Request for Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

When the request for findings of fact and conclusions of law is used

Timing: before or after a bench trial; a motion to amend findings is due within 28 days after entry of judgment. This step belongs to the trial stage. At this point, the judge or jury hears evidence and decides the disputed facts.

What the rule requires

• In an action tried on the facts without a jury or with an advisory jury, the court must find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately; they may be stated on the record after the close of the evidence or appear in an opinion or memorandum of decision (Rule 52(a)(1)).
• On a party's motion filed no later than 28 days after the entry of judgment, the court may amend its findings, or make additional findings, and may amend the judgment accordingly (Rule 52(b)).
• Findings of fact must not be set aside unless clearly erroneous, and the reviewing court must give due regard to the trial court's opportunity to judge the witnesses' credibility (Rule 52(a)(6)).
• Courts often order the parties to submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law before or after a bench trial.

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. 52(a), 52(b) online. Also, the federal judiciary publishes the current rules and recent amendments.

The request for findings of fact and conclusions of law in state court

State courts follow their own rules of procedure. Many states model their rules on the federal rules, so you will often find a similar request for findings of fact and conclusions of law procedure. However, the name, the deadline and the required form can differ. Therefore, look up the matching rule in your state’s rules of civil procedure. Also read your court’s local rules. Our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules.

Key terms

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

• Bench trial: a trial in which the judge, not a jury, decides the facts. In a federal bench trial, Rule 52(a) requires the court to find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately.
• Findings of fact: the court's written decisions about what happened, based on the evidence. In a federal bench trial, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a) requires the court to find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately.
• Conclusions of law: the court's rulings on how the law applies to the facts it has found. In a federal bench trial, they are stated separately from the findings of fact under Rule 52(a).

Related procedures

Similarly, these procedures often come up alongside it:

• Motion to Alter or Amend a Judgment: a request that the court change its judgment.
• Motion for a New Trial: a request that the court grant a new trial on all or some issues.
• Notice of Appeal: the filing that starts an appeal from a federal district court to a court of appeals.

Before you rely on this page

Always read the current rule yourself instead of relying on a summary. Next, check the local rules and the judge’s standing orders, since they often add steps. Then look for recent decisions from your court that apply the rule. Finally, talk to a licensed attorney about your situation. You can find one in 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 request for findings of fact and conclusions of law. In states that number their rules like the federal rules, it is often the same rule number as the federal rule.