Free Instructions for Filing of a Civil Complaint and Request to Proceed In Forma Pauperis - District of Columbia

Rev. 4/06 NP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING A CIVIL COMPLAINT (NON-PRISONER)
The filing fee to file a new civil case is $350.00. If you cannot afford to pay the filing fee, you may ask the Court to permit you to proceed without prepayment of costs. To do this, you must complete and sign the attached Application to Proceed without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit, and submit it with your original complaint. 0 0 The name of this Court must be written at the top of the first page of your complaint. (Sample format attached). Pursuant to our Local Rules, your name, address and telephone number must appear in the caption. A Post Office Box is insufficient as an address, unless you file a separate motion asking the Court to permit such an address. All defendants must be named in the caption. The use of et al. is not permitted as the rules require you to name each defendant. Please provide the address of each named defendant. The word COMPLAINT must appear under the caption. Clearly set out your grievance in the body of the complaint, name those against whom you have a grievance, and what you would like the Court to do to correct the situation. Your complaint must be legibly handwritten or typed on white, letter-size (8 1/2 x 11 inch) paper. Write only on the front of each page. Your complaint must be double-spaced. If you are requesting a jury trial, the jury demand must be stated in your complaint. You must originally sign your complaint in ink. You must file the originally signed complaint, as well as the originally signed Application to Proceed without Prepayment of Fees, if applicable. DO NOT SEND BOTH THE FILING FEE AND THE APPLICATION TO PROCEED WITHOUT PREPAYMENT OF FEES, only one or the other. Preparation of the summons will be the responsibility of the Clerk's Office, upon direction of the Judge. Please allow approximately 4-6 weeks for approval of the Application to Proceed without Prepayment of Fees. Written notice will be mailed.. Please mail your complaint and all other appropriate documents to: U.S. District Court Clerk's Office, 333 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 1225, Washington, DC 20001.

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NANCY MAYER-WHITTINGTON, CLERK