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AO 240

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

Federal · United States Courts · Effective July 1, 2010

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.

Open the official PDFfrom United States Courts

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Stage: Start a case

This form is used when a person who is starting a case in the District Court cannot afford to pay the required fees and costs for the proceedings.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Common questions

Who should fill out this form?
The form is for a plaintiff or petitioner who is starting a case in the District Court and cannot pay the costs. Great care must be taken to answer all questions truthfully. Great care must be taken to answer all questions truthfully.
What information does this form ask for?
It asks for details about your income, if you are incarcerated, what assets you own, and what your regular monthly expenses are. It also asks about any people who depend on you for support.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect July 1, 2010.

Related forms

  • AO 239

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

    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.

    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.