(a) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this rule:
(1) “IFP petition” means a petition for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, i.e., without
prepayment of prescribed fees.
(2) “Financial affidavit” means the form of affidavit of financial status prescribed by the
Court.
(b) Prepayment Required. Any document submitted for filing for which a filing fee is required
must be accompanied either by the appropriate fee or an IFP petition. Not withstanding this
provision, the clerk will file any document including a complaint in a civil action, a notice of
appeal, or other document for which a filing fee is prescribed, without prepayment, but such filings
shall be subject to the sanctions set forth in section (f) of this Rule.
(c) Filing in forma pauperis. The IFP petition and the financial affidavit shall be filed and
assigned to a judge. The complaint shall be stamped received as of the date presented. The clerk
shall promptly forward the IFP petition and all other papers to the judge to whom it is assigned.
(d) Date of filing. If the judge grants the IFP petition, the complaint shall be filed as of the date of
the judge’s order except that where the complaint must be filed within a time limit and the order
granting leave to file is entered after the expiration of that time limit, the complaint shall be
deemed to have been filed:
(1) in the case of any plaintiff in custody, as of the time of the plaintiff’s delivery of the
complaint to the custodial authorities for transmittal to the court; or
(2) in the case of any other plaintiff, as of the time the complaint was received by the clerk.
(e) Disposition of the IFP petition. In addition to granting or denying an IFP petition, the judge
may order the payment of a partial filing fee when the plaintiff’s financial circumstances so
warrant.
(f) Notice of fees due; sanctions. Upon denial of an IFP petition, the clerk shall notify the plaintiff
of the amount of fees due. If the required fees are not paid within 15 days of the date of such
notification, or within such other time as may be fixed by the court, the clerk shall notify the judge
before whom the matter is pending of the nonpayment. The court may then apply such sanctions as
it determines necessary including dismissal of the action.
(g) Service of Summonses by United States Marshal. Where an order is entered granting the IFP
petition, that order shall, unless otherwise ordered by the court, stand as authority for the United
States Marshal to serve summonses without prepayment of the required fees. Amended 03/29/18
