Pro Se Litigants

Instruction Packets

After Opening a Case

Post-Judgment Information

Forms by Category

Case Opening

• Form 1. Notice of Appeal from a Judgment or Order of a United States District Court
  Use Form 1 to appeal a District Court judgment or order.
• Form 2. Notice of Appeal from a Decision of the United States Tax Court
  Use Form 2 to appeal a Tax Court decision.
• Form 3. Petition for Review of Order of a Federal Agency, Board, Commission, or Officer
  Use Form 3 to ask the Court to review an Agency, Board, Commission, or Officer order (this includes a decision from the Board of Immigration Appeals).
• Form 5. Notice of Appeal from a Judgment or Order of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
  Use Form 5 to appeal a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel judgment or order.
• Form 6. Representation Statement
  Use Form 6 to notify the Court who the parties and attorneys are for an appeal at the same time you file your notice of appeal.
  Instructions for Form 6
• Form 12. Application for Leave to File Second or Successive Petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 or Motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255
  Word version of Form 12
  Pro se litigants: use Form 12 to ask permission to file a second or successive habeas corpus petition or motion.
  Instructions for Form 12

Fee Status

• Form 4. Motion and Affidavit for Permission to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
  Use Form 4 to ask the Court to waive the filing fees in any civil case (use Form 23 in a criminal or habeas corpus case).
  Instructions for Form 4
• Form 23. CJA Financial Affidavit
  Use Form 23 to support a request to waive fees or a motion for appointment of counsel in a criminal or habeas corpus case (use Form 4 in a civil case).
  Instructions for Form 23

Certificates and Statements

• Form 6. Representation Statement
  Use Form 6 to notify the Court who the parties and attorneys are for an appeal at the same time you file your notice of appeal.
  Instructions for Form 6
• Form 8. Certificate of Compliance for Briefs
  Word version of Form 8
  Use Form 8 to certify that your brief's word count complies with the Court's length limit.
  Instructions for Form 8
• Form 11. Certificate of Compliance for Petitions for Rehearing or Answers
  Word version of Form 11
  Use Form 11 to certify that your petition for rehearing or answer to petition for rehearing complies with the Court's length limit.
  Instructions for Form 11
• Form 15. Certificate of Service for Electronic Filing
  Word version of Form 15
  Use Form 15 to certify that you served your electronic filing if it will not be served via the Electronic Filing system (use Form 25 if you file only in paper).
  Instructions for Form 15
• Form 16. Circuit Rule 27-3 Certificate for Emergency Motion
  Word version of Form 16
  Use Form 16 to accompany your emergency motion.
  Instructions for Form 16
• Form 18. Certificate for Paper Copy of Electronic Brief
  Use Form 18 to certify that the paper copies of your brief match the electronically filed version.
  Instructions for Form 18
• Form 25. Certificate of Service for Paper Filing
  Word version of Form 25
  Pro se litigants: if you file only in paper, use Form 25 to certify that you are serving the other parties with a copy of your document.
• Form 33. Certificate of Mailing for Pro Se Inmates
  Pro Se litigants who are incarcerated or detained, use Form 33 to certify when your notice of appeal or other filing was delivered to prison officials for forwarding to the Court.

Motions

• Form 4. Motion and Affidavit for Permission to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
  Use Form 4 to ask the Court to waive the filing fees in any civil case (use Form 23 in a criminal or habeas corpus case).
  Instructions for Form 4
• Form 13. Streamlined Request for Extension of Time to File Brief
  Pro se litigants: if you file only in paper, use Form 13 to request a first extension of time to file a brief, up to 30 days.
• Form 14. Motion for Extension of Time
  Use Form 14 to request an extension of time to file document other than a brief or to file a brief when a streamlined extension is unavailable (such as a request of more than 30 days).
  Instructions for Form 14
• Form 15. Certificate of Service for Electronic Filing
  Word version of Form 15
  Use Form 15 to certify that you served your electronic filing if it will not be served via the Electronic Filing system (use Form 25 if you file only in paper).
  Instructions for Form 15
• Form 16. Circuit Rule 27-3 Certificate for Emergency Motion
  Word version of Form 16
  Use Form 16 to accompany your emergency motion.
  Instructions for Form 16
• Form 23. CJA Financial Affidavit
  Use Form 23 to support a request to waive fees or a motion for appointment of counsel in a criminal or habeas corpus case (use Form 4 in a civil case).
  Instructions for Form 23
• Form 24. Motion for Appointment of Counsel
  Pro se litigants: use Form 24 if you do not have a lawyer and want to ask the Court to appoint a lawyer for you.
  Instructions for Form 24
• Form 25. Certificate of Service for Paper Filing
  Word version of Form 25
  Pro se litigants: if you file only in paper, use Form 25 to certify that you are serving the other parties with a copy of your document.
• Form 27. Generic Motion

  Pro se litigants: use Form 27 to ask the Court to file a motion for any relief other than for an extension of time, to waive the fees, or for appointment of counsel (see Forms 13, 14, 4, 23, and 24).

  Instructions for Form 27
• Form 28. Response to Motion or Court Order
  Use Form 28 to respond to a motion filed by another party or a Court order directing a response.
  Instructions for Form 28

Briefs

• Form 8. Certificate of Compliance for Briefs
  Word version of Form 8
  Use Form 8 to certify that your brief's word count complies with the Court's length limit.
  Instructions for Form 8
• Form 15. Certificate of Service for Electronic Filing
  Word version of Form 15
  Use Form 15 to certify that you served your electronic filing if it will not be served via the Electronic Filing system (use Form 25 if you file only in paper).
  Instructions for Form 15
• Form 18. Certificate for Paper Copy of Electronic Brief
  Use Form 18 to certify that the paper copies of your brief match the electronically filed version.
  Instructions for Form 18
• Form 25. Certificate of Service for Paper Filing
  Word version of Form 25
  Pro se litigants: if you file only in paper, use Form 25 to certify that you are serving the other parties with a copy of your document.
• Appellant's Informal Opening Brief Form
  Word version of Appellant's Informal Brief
  Pro se litigants: use this form to file an opening brief in your appeal.
• Petitioner's Informal Opening Brief Form - Immigration Agency
  Word version of Immigration Petitioner's Informal Brief
  Pro se litigants: use this form to file an opening brief in your immigration petition for review.
• Petitioner's Informal Opening Brief Form - Non-Immigration Agency
  Word version of Agency Petitioner's Informal Brief
  Pro se litigants: use this form to file an opening brief in your non-immigration petition for review.
• Appellant's Informal Reply Brief Form
  Word version of Appellant's Reply Brief
  Pro se litigants: use this form to file a reply brief in your appeal.
• Petitioner's Informal Reply Brief Form
  Word version of Petitioner's Reply Brief
  Pro se litigants: use this form to file a reply brief in your petition for review.

Sealed Documents

• Form 15. Certificate of Service for Electronic Filing
  Word version of Form 15
  Use Form 15 to certify that you served your electronic filing if it will not be served via the Electronic Filing system (use Form 25 if you file only in paper).
  Instructions for Form 15
• Form 19. Notice of Sealing
  Use Form 19 if sealing a document or case is required by a statute or procedural rule.
  Instructions for Form 19
• Form 20. Notice of Intent to Unseal
  Use Form 20 if you do not intend to ask that a document that was sealed in a lower court or agency remain under seal in this Court.
  Instructions for Form 20

Post-Judgment

• Form 10. Bill of Costs
  Use Form 10 to request costs within 14 days from the opinion or memorandum's file date.
  Instructions for Form 10
• Form 11. Certificate of Compliance for Petitions for Rehearing or Answers
  Word version of Form 11
  Use Form 11 to certify that your petition for rehearing or answer to petition for rehearing complies with the Court's length limit.
  Instructions for Form 11

Miscellaneous

• Form 22. Notice of Change of Address
  Pro se litigants: if you file only in paper, use Form 22 to notify the Court if your address has changed.
• Form 26. Notice of Delay
  Use Form 26 to notify the Court that a case, motion, or petition for rehearing has been pending for longer than a prescribed time.
  Instructions for Form 26
• Form 29. Request for Docket Sheet, Document, or Rules
  Pro se litigants: if you file only in paper, use Form 29 to request a copy of a docket sheet or document filed in a case in which you are a party, or a copy of the Court's rules.
  Instructions for Form 29