A lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment—also known as a “deck action” (dec. action)—is a lawsuit that asks the court to determine the rights, status, or other legal relations of the parties when a controversy has arisen, but before a wrong has been committed. A declaratory judgment seeks to prevent further litigation, liability, and harm. Declaratory relief is not available to settle disputes already pending before a court. A declaratory judgment is improper if the relief requested is raised for the first time in an amended petition (lawsuit) and merely addresses the same issues as were raised in the original petition.

A declaratory judgment is often sought when there is a disagreement over the meaning or application of an insurance policy or other contract, or a deed, will, trust, lease, statute, or municipal ordinance.

In Minnesota, a declaratory judgment action, also known as a 'declaratory action' or 'dec action,' is a legal proceeding where a party seeks a court's determination on the legal rights, status, or other legal relationships of the parties involved, under a contract, statute, or other legal document. This type of action is typically sought when there is uncertainty or a dispute that has not yet led to damages or a breach, such as disagreements over the interpretation of an insurance policy, contract, or will. The purpose of a declaratory judgment is to resolve uncertainty and prevent further litigation or harm. Under Minnesota law, declaratory relief is not intended to resolve issues that are already the subject of ongoing litigation. Additionally, a declaratory judgment is not appropriate if it is requested through an amended petition that does not raise new issues but instead addresses the same matters as the original petition. The relevant Minnesota statutes governing declaratory judgments can be found in Chapter 555 of the Minnesota Statutes, which outlines the procedure and scope for seeking such judgments.