• Next, the depositing party must deliver to the clerk a copy of the order permitting deposit (Fed. R. Civ. P. 67(a)).
• In addition, the court's handling of the money must follow 28 U.S.C. §§ 2041 and 2042 and any like statute. For example, the money goes into an interest-bearing account or a court-approved, interest-bearing instrument (Fed. R. Civ. P. 67(b)).
• Also, the clerk must promptly deposit money paid into a federal court with the Treasurer of the United States or a designated depositary, in the name and to the credit of the court (28 U.S.C. § 2041).
• Finally, no one may withdraw money deposited under § 2041 without an order of the court (28 U.S.C. § 2042). So a party who wants the funds released must ask the court for a disbursement order.

In practice, read each requirement closely. Then check whether your court adds anything of its own. For example, many courts set page limits, formatting rules or a duty to confer with the other side first.

You can read the full text of Fed. R. Civ. P. 67; 28 U.S.C. §§ 2041, 2042 online. Also, the federal judiciary publishes the current rules and recent amendments.

The deposit into the court registry in state court

This page covers the federal version. In state court, the deposit into the court registry may have a different name, a different deadline or a different form. For example, a state may count days differently or require a separate notice. So start with your state’s rules of civil procedure, then check the local rules. Our state procedures guide links to the official rules for every state and DC.

Key terms

In addition, these terms come up often with this procedure:

• Disbursement: a payment of money out of an account or fund, such as the release of loan funds, a distribution from a trust or estate, or a payment from a court's registry.
• Deposit: money or property that a person places with someone else for safekeeping or as security.
• Court Registry Investment System: the program, administered by the Administrative Office of the U.S.

Related procedures

Similarly, these procedures often come up alongside it:

• Interpleader: a procedure that lets a party facing competing claims to the same money or property bring all the claimants into one case.
• Writ of Execution (Enforcing a Money Judgment): the court process used to enforce a money judgment.

Before you rely on this page

First, read the current text of the rule. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing order from the judge. In addition, look at recent decisions from your own court. They show how judges apply the rule in practice. For advice about your own case, speak with a licensed attorney, for example through our directory.

State court procedure for this filing

The federal rule above applies in federal court. In state court, the same filing is governed by that state's own rules of civil procedure, statutes and local court rules. Many states model their rules on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, so the requirements are often similar, but names, numbers, deadlines and forms can differ. Always use the version that applies to the court where your case is filed.

Examples from the largest state court systems

Each state citation was checked against the rule or code text (official source or a published copy) on October 24, 2026. Rules are amended often, so confirm the current version on the state's official site below.

Find the rule in your state

In your state's rules, look for the rule on deposit into the court registry (cris). In states that number their rules like the federal rules, it is often the same rule number as the federal rule.