JS 44
Civil Cover Sheet
JS 44, Civil Cover Sheet, is a form from the U.S. Courts. The U.S. Courts list it under Civil Forms. The PDF is dated Rev. 03/24, and the page lists it as effective on July 23, 2026. The form says it was approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974 and is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet, so a civil cover sheet is submitted to the Clerk of Court for each civil complaint filed.
The first page asks for the parties, the basis of jurisdiction, the citizenship of principal parties in diversity cases, the nature of suit, the origin of the case, the cause of action, what is requested in the complaint and any related cases. The second page holds the instructions for attorneys completing the form. The form says the cover sheet neither replaces nor supplements the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as provided by local rules of court.
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.
Names of plaintiffs and defendants (last, first, middle initial), the county of residence of the first listed plaintiff, or of the first listed defendant in U.S. plaintiff cases, and the attorneys' firm name, address and phone.
One box for U.S. Government plaintiff, U.S. Government defendant, federal question or diversity, and for diversity cases the citizenship or place of incorporation of each principal party.
One box among codes grouped under Contract, Real Property, Torts, Civil Rights, Prisoner Petitions, Forfeiture/Penalty, Labor, Immigration, Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property Rights, Social Security, Federal Tax Suits and Other Statutes.
One box: original proceeding, removed from state court, remanded from appellate court, reinstated or reopened, transferred from another district, or multidistrict litigation by transfer or direct file.
The U.S. civil statute and a brief description of the cause, whether it is a class action under Rule 23, F.R.Cv.P., the dollar demand, and whether a jury is demanded.
Judge names and docket numbers of any related cases, then the date and the signature of the attorney of record, above a box for office use only.
Write names last name first. For an official within a government agency, the instructions say to identify the agency first and then the official, with name and title. Several attorneys go on an attachment, noted as (see attachment).
If more than one basis applies, the instructions give precedence in the order shown: the U.S. plaintiff or defendant box when the U.S. is a party, and federal question over diversity.
If several codes fit, the instructions say to pick the nature of suit code that is most applicable. The U.S. Courts page links the Nature of Suit Code Descriptions, a 10-page guide to each code.
Check one box. The form notes there is no origin code 7. For a remanded case it says to use the date of remand as the filing date, and for a reinstated or reopened case the reopening date.
Report the civil statute directly related to the cause and give a brief description. The form says not to cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity, and gives the example 47 USC 553, unauthorized reception of cable service.
Enter the actual dollar amount demanded or another demand such as a preliminary injunction, check jury demand yes only if demanded in the complaint, list any related cases, then date and sign.
You get the real form, filled in a browser tab, with nothing standing between you and the finished PDF.
The form says a civil cover sheet is submitted to the Clerk of Court for each civil complaint filed, for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet.
The form says the cover sheet neither replaces nor supplements the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as provided by local rules of court.
The form does not print a filing fee. Its For Office Use Only box has spaces for a receipt number, an amount and an IFP application.
The page links the Civil Nature of Suit Code Descriptions (Rev. 06/26). The guide says the statutes it lists are not all-inclusive and should be viewed as examples.
Pro Se 1
76 fields, 5 pages
AO 440
34 fields, 2 pages
AO 398
15 fields, 1 page
AO 121
45 fields, 1 page
AO 240
28 fields, 2 pages
AO 239
191 fields, 5 pages
The instructions on the form are written for attorneys. The form names these roles.
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No. The form says the cover sheet and the information in it neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as provided by local rules of court.
The instructions on page 2 are written for attorneys and say the attorney filing a case should complete the form. The form ends with the date and the signature of the attorney of record.
The instructions say to pick the nature of suit code that is most applicable. The U.S. Courts page links a Nature of Suit Code Descriptions guide that describes each code.
The form says origin code 7 was used for historical records and is no longer relevant due to changes in statute.
The instructions say Section III is completed if diversity of citizenship was indicated in Section II, and to mark it for each principal party.
The instructions say to enter the actual dollar amount being demanded or to indicate another demand, such as a preliminary injunction.
The PDF prints Rev. 03/24, and the U.S. Courts page lists the form as effective on July 23, 2026.
