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LitigationForms

Federal · 31 forms

Civil Lawsuits

General civil cases: complaints, answers, motions, discovery, and judgments.

31 of 31 forms

  • AO 241

    Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254

    This form is a petition used by a person currently in state custody to ask the court for relief from a conviction or sentence. It asks for detailed information about the original conviction, sentencing, and any appeals that have already taken place.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 242

    Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241

    This form is a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus, which is used to challenge how a sentence is being carried out, or to challenge detention when the person is in federal or state custody. It asks the court to review the conditions of confinement.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 398

    Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons

    This form tells someone that a lawsuit has been filed against them in federal court. It asks the person receiving it to sign a waiver so that the court does not have to formally serve them with a summons.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 399

    Waiver of the Service of Summons

    This form allows a defendant to agree to skip the formal process of being served with a lawsuit notice. By signing it, the defendant agrees to certain rules and must file a response or motion by a specific deadline.

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  • AO 440

    Summons in a Civil Action

    This form is a notice that a lawsuit has been started against someone in federal court. It tells the person being sued that they must file a response with the court within a certain number of days.

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  • AO 441

    Summons on Third-Party Complaint

    This form is a notice that a lawsuit has been filed against a person by another defendant, who is acting as a third-party plaintiff. It tells the person they must respond to the complaint or file a motion with the court within a certain number of days.

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  • JS 44

    Civil Cover Sheet

    This form is a Civil Cover Sheet used to start a civil case in federal court. It asks for basic information about the people involved, where they live, the legal basis for the lawsuit, and the general type of case.

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  • Pro Se 1

    Complaint for a Civil Case

    This form is a Complaint for a Civil Case used to start a lawsuit in the United States District Court. It asks the court to officially record the people involved, explain why the federal court has the power to hear the case, and state the facts and what the person filing wants the court to order.

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  • Pro Se 10

    Complaint for the Conversion of Property

    This form is a complaint used to start a lawsuit in federal court, specifically claiming that someone has wrongfully taken or changed property belonging to the filer. It asks the court to order specific damages or relief regarding the property.

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  • Pro Se 11

    Third Party Complaint

    This form is a Third-Party Complaint used in federal court to file a complaint against a third person. It asks the court to consider the relationship between the filer and the third-party defendant, and why the third-party defendant should be responsible for any money awarded to the original plaintiff.

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  • Pro Se 12

    Complaint for Interpleader and Declaratory Relief

    This form is a Complaint for Interpleader and Declaratory Relief, which is used to start a civil case in federal court. It asks the court to help sort out a dispute involving money or property among multiple parties.

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  • Pro Se 13

    Complaint for Review of Social Security Decision

    This form is used to start a case in federal court asking the judge to review a decision made by the Social Security Administration regarding disability or Supplemental Security Income. It asks the filer to explain why the court should change the Social Security decision.

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  • Pro Se 14

    Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights (Prisoner)

    This form is a Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights used by a prisoner to file a lawsuit in the United States District Court. It asks the court to hear claims that rights secured by the Constitution or federal laws were violated.

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  • Pro Se 15

    Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights (Non-Prisoner)

    This form is used to start a lawsuit in federal court when someone believes their civil rights have been violated by a person or government agency. It asks the filer to list the people being sued, explain the legal basis for the lawsuit, and describe the facts of the alleged violation.

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  • Pro Se 2

    Complaint and Request for Injunction

    This form is used to start a civil case in a United States District Court and asks the court for an injunction. It requires the filer to list all the people and organizations involved, explain why the federal court has the power to hear the case, and state the facts of the claim.

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  • Pro Se 4

    Complaint for a Civil Case Alleging Breach of Contract

    This form is used to start a civil case in the United States District Court when the claim is about a broken contract. It asks the filer to list the people or groups involved, explain why the federal court has the power to hear the case, describe the facts of the contract dispute, and state exactly what money or relief is being requested from the court.

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  • Pro Se 5

    Complaint for a Civil Case Alleging Negligence

    This form is used to start a civil case in federal court when the complaint alleges negligence. It asks the filer to provide details about the people involved, explain why the federal court has the power to hear the case, describe the facts of the alleged wrong, and state what the filer wants the court to order.

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  • Pro Se 6

    Complaint for a Civil Case Alleging that the Defendant Owes the Plaintiff a Sum of Money

    This form is used to start a civil case in the United States District Court when the person filing claims that another person or group owes them money. It asks the filer to provide details about everyone involved and explain the basis for the money owed.

    Fillable PDFWord
  • Pro Se 7

    Complaint for Employment Discrimination

    This form is a Complaint for Employment Discrimination used to start a civil case in federal court. It asks the court to hear claims that the filer believes they were treated unfairly in a job setting.

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  • Pro Se 8

    Complaint for Violations of Fair Labor Standards

    This form is a complaint used to start a case in federal court when someone believes their rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act have been violated. It asks the court to hear claims about wage issues.

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  • Pro Se 9

    Complaint for Specific Performance or Damages Based on a Contract to Convey Real Property

    This form is a complaint used to ask the court to make someone follow the terms of a contract related to real estate. It asks the filer to provide details about the people involved, the contract, and the property in question.

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  • Pro Se 3

    Defendant’s Answer to the Complaint

    This form is used by a defendant to formally respond to a complaint filed by a plaintiff in federal court. It asks the defendant to state whether they admit or deny the claims made in the complaint and to raise any defenses they have against those claims.

    Fillable PDFWord
  • AO 243

    Motion to Vacate/Set Aside Sentence (Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255)

    This form is a request to a federal court to cancel, change, or correct a sentence. It asks the person filling it out to provide details about the original conviction and sentence they are challenging.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 445

    Warrant for the Arrest of a Witness in a Civil Case

    This form is a court order telling law enforcement officers that they must arrest a witness who was supposed to appear in a civil case but did not show up. It also commands that the witness be held until the court gives permission to release them.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 85

    Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge

    This form is used to notify the court that a magistrate judge can handle all parts of a civil case, including a trial. It asks all involved parties to agree to let the magistrate judge take over the case.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 85A

    Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Dispositive Motion to a Magistrate Judge

    This form is a notice that tells everyone involved in a case that a magistrate judge can handle the final decisions on certain motions. It asks the parties to agree to let the magistrate judge handle the proceedings and make a final order.

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  • AO 88

    Subpoena to Appear and Testify at a Hearing or Trial in a Civil Action

    This form is a legal order that tells a person they must show up at a court hearing or trial to give testimony. It also explains that the person might be required to bring specific documents or items with them.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 88A

    Subpoena to Testify at a Deposition in a Civil Action

    This form is a legal order that tells a person they must appear at a specific time, date, and place to give testimony during a deposition in a civil case. It also tells the person what documents or items they must bring to the deposition.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 88B

    Subpoena to Produce Documents, Information, or Objects or to Permit Inspection of Premises in a Civil Action

    This form is a legal request, called a subpoena, that commands someone to provide specific documents, information, or objects, or to allow someone to look at a physical location. It also includes rules about how this request must be handled.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 450

    Judgment in a Civil Case

    This form is a court document used to officially record the final decision of a civil case. It states what the court has ordered regarding money owed or if the case is dismissed.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 451

    Clerk's Certification of a Judgment to be Registered in Another District

    This form is used by the court clerk to officially state that a judgment from this court is a copy of a judgment that was entered on a specific date. It also confirms that there are no pending motions listed in Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4)(A) and that the time to appeal has passed or any appeal filed is no longer pending.

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