✔ This tool guides you through the process of filling out the Louisiana "Fee Delayer" or In Forma Pauperis form (preview it here). Sometimes it is called the "IFP" form. Only people making at or under 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are presumed to qualify (we'll help you calculate). If you have a lot of items like cash or stock, the court will probably deny your request.

✔ When you're done, you'll have a completed form that you can download, print, and will need to sign in front of a notary. You'll also get a short set of instructions to help you finish it up.

✔ Ordinarily, a person who can afford it has to pay fees each step of the way in a court suit. But everyone has the right to use the court regardless of their income or ability to pay.

✔ The Fee Delayer form asks the court to let you file lawsuit-related documents without paying the filing fee upfront.

❌ You could still be responsible for paying fees. The court will decide after considering the case. Usually, the losing side pays the costs, but a judge can split the costs if they feel that is fair.

To get started, you'll need to know:

• Your monthly income and deductions from your paycheck (find a paystub!),
• Your spouse's monthly income before taxes,
• How much you receive per month in public benefits like TANF, Unemployment, etc.,
• The value of your assets like your car, truck, or home (and how much currently you owe),
• Your monthly expenses like rent, utilities, childcare, and household supplies, and
• Monthly payments you make on loans or credit cards

If you're responding to a lawsuit against you, go ahead and find the papers you were served. You'll need some information from those documents.

The IFP is a pretty long form. Filling it out can take from 30 minutes to 1 hour. But don't worry, you can save your work and come back!

To save your work at any time, click "Continue Later" and add your email address. You'll get an email with a link to your session with all of your progress.

We collect all of the information required to complete the IFP form. This includes your personal information, income, assets, expenses, and debts, and other information about the court case you're filing this form with. Your information will never be shared with third parties unless you send it to them from this tool.

If you choose to email the document to yourself or someone else, make sure it's a secure address.

For more detail, visit the Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.