When does an ordinary Missouri civil judgment become final?

Outside the Rule81.045 exception, a civil judgment becomes final 30 days after entry if no timely authorized after-trial motion is filed. With a timely authorized after-trial motion, finality is the earlier of 90 days after the last timely motion was filed, or the later of the last ruling and 30 days after judgment entry when all motions have been ruled. The July 1, 2026 text defines authorized after-trial motions by relief under Rules 72.01(b), 73.01(d), or 78. The party identifies judgment finality before establishing a separate notice-of-appeal filing obligation. The signed order supplies complete replacement Rule 81.05(a), effective July 1, 2026. It preserves the Rule 81.045 exception, whose application requires a separate check. This guide does not establish later amendments, judgment entry, motion timeliness, all dispositions, the actual counting calendar or a final case date. No computed date or paid calculation is supplied.

Responsible actor. The party identifies judgment finality before establishing a separate notice-of-appeal filing obligation..

Outside the Rule81.045 exception, a civil judgment becomes final 30 days after entry if no timely authorized after-trial motion is filed.

The party identifies judgment finality before establishing a separate notice-of-appeal filing obligation.

The July 1, 2026 text defines authorized after-trial motions by relief under Rules 72.01(b), 73.01(d), or 78.

The signed order supplies complete replacement Rule 81.05(a), effective July 1, 2026. It preserves the Rule 81.045 exception, whose application requires a separate check. This guide does not establish later amendments, judgment entry, motion timeliness, all dispositions, the actual counting calendar or a final case date.

1. Establish actual judgment entry and whether the Rule 81.045 exception applies.
2. Identify every timely motion seeking the relief defined by Rule 81.05(a)(4).
3. Use the no-motion branch only after excluding timely authorized after-trial motions.
4. With a timely authorized after-trial motion, finality is the earlier of 90 days after the last timely motion was filed, or the later of the last ruling and 30 days after judgment entry when all motions have been ruled.
5. Keep finality separate from notice-of-appeal filing. No case date is computed.

The order states 30 days after entry and 90 days from the last timely motion filing. It does not establish the applicable Rule 44.01 counting calendar or case facts.

The retained order does not qualify holidays, local closures or a final completion day. Finality and a separately required appellate filing remain distinct.

The signed order supplies complete replacement Rule 81.05(a), effective July 1, 2026. It preserves the Rule 81.045 exception, whose application requires a separate check. This guide does not establish later amendments, judgment entry, motion timeliness, all dispositions, the actual counting calendar or a final case date. No computed date or paid calculation is qualified.

Judgment entry is asserted, but the motion docket and Rule 81.045 branch have not been established. The ordinary 30-day statement does not prove the no-motion qualification. No computed date or paid calculation.

Two timely authorized motions are filed and only one has been ruled. Do not substitute the first ruling for disposition of all motions. The last timely filing and outstanding motion matter. No computed date or paid calculation.

All motions have been ruled and the last ruling precedes 30 days after entry. The ruled-motion branch uses the later comparison, then the earlier comparison against the 90-day branch. No computed date or paid calculation.

No-motion branch

Outside the Rule81.045 exception, a civil judgment becomes final 30 days after entry if no timely authorized after-trial motion is filed.

Motion branch

With a timely authorized after-trial motion, finality is the earlier of 90 days after the last timely motion was filed, or the later of the last ruling and 30 days after judgment entry when all motions have been ruled.

Authorized motion and exception

The July 1, 2026 text defines authorized after-trial motions by relief under Rules 72.01(b), 73.01(d), or 78. The Rule 81.045 exception remains a separate applicability check.

Source qualification

The signed order supplies complete replacement Rule 81.05(a), effective July 1, 2026. It preserves the Rule 81.045 exception, whose application requires a separate check. This guide does not establish later amendments, judgment entry, motion timeliness, all dispositions, the actual counting calendar or a final case date.

• The signed order supplies complete replacement Rule 81.05(a), effective July 1, 2026. It preserves the Rule 81.045 exception, whose application requires a separate check. This guide does not establish later amendments, judgment entry, motion timeliness, all dispositions, the actual counting calendar or a final case date.
• The no-motion branch starts with judgment entry. The motion branch can depend on the last timely motion filing and the last disposition. Notice-of-appeal filing is a separate procedure. Linked federal procedures do not establish Missouri finality.

• Actual judgment entry
• Timely authorized motions and their filing dates
• Every motion disposition and the last ruling
• Rule 81.045 exception, current edition and counting law
• Judgment finality is a procedural status used to ascertain appeal time. It is not itself a command to file a notice of appeal.