Legal Help Center Templates & Packets
The templates and packets on this page have been developed for people without lawyers by the Justice & Diversity Center (JDC); the JDC templates are organized into packets that include instructions.
- The Legal Help Centers have available many additional templates that are not posted here. You are encouraged to visit the Legal Help Centers for legal advice, for assistance with templates and to obtain additional templates.
- A selection of official court forms often used by people without lawyers is at the bottom of this page. To view all official court forms used in civil cases of all kinds, visit the Civil Forms page.
- Official court forms for prisoners are listed on the Forms for Prisoners page.
- The Court's Pro Se Handbook provides an overview of procedures in this federal court and provides some context for understanding how and when the templates on this page are used: view Pro Se Handbook.
Legal Help Center Templates & Packets
 |
Answer packet (.pdf, 87 KB) (respond to a lawsuit) |
|
Bankruptcy Appeal Designation of Record & Statement of Issues (.pdf, 230 KB) |
 |
Blank Declaration (.doc, 45 KB) |
|
Blank Pleading Paper (.doc, 41 KB) |
|
Case Management Statement packet (.pdf, 166 KB) (must be submitted before you attend your Case Management Conference) |
|
Certificate of Service for Non-Pleadings (.pdf, 35 KB) |
|
Complaint Packet (.pdf, 148 KB) (to start a lawsuit) |
|
Initial Disclosures packet (.pdf, 155 KB) (exchange initial information with the other parties in the lawsuit) |
|
Interrogatory packet (.pdf, 148 KB) (to request answers from another party to questions that you have regarding the lawsuit) |
|
Legal Research Guide for Pro Se Litigants (.pdf, 504 KB) |
|
Motion for Permission for Electronic Case Filing and Proposed Order (.pdf, 67 KB) (request permission from the Court to use the electronic filing system to file documents in your case) |
|
Motion packet (.pdf, 198 KB) (ask the court to do something, for example: dismiss the complaint) |
|
Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment (.pdf, 276 KB) (challenge another party's motion for summary judgment) |
|
Opposition to Motion packet (.pdf, 190 KB) (if you want to oppose another party's motion, for example a motion to dismiss your case) |
|
Reply Brief packet (.pdf, 151 KB) (after the other side has opposed your motion, use this form for further support of your motion) |
|
Request for Documents packet (.pdf, 148 KB) (request documents from other parties in the lawsuit) |
|
Request to Continue Hearing or Deadline for Filing packet (.pdf, 137 KB) (ask the court to change a hearing date or ask for an extension, for example: to file a document that is due) |
|
Voluntary dismissal packet (.pdf, 127 KB) (to voluntarily dismiss your case if you are the plaintiff) |
Official Court Forms
- JS 44 Civil Cover Sheet (.pdf)
- AO 398 Notice of a Lawsuit and Request to Waive Service of a Summons (.pdf)
- AO 399 Waiver of Service of Summons (.pdf)
- AO 440 Summons in a Civil Action (.pdf)
- Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (non prisoner case only) (.pdf)
- Employment Discrimination Complaint Interactive (.pdf)
- Social Security Review (.pdf)
- Magistrate Judge Consent/Declination Form (.pdf)
- AO 133 Bill of Costs (.pdf)
- Notice of Appeal (.pdf)