The forms provided are examples of typical pleadings in civil cases filed by prisoners and documents required for service of process. A complaint is the document that a plaintiff files to begin a lawsuit. It contains a clear statement of the important facts underlying the plaintiff’s claims and states the legal cause(s) of action. An answer is a document filed by a defendant in response to the allegations made in the plaintiff’s complaint. Using a form does not guarantee that what you file will be legally or factually sufficient. The forms are not a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.
The forms below and others you may find helpful are provided by the United States Courts and are available HERE:
CASE INITIATING FORMS - ORGANIZED BY CASE TYPE
CIVIL RIGHTS (PRISONER)
- Information Sheet - How to Begin a Prisoner Civil Rights Action
- Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights—Prisoner
- Civil Cover Sheet (required)
- Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs ("IFP Application") (optional)
SECTION 2241 ACTIONS (PRISONER)
- Information Sheet - How to Begin a Section 2241 Action
- Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241
- Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs ("IFP Application") (optional)
SECTION 2254 ACTIONS (PRISONER)
- Information Sheet - How to Begin a Section 2254 Action
- Petition for Relief From a Conviction or Sentence by a Person in State Custody Under 28 U.S.C. § 2254
- Application to Proceed in District Court Without Prepaying Fees or Costs ("IFP Application") (optional)
SECTION 2255 ACTIONS (PRISONER)
- Information Sheet - How to Begin a Section 2255 Action
- Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct a Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255
SERVICE OF PROCESS DOCUMENTS
- Information Sheet - Service of Process in Prisoner Civil Rights Cases
- Summons in a Civil Action (required for service of process on defendants)
- U.S. Marshal Form 285 - Process Receipt and Return (to be completed only if IFP Application is granted)
OTHER CASE-RELATED FORMS
ANSWER TO COMPLAINT (PRO SE DEFENDANT)
- Information Sheet - For Pro Se Defendants: I've Been Sued. Now What?
- Defendant’s Answer to the Complaint
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE USE OF FORMS
A form complaint may ask for more or less information than what the court requires. You should consult the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules of the Middle District of Tennessee, and the laws that apply to your particular case to make sure you understand what information is required.
These forms do not cover all of the different types of claims or defenses that you may need to make in your case. They also do not cover all of the types of filings that you may need to make. They are general examples only. Be careful to use the form that fits your case and change the information that the form asks for as needed.
The forms do not give guidance on when certain filings have to be raised in your case. They do not tell you who should be sued as a defendant to your claims. Some filings have to be made by certain deadlines that are set by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Local Rules of this court, and the substantive law of your case. There are also limits on who can be sued and when defendants have to be named in a particular case. You should consult the applicable rules and law to learn the deadlines and other limits that apply to your case.
Everything you file with the court will be included in the electronic docket of your case and will be available to the public. For that reason, you should consult Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2, which addresses privacy concerns. Under that rule, nothing you file with the court should include anyone’s full Social Security Number or birth date, the name of a minor, or a complete financial account number. You may identify minors by their initials and include the last four digits of a Social Security Number or other account number.
Computer terminals are available for use by pro se litigants in Suite 1300 in the Clerk’s Office, located on the first floor of the U.S. Courthouse, 719 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee. The Clerk’s Office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.
NOTHING ON THIS PAGE IS INTENDED AS LEGAL ADVICE OR TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL COUNSEL OF A LAWYER.