What is a civil cover sheet (form JS 44), and how do I fill it out?

This page is general information about how the form works. It is not legal advice about your case.

The civil cover sheet in short

• The federal form is the JS 44 Civil Cover Sheet. The official copy is on the U.S. Courts website at uscourts.gov.
• Its instructions say a cover sheet “is submitted to the Clerk of Court for each civil complaint filed.”
• It is usually filed at the start of the case, together with the complaint.
• It asks about the parties, jurisdiction, the type of case, where it came from, and what the complaint requests.
• The form says itself that it does not replace or add to the papers the law requires.
• Some federal district courts post their own version of the JS 44, and state courts often have a completely different form.

What is a civil cover sheet?

A civil case usually starts with a complaint. Under the federal rules, “A civil action is commenced by filing a complaint with the court.” (Fed. R. Civ. P. 3.) A complaint is the document that tells the court who is being sued and why.

The cover sheet travels with the complaint and gives the clerk the basic facts in one place. The top of the official JS 44 explains its purpose: “The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein 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. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet.”

In plain words, it is a tool for the clerk’s office. Local rules are the extra rules each court adopts for itself (see what local rules are), so check yours for anything they add about the cover sheet.

Who files the civil cover sheet, and when?

The person starting the case in that court files it. Usually that is the plaintiff, the person bringing the lawsuit, and it goes in with the complaint. The form also has boxes for cases that reach the court another way, such as a case moved (removed) from state court. In those cases, ask the clerk who files the cover sheet and when.

The official instructions are titled “Instructions for Attorneys Completing Civil Cover Sheet Form JS 44.” If you have no lawyer, ask the clerk’s office how your court wants the attorney and signature boxes filled in. Clerk’s office staff generally cannot give legal advice, but many can explain how their own forms work.

Where do I get the JS 44 form?

The official form is on the U.S. Courts website, on the Civil Cover Sheet page. When this guide was checked (October 27, 2026), that page showed the form as “Effective on July 23, 2026,” and the PDF it links to is marked “JS 44 (Rev. 03/24).” The PDF is two pages: the form, then a page of instructions. The same web page links a separate list called Nature of Suit Code Descriptions.

Some district courts post their own version. If yours does, that is the one the clerk expects.

How do I fill out the civil cover sheet?

1. Get the current form. Use the official JS 44 on the U.S. Courts Civil Cover Sheet page, or your district court’s own version if it posts one.
2. Read the instructions page. Page two of the PDF explains each section of the form.
3. Fill in sections I through VIII. The parties, the basis of jurisdiction, citizenship (only when Diversity is marked), the nature of suit code, the origin, the cause of action, what the complaint requests, and any related case. Each section is explained below.
4. Date and sign it. “Date and sign the civil cover sheet,” say the instructions. If you have no lawyer, ask the clerk’s office how your court wants the attorney and signature boxes filled in.
5. Submit it with the complaint. The instructions say a cover sheet “is submitted to the Clerk of Court for each civil complaint filed.”

What does each section of the civil cover sheet ask?

The form has eight numbered sections plus a signature line. Here is what each one asks for. The official instructions on page two explain each section in more detail.

I. Plaintiffs and defendants

(a) The names of the parties. The instructions say to enter names “last, first, middle initial.” If a party is a government agency, the instructions say to use “only the full name or standard abbreviations.” If a party is an official inside an agency, they say to name the agency first and then the official, with name and title. (b) County of residence. In most cases this is the county where the first listed plaintiff lives at the time of filing. In cases where the United States is the plaintiff, it is the first listed defendant’s county. In land condemnation cases, the form says to use the location of the land involved. (c) Attorneys. The name, address and phone number of the attorney of record, and of the other side’s attorney if known.

II. Basis of jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is the court’s power to hear a type of case. The form asks for one box: (1) U.S. Government Plaintiff, (2) U.S. Government Defendant, (3) Federal Question, or (4) Diversity. The instructions describe box 3 as cases where jurisdiction “arises under the Constitution of the United States, an amendment to the Constitution, an act of Congress or a treaty of the United States.” They describe box 4 as cases “where parties are citizens of different states.” They also say “precedence is given in the order shown” when more than one could apply.

III. Citizenship of principal parties

The instructions say this section “is to be completed if diversity of citizenship was indicated above.” It asks for one box for the plaintiff and one for the defendant. The choices are:

• citizen of this state
• citizen of another state
• citizen or subject of a foreign country
• a company that is incorporated or has its principal place of business in this state
• a company that is incorporated and has its principal place of business in another state
• foreign nation

A principal place of business is a company’s main office.

IV. Nature of suit

A grid of three-digit codes grouped under headings like Contract, Torts, Civil Rights and Prisoner Petitions. Two examples from the form are 440 Other Civil Rights and 190 Other Contract. The form says to place an X in one box only. The instructions add, “If there are multiple nature of suit codes associated with the case, pick the nature of suit code that is most applicable.” The Nature of Suit Code Descriptions list on uscourts.gov explains what each code covers.

V. Origin

Where the case came from. The boxes are Original Proceeding, Removed from State Court, Remanded (sent back) from Appellate Court, Reinstated or Reopened, Transferred from Another District, and two kinds of multidistrict litigation (many similar cases from different districts handled together). The instructions describe box 1 as “Cases which originate in the United States district courts,” and note, “PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NOT AN ORIGIN CODE 7.”

VI. Cause of action

The form asks for the U.S. civil statute the case is filed under and a short description of the claim. Which statute fits is a legal question about your case; the form only records the answer that is already in your complaint. The form also says, “Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity.” A jurisdictional statute is a law that gives a court power to hear a type of case, as opposed to the law the claim is based on. The instructions give an example: “U.S. Civil Statute: 47 USC 553 Brief Description: Unauthorized reception of cable service.”

VII. Requested in complaint

A box for a class action, a case brought for a large group of people (the form points to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure). A “Demand” space for the dollar amount demanded, or another request such as a preliminary injunction, a court order to stop something while the case goes on. And a jury demand, where the form says to check yes “only if demanded in complaint.”

VIII. Related cases, and the signature

The form labels this section “IF ANY,” so it is only for cases that have a related case. It asks for the related case’s docket number and the judge’s name. Then comes the date and signature: “Date and sign the civil cover sheet,” say the instructions. The bottom strip marked “For Office Use Only” is for the clerk.

Does the civil cover sheet replace the complaint?

No. The form says it does not “replace nor supplement” the pleadings the law requires. A pleading is a formal paper that states a party’s claims or defenses, and the complaint is the first one. The cover sheet and the complaint should say the same thing. If they differ, remember the form’s own words: the cover sheet does not “replace nor supplement” the complaint.

Do state courts use a civil cover sheet?

Many do, but not the JS 44, which is a federal form. For example, California uses form CM-010, Civil Case Cover Sheet. The California courts’ self-help page says it “Tells the court some basic information about a case being filed” and is “Filed at the beginning of all civil cases except family law cases.”

Practice varies from state to state and court to court. Check your state court’s forms (see court forms by state) or ask the clerk where you are filing.

Common mistakes on a civil cover sheet

• Using the federal JS 44 in a state court, or a state form in federal court.
• Using an old copy instead of the current form from uscourts.gov or your district court’s site.
• Filling in the form without reading the official instructions on its second page.
• Marking more than one nature of suit box. The form says one box only.
• A cover sheet that says something different from the complaint, such as on the jury demand.
• Forgetting to sign and date it.

More questions about the civil cover sheet

Rules and forms cited on this page

Fed. R. Civ. P. 3 · Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 · Form JS 44, Civil Cover Sheet (Rev. 03/24) · Cal. Judicial Council form CM-010

Guides related to starting a civil case

What are local rules of court? · What is a Section 1983 lawsuit? · How to write a civil rights complaint · How do I file a motion in court? · Can’t afford a lawyer? Free legal help