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AO 239

Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Long Form)

Federal · United States Courts · Effective January 1, 2015

This form is an application used to ask the court to allow someone to continue a case without having to pay the required fees or costs upfront. It asks the person to provide detailed financial information about themselves and their spouse.

Open the official PDFfrom United States Courts

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Stage: Start a case

This form is used by a plaintiff or petitioner who believes they cannot afford to pay the costs associated with court proceedings.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Common questions

Who should fill out this form?
The form states that the plaintiff or petitioner is the one who declares they are unable to pay the costs and fills out the application.
What kind of information does it ask for?
It asks for detailed information about monthly income from various sources, employment history, assets owned, and estimated monthly expenses for both people involved.
Is there a fee associated with filing this?
The form is an application to *avoid* paying fees, but it requires the filer to complete all questions and sign it.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2015.

Related forms

  • AO 240

    Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Short Form)

    This form is an application used by a plaintiff or petitioner to ask the court to allow them to continue with a case without having to pay upfront fees or costs. The form asks the applicant to answer questions about their income, assets, and expenses.

    Fillable PDF
  • AO 240A

    Order to Proceed Without Prepaying Fees or Costs

    This form is an order that decides whether a person can start a case without paying the required filing fees or costs upfront. It states what actions the court clerk and the United States marshal must take based on the judge's decision.