A GUIDE FOR SELF-REPRESENTATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. You are a pro se litigant if you are representing yourself without an attorney.
2. You are responsible for complying with the Rules of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (RCFC).
3. Several legal research sources are listed below under References, and a court provided guide is available for your review (A Guide for Self-Representation).
4. Employees of the court are not permitted to give you legal advice.
5. You are responsible for paying filing fees and copying fees in accordance with the court’s fee schedule. Checks or money orders should be made payable to "Clerk, U.S. Court of Federal Claims."
6. All communications to the court should be in writing and directed to the Clerk of Court at the address listed above. You should not contact the Judge or the chamber's staff.
7. All submissions to the court must comply with the format requirements of Rule 5.5. Submissions that do not conform to the court's rules, e.g., books, laminated documents, personal items, or unbound papers, as well as excessively voluminous documents, will be forwarded to an assigned judge for acceptance or rejection.
8. Before filing an action, consider the consequences of filing a frivolous lawsuit. Under limited circumstances the court may order the losing party to pay the attorney's fees and costs incurred by the prevailing party to defend the action.
9. You must promptly file with the clerk a notice of any change in address or contact information.

TO FILE A COMPLAINT

1. Refer to the Rules of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (RCFC).
2. Refer to the court provided A Guide for Self-Representation.
3. Complete and sign the Cover Sheet and attach it to the Complaint.
4. One copy of the Pro Se Complaint Form that includes an original signature is filed with the Clerk.
5. Filing Fee or Application to Proceed without Prepayment of Fees is filed with the Clerk.
6. Service of the Complaint upon the United States will be made by the Clerk of Court according to Rules of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (RCFC)

REFERENCES

Libraries:

Open to the Public for Research:
Court Library at 717 Madison Place, NW 2d Floor Washington, DC 20439 202-275-8411
University and Law School Libraries throughout the country; City and County Libraries throughout the country.

Dictionaries:

Blacks Law Dictionary
Ballentine's Law Dictionary

Websites:

The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association maintains a list of attorneys who practice before the court by their fields of practice: www.cfcbar.org
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: www.cafc.uscourts.gov
The Federal Circuit Bar Association: www.fedcirbar.org

FORMS

Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
Certificate of Service
Complaint Form
E-Notification Consent Form
Prisoner Authorization
Notice of Appeal Form
Notice of Change of Address