Form AO 154 is the substitution of attorney form published by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Titled "Consent Order Granting Substitution of Attorney," it gives notice, subject to the court's approval, that a new attorney takes over as counsel of record from an attorney who is withdrawing. It is used in cases before a United States District Court and carries the signatures of the party, the former attorney, the new attorney and the judge. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published at uscourts.gov.
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What is AO 154?
Form AO 154, Substitution of Attorney, is a consent order form of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. It records that a new attorney is substituted as counsel of record in place of one who is withdrawing, subject to approval by the court.
The form is captioned for a United States District Court, with the district, the plaintiff(s), the defendant(s) and the case number at the top. The body states that the named party substitutes the new attorney, identified by name and State Bar No., in place of the attorney(s) withdrawing appearance. It then asks for the new counsel's contact information: firm name, address, telephone, facsimile and an optional e-mail.
Three consent statements follow: the party consents to the substitution, the former attorney consents to being substituted, and the new attorney consents to the substitution. Each has a signature line and a date. The last block is the court's order, "The substitution of attorney is hereby approved and so ORDERED," with a date and a line for the judge.
The form carries its own note: a separate consent order of substitution must be filed by each new attorney wishing to enter an appearance. The printed edition is marked 10/03.
Who needs to file AO 154?
The form is used by the people it names in its signature blocks:
- A party (plaintiff or defendant) who is replacing the attorney who represents them in a case before a United States District Court. The party signs to consent to the substitution.
- The new attorney who will become counsel of record. The new attorney is identified by name and State Bar No., supplies firm contact details and signs a consent.
- The former attorney(s) withdrawing appearance, who sign to consent to being substituted.
- The judge, who approves and orders the substitution at the end of the form.
If more than one new attorney wishes to enter an appearance, the form's note requires a separate consent order of substitution from each of them. The form does not describe who may sign on behalf of a party who is not an individual or who may act as a representative, so it offers no rule on that point; its signature lines read "Signature of Party(s)," "Signature of Former Attorney(s)" and "Signature of New Attorney."
When to file AO 154
The triggering event is a change of counsel of record in a case pending in a U.S. District Court: the form is prepared when a new attorney is to take the place of an attorney who is withdrawing appearance. The form states that the notice is given subject to approval by the court, so the substitution takes effect through the judge's signed order at the bottom of the page rather than on the date the others sign. No separate due date is printed on the form. If several new attorneys will enter appearances, each one files his or her own consent order, as the form's note requires. Each signer dates their own consent line.
How to fill out AO 154
Enter the court and district
At the top, fill in the district after "District of" under UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.
Enter the parties and case number
Write the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s) in the caption and the CASE NUMBER next to them.
Name the party and the new attorney
In the notice sentence, enter the party name(s), then the name of the new attorney and the new attorney's State Bar No.
Name the withdrawing attorney
After "in place of," enter the name of the attorney(s) withdrawing appearance.
Add the new counsel's contact details
Complete Firm Name, Address, Telephone and Facsimile. E-Mail is marked optional.
Collect the party's consent
The party signs under "I consent to the above substitution" and enters the date.
Collect the former attorney's consent
The former attorney(s) sign under "I consent to being substituted" and enter the date.
Sign as the new attorney
The new attorney signs under the second "I consent to the above substitution" and enters the date.
Leave the judge's block blank
The approval line ("approved and so ORDERED"), its date and the Judge line are for the court to complete.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check names, State Bar No. and case number, and prepare one form per new attorney. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and take it to the court as described under How to submit.
How to submit AO 154
The form names no filing channel, address or portal of its own. What it does show is where it belongs: it is captioned for a United States District Court, identifies the district and carries the case number, and it ends with a line for the judge's approval and order. It is therefore directed to the court that is handling the case.
Before it goes to the court, gather the three consents: the party's signature, the former attorney's signature and the new attorney's signature, each with a date. The judge's approval and date are left for the court to complete. If more than one new attorney is entering an appearance, prepare one form for each, because the form requires a separate consent order from each new attorney.
The form prints no fee, so none is described here. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the court's own channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing one form for several new attorneys; the form's note requires a separate consent order of substitution from each new attorney wishing to enter an appearance.
- Leaving out the State Bar No. of the new attorney in the sentence that names the attorney substituting as counsel of record.
- Missing one of the three consent signatures: the party, the former attorney(s) and the new attorney each have their own signature and date line.
- Leaving the case number or the district blank, so the order cannot be tied to the case in the court caption.
- Signing or dating the judge's line; that block is the court's approval and order.
- Treating the substitution as effective once the parties sign; the notice is given subject to approval by the court.
- Omitting the new counsel's firm name, address, telephone or facsimile in the contact information block (only the e-mail is marked optional).
Frequently asked questions
What is a substitution of attorney?
A substitution of attorney replaces the counsel of record in a case with a new attorney. On Form AO 154 it is a consent order: the party, the former attorney and the new attorney each consent, and the judge approves and orders it.
Who has to sign Form AO 154?
Four signatures appear on the form: the party (or parties), the former attorney(s), the new attorney, and the judge. The first three each sign a consent line with a date; the judge's line is the approval and order.
Is the substitution effective as soon as everyone signs?
No. The form says the notice is given subject to approval by the court, and it ends with an order stating that the substitution is approved and so ORDERED, followed by a date and the judge's line.
Can one form cover two new attorneys?
No. A note printed on the form says a separate consent order of substitution must be filed by each new attorney wishing to enter an appearance, so prepare one form for each attorney.
Is the new attorney's e-mail required on Form AO 154?
No. In the contact information for new counsel, E-Mail is marked (Optional). Firm Name, Address, Telephone and Facsimile are the other lines in that block, and the new attorney's State Bar No. appears in the notice sentence.
Can I fill out Form AO 154 online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the form with any court; the form goes to the court handling your case.
Where do I file a substitution of attorney?
The form names no address or portal. It is captioned for a United States District Court, with the district and case number, so it goes to the court handling the case, with the judge's line left for the court to complete.
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