── In RE ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE ON CIVIL PRACTICE - RECOMMENDATIONS TO AMEND RULE 54(b) OF THE ARKANSAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND RULE (4)(a) OF THE ARKANSAS RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE --CIVIL ──
Court: Supreme Court of Arkansas
Date: June 04, 2026
Category: General
Cite as 2026 Ark. 111
SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS
IN RE ARKANSAS SUPREME Opinion Delivered: June 4, 2026
COURT COMMITTEE ON CIVIL
PRACTICE – RECOMMENDATIONS
TO AMEND RULE 54(B) OF THE
ARKANSAS RULES OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE AND RULE 4(A) OF
THE ARKANSAS RULES OF
APPELLATE PROCEDURE - CIVIL
PER CURIAM
The Arkansas Supreme Court’s Committee on Civil Practice submitted this
recommendation for a change to Rule 54(b) of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure and
Rule 4(a) of the Arkansas Rules of Appellate Procedure-Civil. We publish this proposed
amendment for comment before the court considers the change. The comment period shall
end on August 1, 2026. Comments should be submitted in writing to: Kyle E. Burton,
Clerk of the Arkansas Supreme Court, Attention: Amendments to Arkansas Rules of
Appellate Procedure and Rules of Civil Procedure, Justice Building, 625 Marshall Street,
Little Rock, AR 72201, or by email:
[email protected]. The amendments are
shown in “line-in, line-out” form.
Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure
Rule 54. Judgment; Costs
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(b) Judgment Upon Multiple Claims or Involving Multiple Parties.
(1) Certification of Final Judgment. When more than one claim for relief is
presented in an action, whether as a claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third
party claim, or when multiple parties are involved, the court may direct the
entry of a final judgment as to one or more but fewer than all of the claims or
parties only upon an express determination, supported by specific factual
findings, that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express direction
for the entry of judgment. In the event the court so finds, it shall execute the
following certificate, which may be attached to the judgment or filed
separatelyshall appear immediately after the court’s signature on the judgment,
and which shall set forth the factual findings upon which the determination
to enter the judgment as final is based:
Rule 54(b) Certificate
With respect to the issues determined by the above judgment entered on [insert
date], the court finds:
[Set forth specific factual findings.]
Upon the basis of the foregoing factual findings, the court hereby certifies, in
accordance with Rule 54(b)(1), Ark. R. Civ. P., that it has determined that there
is no just reason for delay of the entry of a final judgment and that the court has
and does hereby direct that the judgment shall be a final judgment for all purposes.
Certified this day of ________, ___________
_________________________________________________________________
Judge
(2) Timing of Rule 54(b) Certificate.
(A) If the certificate is not made part of the judgment when the judgment is
entered, then a party seeking a Rule 54(b) certificate must file a motion for a
certificate within 14 days after entry of the judgment for which it seeks a
certificate.
(B) If a certificate is not entered within 30 days after the motion is filed, then
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the motion is deemed denied as of the 30th day.
(C) No certificate may be entered more than 45 days after the judgment that
is the subject of the certification or 30 days after the motion is filed, whichever
is later.
(32) Lack of Certification. Absent the executed certificate required by paragraph
(1) of this subdivision, any judgment, order, or other form of decision,
however designated, which adjudicates fewer than all the claims or the rights
and liabilities of fewer than all the parties shall not terminate the action as to
any of the claims or parties, and the judgment, order, or o