When you represent yourself in a court case, you are proceeding “pro se,” which is a Latin term meaning “on one’s own behalf.” The right to appear pro se in federal civil cases is provided by 28 U.S.C. § 1654, but the following limitations apply:

• Corporations and partnerships must be represented by an attorney.
• A pro se litigant may not represent a class in a class action lawsuit.
• Other than to appeal the denial of a child’s social security benefits, a non-attorney parent may not appear pro se on behalf of a child.

We hope that the forms and information provided in the menus on this page are helpful, but they are not a substitute for legal advice from an experienced attorney. Furthermore, please be advised that the Clerk's Office and its employees are forbidden by law from giving legal advice such as interpreting rules or deadlines, recommending a course of action, predicting when a judge might rule, or interpreting the meaning or effect of a court order or judgment.

If you proceed pro se, you may also find the following links helpful:

• Your filings are subject to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Local Rules of this court.
• In addition to the forms available on our website here, you may find additional civil forms on the www.uscourts.gov website here.
• Once your case is filed, you may register to receive electronic notice of filings and court orders entered in your case by completing the Non-Prisoner Pro Se Consent to Receive Electronic Notice.