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CJA 23
Financial Affidavit
- Agency
- U.S. Courts
- Revision
- Rev. 03/21
- Fillable fields
- 71
- Pages
- 1
- Official source
- U.S. Courts form page
- Checked
- October 20, 2026
CJA 23: Financial Affidavit
CJA 23, Financial Affidavit, is a Criminal Justice Act (CJA) form from the U.S. Courts. The PDF titles it a financial affidavit in support of request for attorney, expert, or other services without payment of fee. The U.S. Courts list it under CJA Forms. The PDF is dated Rev 3/21, and the page lists it as effective on March 29, 2021.
The one-page form names the court, the case, the person represented and the charge, then asks questions about ability to pay: employment, property, cash and bank accounts, the number of people supported, and monthly bills and debts. It ends with a certification under penalty of perjury signed by the defendant or person seeking representation. The U.S. Courts page says the CJA Form 23 is not a required statutory form but an administrative tool used to assist the court in appointing counsel.
This page explains the form in plain words and is not legal advice. You can fill it out free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.
What's on CJA 23
Person represented and charge
The person's full name, one of nine numbered roles, and the charge or offense, described if applicable, with a felony or misdemeanor box.
Employment
Whether the person has a job, how much they earn per month, and whether they will still have a job after this arrest (yes, no or unknown).
Property, cash and bank accounts
The approximate value, description and amount owed for a home, a car, truck or vehicle, a boat, stocks or bonds and other property, and whether there is cash or money in savings or checking accounts, with the total approximate amount after monthly expenses.
Obligations, expenses and debts
How many people the person financially supports, then a monthly expense and a total debt for housing, groceries, medical expenses, utilities, credit cards, vehicle, childcare, child support, insurance, loans, fines and other.
Certification
A certification under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct, with the signature of the defendant (or person seeking representation) and the date.
How to fill out CJA 23
- 1
Fill in the court and case
Check the court box, then fill in the location, the case name and any docket numbers that are known.
- 2
Name the person represented
Show the full name, as the form asks, check the numbered box for the person's role, and describe the charge if applicable with the felony or misdemeanor box.
- 3
Answer the ability to pay questions
Answer the job questions, list any property with its approximate value and amount owed, and say whether there is cash or money in bank accounts.
- 4
List bills and debts
Enter the number of people supported, then the monthly expense and total debt on the bills and debts lines.
- 5
Sign and date
The defendant or person seeking representation signs and dates the certification, which is made under penalty of perjury.
Why fill Form CJA 23 on indox
You get the real form, filled in a browser tab, with nothing standing between you and the finished PDF.
- Fill the form right in your browser, no software to install
- Free to fill and free to download, with no account
- The official blank straight from the U.S. Courts, not a copy someone retyped
- Works on a phone, tablet or computer
Where it goes, privacy and questions
Where it goes
The form is captioned for a United States district court, court of appeals or other court. The U.S. Courts page says the magistrate judge or the court appoints counsel if satisfied, after appropriate inquiry, that the person is financially unable to obtain counsel.
Fees
The form does not print a fee. It supports a request for an attorney, expert or other services without payment of fee.
Privacy and sealing
The page says that under Judicial Conference policy, financial affidavits seeking appointment of counsel should not be in the public case file or available to the public at the courthouse or by remote electronic access, and if docketed should be filed under seal.
Self-incrimination concerns
The page says that when a colorable claim is made that disclosure to the government would be self-incriminating, the court may not adopt an unconditional requirement that the defendant complete the CJA 23 first. It describes an in camera examination with the affidavit sealed as one approach courts have taken.
Questions
The page lists the Defender Services Office, Legal and Policy Division at 202-502-3030 for questions on the use of the form or instructions.
Related forms
CJA 20
Appointment of and Authority to Pay Court-Appointed Counsel
149 fields, 1 page
CJA 22
Statement of Parolee or Mandatory Releasee Concerning Appointment of Counsel Under the Criminal Justice Act
26 fields, 1 page
CJA 7
Order Terminating Appointment of Counsel and/or Authorization for Distribution of Available Private Funds
25 fields, 1 page
CJA 24
Authorization and Voucher for Payment of Transcript
74 fields, 1 page
CJA 21
Authorization and Voucher for Expert and Other Services
69 fields, 1 page
Who uses CJA 23?
The form and the U.S. Courts page name these people.
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Questions about Form CJA 23
Is CJA 23 a required form?
The U.S. Courts page says the CJA Form 23 is not a required statutory form. It calls it an administrative tool used to assist the court in appointing counsel.
Who decides whether counsel is appointed?
The page says determining eligibility for representation under the CJA is a judicial function, and the magistrate judge or the court appoints counsel if satisfied, after appropriate inquiry, that the person is financially unable to obtain counsel. This page cannot say whether anyone qualifies.
What standard does the U.S. Courts page describe?
The page says counsel must be appointed if the person is "financially unable to obtain counsel," citing 18 U.S.C. §3006A(b), and that indigency is not the standard under the Criminal Justice Act. It lists the cost of necessities of life for the person and dependents, the cost of securing pretrial release, asset encumbrance and the likely cost of retained counsel as considerations.
Does family income count?
The page says the initial determination of eligibility is made without regard to the financial ability of the person's family to retain counsel, unless the family indicates willingness and ability to do so promptly.
Is a completed CJA 23 public?
The page says that under Judicial Conference policy, financial affidavits seeking appointment of counsel should not be included in the public case file or made available to the public, and that a docketed affidavit should be filed under seal.
What does the signature certify?
The form says: "I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct." It is signed by the defendant or person seeking representation, with the date.
Who answers questions about CJA 23?
The U.S. Courts page lists the Defender Services Office, Legal and Policy Division at 202-502-3030 for questions on the use of the form or instructions.