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Filing Without an Attorney

When you do not have an attorney, you are proceeding "pro se." If you represent yourself in this court, you are called a "pro se litigant" or a "self-represented litigant." Pro se is a latin term meaning "on one's own behalf."

Pro Se Resources

Complaint for Violations of Civil Rights of a Federal Prisoner (Bivens Action)

This form is intended for use by a federal prisoner only and not for a "free citizen" who is NOT currently incarcerated.

  1. Instructions for Filing a Civil Action for Violation of Civil Rights (Bivens Action)
  2. Attachment A - Bivens Complaint Form
  3. Attachment B - Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Costs (LR Civ P 3.5)
  4. Attachment C - Consent to Collection of Fees from Trust Account
  5. Attachment D - Prisoner Trust Account Report
  6. Attachment E - Consent to Jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge

42 U.S.C. 1983 - Complaint by Prisoner Under Civil Rights Act

  1. Complaint by a Prisoner under Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983
  2. Instructions for Filing a Complaint by a Prisoner under Civil Rights Act, 32 U.S.C. § 1983 (Select the instructions for the appropriate divisions below)
  3. Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Costs (LR Civ P 3.5)
  4. Authorization to Release Institutional Account Information and to Pay Fee
  5. Explanation of Filing Fees and Proceedings Without Prepayment of Fees and Costs

28 U.S.C. 2241 - Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus by Person in State or Federal Custody

  1. Instructions for Filing an Application under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State or Federal Custody (Please substitute these instructions for completion of the 2241 form in the Southern District of West Virginia in lieu of the instructions that accompany the AO 242 form)
  2. Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus by a Person in State or Federal Custody Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (Do not use as a § 2254 or as a § 2255)
  3. Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Costs (LR Civ P 3.5)

28 U.S.C. 2254 - Petition for Relief from a Conviction or Sentence by a Person in State Custody

Please refer to the local instructions page in lieu of the AO-241 cover page.

  1. Petition for Relief from a Conviction or Sentence by a Person in State Custody (Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254)
  2. Instructions for Filing a Petition from a Conviction or Sentence by a Person in State Custody (Petition for a Writ o Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254) (Select the instructions for the appropriate division below)
  3. Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Costs (LR Civ P 3.5)

28 U.S.C. 2255 - Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody

Please refer to the local instruction page in lieu of the AO-243 cover page.

  1. Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody (Motion to Vacate/Set Aside Sentence Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255)
  2. Instructions for Filing a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody (Motion to Vacate/Set Aside Sentence Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255) (Select the instructions for the appropriate division below)
  3. Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Costs (LR Civ P 3.5)

18 U.S.C. 3582 - Motion for Modification of an Imposed Term or Sentence of Imprisonment

There are no prescribed forms for the Motion for Modification of an Imposed Term or Sentence of Imprisonment.