The In Forma Pauperis (Pauper Application) is the affidavit that the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court publishes for the 24th Judicial District Court. A litigant uses it to ask the court's permission to bring or defend a lawsuit without paying costs in advance or as they accrue, and without furnishing security. It combines a financial questionnaire, a sworn Mover's Affidavit, a Third Party Affidavit, a Legal Service Programs' Declaration and a proposed Order for the judge. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the Clerk of Court at jeffparishclerk.gov.
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What is In Forma Pauperis Affidavit – Jefferson Parish 24th JDC PDF?
The In Forma Pauperis (Pauper Application) is a four-page affidavit, published by the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court, on which a litigant asks the 24th Judicial District Court to let a lawsuit go forward without paying costs in advance or furnishing security.
The form is captioned for the 24th Judicial District Court, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, with a docket number and division. It has these parts:
- In Forma Pauperis Affidavit (questions 1 to 12): identity, household, employment, income, assets, monthly expenses, outside help with expenses and any attorney fee arrangements.
- Mover's Affidavit: the applicant swears before a notary public that the information is true and that he or she cannot pay the costs of court or provide security.
- Third Party Affidavit: a witness swears before a notary that he or she knows the applicant and that the applicant cannot pay the costs.
- Legal Service Programs' Declaration: completed by a representative of a Legal Services Program funded by the Legal Service Corporation, or of a Pro Bono Project that receives its referrals.
- Order: signed by the district judge under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Article 5181, et. seq.
The form's Notice warns that being allowed to proceed this way does not relieve you of the obligation to pay costs if judgment is rendered against you. The Clerk of Court's forms page adds that its forms are samples intended for qualified notaries or attorneys, and that Clerk employees cannot give legal advice or help complete them.
Who needs to file In Forma Pauperis Affidavit – Jefferson Parish 24th JDC PDF?
A litigant in a case in the 24th Judicial District Court, Jefferson Parish, who cannot pay the costs of court in advance or as they accrue, and who cannot furnish security, uses this form to ask to prosecute or defend the case without doing so.
The form itself sets these conditions:
- The privilege is restricted to litigants who are clearly entitled to it, with regard to the nature of the proceeding, the court costs and the litigant's ability to pay them or furnish security.
- A client of a Legal Services Program funded by the Legal Service Corporation, or of a Pro Bono Project that receives its referrals, whose combined income from questions 7 and 8 is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, skips all parts of question 9 and continues with question 10.
- Anyone seeking protection from abuse should not fill in questions 2 and 3 (address and telephone).
- If you are married and live with a spouse, you also answer question 8(a) about your spouse.
A third person who knows you well completes the Third Party Affidavit, and a notary public must witness the sworn parts.
When to file In Forma Pauperis Affidavit – Jefferson Parish 24th JDC PDF
Complete the form when you are starting or defending a lawsuit in the 24th Judicial District Court and need permission to proceed without paying costs in advance or as they accrue. The Mover's Affidavit says the information is furnished to the court for the purpose of requesting that permission for "the above captioned lawsuit", so the form belongs with that case and its docket number. No separate filing deadline is printed on it. The Order is signed by the district judge, who decides whether you may proceed under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, Article 5181, et. seq. The form's Notice states that you still owe the costs if judgment is rendered against you.
Documents you need
- Mover's Affidavit: your signature must be sworn and subscribed before a notary public, as printed on page 3 of the form.
- Third Party Affidavit: a witness who knows you swears before a notary public that you cannot pay court costs or provide bond.
- Legal Service Programs' Declaration: only if a representative of a Legal Services Program funded by the Legal Service Corporation, or a Pro Bono Project it refers to, attests that you receive public assistance or qualify at or below 125% of the federal poverty level.
How to fill out In Forma Pauperis Affidavit – Jefferson Parish 24th JDC PDF
Complete the caption
At the top of page 1, enter the case names, the docket number and the division for the 24th Judicial District Court, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
Enter your personal details
Question 1: full name, Social Security Number (optional), date of birth, age and sex. Questions 2 and 3: address and home and work telephone numbers, unless you are seeking protection from abuse, in which case leave them blank.
Answer student and household questions
Question 4: mark YES or NO for student status and give the school and enrollment status if yes. Question 5: mark your household status, the number of children you support under 18, how many live with you, and the name, age and relationship of each child and dependent.
Give employment information
Question 6: enter your occupation, whether you are employed, and your employer's name, address, telephone number and length of employment. If you are not employed, give your last employer, how long you have been unemployed and your monthly wages.
Calculate your monthly income
Question 7: enter gross earned income and how you are paid, other monthly income, the monthly deductions in 7(c) and 7(d), then TOTAL NET MONTHLY INCOME (7(a) plus 7(b), less 7(c)).
Answer spouse and benefit questions
Question 8(a), if you are married and live with a spouse: employment, occupation, pay and employer details. Question 8(b): mark YES or NO for the listed benefits and support and enter the monthly amount for each.
List assets and monthly expenses
Question 9: list your interests with value and balance owed, bank account details and total value of assets, then monthly expenses in sections i, ii and iii and TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES. Skip question 9 only if the legal services exception printed above it applies.
Answer questions 10 to 12
Question 10: say whether anyone regularly helps pay your expenses and whether you have other income or assets, explaining any yes. Question 11: describe attorney fee arrangements and what you paid. Question 12: mark YES or NO.
Complete the affidavits and declaration
Enter the parish and the affiant's name in the Mover's Affidavit, and sign it before a notary public. Have a witness complete the Third Party Affidavit; a Legal Services Program or Pro Bono Project representative completes the Declaration only if it applies.
Review and download the PDF
Check every answer, the totals and the docket number. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF; the notary and, on the Order, the district judge sign it afterward.
How to submit In Forma Pauperis Affidavit – Jefferson Parish 24th JDC PDF
The form names no mailing address, portal or appointment process; it is submitted to the 24th Judicial District Court for the lawsuit shown in its caption, with the docket number and division filled in.
- Before you submit: answer every question, sign the Mover's Affidavit in front of a notary public, and have the Third Party Affidavit sworn before a notary. Add the Legal Service Programs' Declaration only if a Legal Services Program or Pro Bono Project representative attests for you.
- The Order: the district judge signs the Order at the bottom of page 4; you do not sign it.
- Where to ask: the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court publishes the form at https://jeffparishclerk.gov/forms/. Its page says Clerk employees cannot give legal advice or help complete forms, and that documents must be submitted with the appropriate fees; see the Clerk's Fees page for what applies.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the court's and the Clerk of Court's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving questions blank: the form states that all questions must be answered in full, and question 11 on attorney fee arrangements says you are required to answer fully.
- Filling in questions 2 and 3 (address and telephone) when you are seeking protection from abuse; the form says not to.
- Signing the Mover's Affidavit without a notary public present, so the sworn and subscribed block is not completed.
- Skipping all of question 9 when you are not a legal services or pro bono client at or below 125% of the federal poverty level.
- Assuming that being allowed to proceed in forma pauperis cancels your costs; the Notice says you must still pay them if judgment is rendered against you.
- Miscalculating TOTAL NET MONTHLY INCOME in question 7; the form says to add 7(a) and 7(b) and subtract 7(c).
- Leaving question 12 unanswered about whether your attorney or the notary told you that you may go to jail for an intentional false answer.
- Not entering the docket number and division in the caption at the top of page 1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the In Forma Pauperis (Pauper Application) in Jefferson Parish?
It is the affidavit published by the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court on which a litigant asks the 24th Judicial District Court to let a lawsuit proceed without paying costs in advance or furnishing security. It includes sworn affidavits and an Order for the judge.
Does being granted in forma pauperis status mean I never pay court costs?
No. The form's Notice says that if judgment is rendered against you, your status as a pauper does not relieve you of the obligation to pay the costs. The privilege only lets you proceed without prepaying them.
Does the In Forma Pauperis affidavit have to be notarized?
Yes, the sworn parts do. The Mover's Affidavit and the Third Party Affidavit each end with a block sworn and subscribed before a notary public in a Louisiana parish, so do not sign them before the notary is present.
What if I am seeking protection from abuse?
Do not fill in questions 2 and 3, the address and telephone number. The form notes these two questions should be left blank if you are seeking protection from abuse. Answer the remaining questions in full.
Who can skip question 9 on the pauper form?
A client of a Legal Services Program funded by the Legal Service Corporation, or of a Pro Bono Project that receives its referrals, whose combined income from questions 7 and 8 is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, skips all of question 9 and continues with question 10.
Can I fill out the Jefferson Parish pauper form online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file it with the court; notarization and submission follow the court's and the Clerk of Court's channels.
Can Clerk of Court staff help me complete the form?
No. The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court's forms page says its forms are samples for qualified notaries or attorneys and that Clerk employees are prohibited from providing legal advice or assistance with completing any form.
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