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Form JS 44 (Rev. 08/18), Civil Cover Sheet, page 1
Moderate · 60/100Form Complexity Index

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What this form asks for

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The JS 44 Civil Cover Sheet is an administrative form required by U.S. district courts to initiate the civil docket sheet when a new civil complaint is filed. It summarizes key case details—parties, attorneys, jurisdiction basis, citizenship (for diversity), nature of suit code, origin, cause of action, requested relief, jury demand, and related cases. The cover sheet does not replace the complaint or other required pleadings, but it helps the court accurately classify and process the case at intake. Completing it correctly can prevent filing delays and misclassification of the action.
Fillable fields134
Pages1
Sections26
Questions that depend on earlier answers14
Form Complexity IndexModerate, 60/100

The AI checks your answers before you download

17 checks built for this form, so a wrong date or a missing answer is caught before anyone else sees it.

Validates Plaintiff and Defendant Names Are Provided and Properly Formatted

Checks that at least one plaintiff name and one defendant name are present in Section I(a), and that each entry contains a minimally complete legal name (e.g., last name and first name, with optional middle initial) rather than placeholders like "N/A" or "Unknown." This is important because party names drive docket creation, captioning, and service processes. If validation fails, the submission should be rejected or flagged for clerk review with a prompt to correct/complete party names.

Validates County of Residence Fields Based on Case Type Rules

Ensures the correct county-of-residence field(s) in Section I(b) are completed according to the instructions: for non-U.S. plaintiff cases, the first listed plaintiff’s county must be provided; for U.S. plaintiff cases, the first listed defendant’s county must be provided. This matters because venue-related metadata and statistical reporting depend on the correct county being captured. If the wrong county field is filled (or required county is missing), the system should block submission or require confirmation/correction.

Validates Attorney of Record Contact Information Completeness

Checks that Section I(c) includes attorney/firm name, mailing address, and telephone number for the attorney of record, or explicitly indicates "(see attachment)" when multiple attorneys are listed elsewhere. Accurate attorney contact data is essential for notices, service coordination, and court communications. If incomplete or missing, the form should be flagged and the filer required to provide the missing contact elements.

Validates Attorney Telephone Number Format

Verifies that the attorney telephone number in Section I(c) matches an acceptable format (e.g., 10-digit NANP with optional country code, parentheses, spaces, or hyphens) and is not clearly invalid (too short/long, alphabetic characters, all zeros). This reduces failed contact attempts and improves data quality for court notifications. If validation fails, the system should prompt for a corrected phone number before acceptance.

Ensures Exactly One Basis of Jurisdiction Is Selected

Confirms that Section II has one—and only one—jurisdiction box marked (U.S. Government Plaintiff, U.S. Government Defendant, Federal Question, or Diversity). The cover sheet explicitly requires a single selection, and downstream routing/statistical coding depends on it. If none or multiple are selected, the submission should be blocked until exactly one basis is chosen.

Enforces Jurisdiction Precedence When U.S. Is a Party

If the parties listed indicate the United States (or a U.S. agency/officer) is a plaintiff or defendant, the system should require selection of the corresponding U.S. plaintiff/defendant jurisdiction code rather than Federal Question or Diversity, consistent with the instructions. This prevents misclassification of cases and incorrect reporting. If a conflicting selection is detected, the system should require correction or a clerk override with justification.

And 11 more checks
  • Requires Citizenship of Principal Parties Only for Diversity Jurisdiction
  • Validates Diversity Citizenship Selections Are Logically Consistent
  • Ensures Exactly One Nature of Suit Code Is Selected
  • Ensures Exactly One Origin Code Is Selected and Disallows Origin Code 7
  • Requires Transfer/MDL Details When Applicable
  • Validates Cause of Action Statute Citation Format
  • Prevents Use of Purely Jurisdictional Statutes as Cause of Action (Except Diversity)
  • Validates Requested Demand Amount Format and Presence
  • Validates Jury Demand Selection and Consistency
  • Validates Related Case Entries When Indicated
  • Validates Date and Signature of Attorney of Record

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How to Fill Out JS 44 Online for Free in 2026

What the AI walks you through.

  1. Enter the full names of all plaintiffs and defendants, along with the county of residence for the first-listed plaintiff/defendant as applicable, and provide attorney/firm contact information (attach additional attorney lists if needed).
  2. Select the single basis of jurisdiction by checking the appropriate box (U.S. plaintiff, U.S. defendant, federal question, or diversity) consistent with the complaint’s jurisdictional allegations.
  3. If diversity is selected, complete the citizenship of principal parties section by marking the correct citizenship/business location boxes for both plaintiff and defendant.
  4. Choose the most applicable Nature of Suit code by checking one box that best matches the primary claim(s) in the complaint.
  5. Indicate the case origin (e.g., original proceeding, removed from state court, transferred, MDL transfer/direct file) by checking the correct origin code.
  6. Complete the cause of action section by citing the primary U.S. civil statute (not jurisdictional statutes unless diversity) and writing a brief description of the claim.
  7. Fill out the requested relief section (class action checkbox if applicable, demand amount/relief, and jury demand), list any related cases with judge and docket number, then date and sign as attorney of record.

Common Mistakes in Completing JS 44

The ones the AI is built to catch.

Listing parties incorrectly or incompletely in Section I(a)
People often enter only a business trade name, omit middle initials, reverse first/last names, or fail to identify government parties properly (agency first, then official name and title). This happens because filers copy captions informally or assume the complaint caption is enough. Incorrect party naming can cause docketing errors, misidentification of parties, and delays in issuing summons or matching the case to related matters. Use the exact legal names as they appear in the complaint caption, and for government defendants list the agency and the official with title (e.g., “U.S. Department of X, John Doe, Secretary”).
Entering the wrong county of residence (or leaving it blank) in Section I(b)
A frequent mistake is entering a city, state, mailing address, or the attorney’s county instead of the county of residence of the first-listed party, or using the plaintiff’s county in U.S. plaintiff cases when the form requires the first-listed defendant’s county. This occurs because the rule changes depending on whether the U.S. is the plaintiff and because “county of residence” is easy to confuse with venue or mailing address. Wrong county information can lead to administrative confusion and may complicate internal court reporting and case assignment processes. Confirm whether it is a U.S. plaintiff case and enter the correct county name (and for land condemnation, use the tract location county).
Providing incomplete attorney information in Section I(c)
Filers often omit the firm name, full address, telephone number, or the attorney of record, or they list multiple attorneys without attaching a separate sheet and noting “see attachment.” This happens when people assume the ECF filing profile is sufficient or they copy only part of the signature block. Missing contact details can delay clerk follow-up, notices, or corrections and can create confusion about who is responsible for the filing. Enter the full firm/contact information and, if multiple attorneys are involved, attach a list and clearly reference it in Section I(c).
Checking multiple boxes (or the wrong box) for Basis of Jurisdiction in Section II
A common error is marking more than one jurisdiction basis, or selecting “Diversity” when the complaint is actually a federal question case (or vice versa), or failing to follow the precedence rule when the U.S. is a party. This happens because filers conflate venue, claims, and jurisdiction statutes, or they try to “cover all bases.” Incorrect jurisdiction coding can cause clerk’s office follow-up, misclassification, and potential motion practice if the pleading is inconsistent. Mark only one box, apply the precedence guidance (U.S. plaintiff/defendant codes override federal question/diversity), and ensure the complaint’s jurisdiction allegations match the selection.
Filling out Citizenship of Principal Parties (Section III) when it does not apply—or skipping it when it does
People often complete Section III even when they did not select Diversity in Section II, or they select Diversity but leave Section III blank. This happens because the section is visually prominent and filers may not realize it is “for diversity cases only.” Leaving it incomplete can trigger deficiency notices or create inconsistencies with the jurisdiction basis. Only complete Section III if Diversity is checked, and then mark one citizenship box for the principal plaintiff and one for the principal defendant (including corporate incorporation/principal place of business where applicable).
Misclassifying corporate citizenship in Section III (incorporation vs. principal place of business)
For business entities, filers frequently check only one corporate box, choose “Citizen of This State” instead of the incorporation/principal place of business options, or guess without confirming the entity’s legal status. This happens because corporate citizenship rules are technical and the form’s labels are easy to misread. Misstating citizenship can undermine diversity allegations and lead to jurisdiction challenges or dismissal. Verify the entity type and accurately mark whether it is incorporated and/or has its principal place of business in the same or another state, consistent with the complaint.
Selecting an incorrect Nature of Suit code in Section IV
Filers often pick a code that matches the general topic (e.g., “Other Statutory Actions”) rather than the most applicable specific code, or they select multiple codes even though the form requires one. This happens because many categories overlap and people focus on remedies rather than the primary claim. Wrong coding can affect statistical reporting, internal routing, and can prompt clerk questions if it conflicts with the complaint. Choose the single code that best matches the primary cause of action and use the court’s “Nature of Suit Code Descriptions” to confirm the closest fit.
Choosing the wrong Origin code in Section V (especially transfers/MDL/removals)
A frequent mistake is marking “Original Proceeding” for removed cases, using “Transferred from Another District” for within-district reassignment, or selecting a nonexistent Origin Code 7. This happens because filers confuse procedural posture with where the case is being filed and may not know the distinctions among transfer, MDL transfer, and direct-file MDL. Incorrect origin coding can cause docketing corrections and delays in properly linking the case to the correct procedural track. Confirm whether the case is removed, remanded, reopened, transferred under 1404(a), or part of an MDL transfer/direct file, and select only the matching box.
Citing the wrong statute (or a jurisdictional statute) in Section VI Cause of Action
People often list only 28 U.S.C. § 1331/1332 (jurisdictional statutes) instead of the substantive statute creating the claim, or they provide a vague description without a statute. This happens because filers copy the jurisdiction paragraph rather than the claim’s legal basis. Incorrect entries can lead to misclassification and clerk follow-up, and it can create inconsistencies with the complaint. Provide the substantive U.S. civil statute directly related to the claim (e.g., “47 USC 553”) and add a brief, specific description of the cause of action.
Leaving the demand amount blank or entering an unclear/non-numeric demand in Section VII
Filers frequently omit the dollar amount, write “to be determined,” or include narrative text without indicating a clear amount or stating an alternative demand (e.g., injunction). This happens because damages may be uncertain or because the complaint seeks non-monetary relief. An unclear demand can trigger clerk questions and may create inconsistencies with the complaint’s prayer for relief. Enter the actual amount demanded if stated in the complaint, or clearly indicate the type of relief sought (e.g., “Preliminary and permanent injunction; damages per proof”) consistent with the pleading.
Inconsistent Class Action and Jury Demand selections in Section VII
A common error is checking the class action box when the complaint does not plead Rule 23 allegations, or marking “Jury Demand: Yes” when no jury demand appears in the complaint (or vice versa). This happens because filers treat the cover sheet as a preference form rather than a reflection of what is demanded in the pleading. Inconsistencies can cause confusion, require amendments, or lead to disputes about whether a jury was properly demanded. Check “Class Action” only if the complaint asserts a Rule 23 class, and mark the jury demand box to match exactly what is demanded in the complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions About JS 44

 

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How does the AI fill out JS 44?
You answer a few questions in plain words, or upload a document you already have. The AI reads what you give it and puts each answer into the right field of JS 44, on every page, in seconds. It checks the answers against the form's own rules, and you review and change anything before you download, print or sign.
What happens to my information?
It is encrypted in transit and at rest, and it is never used to train AI.
How complex is JS 44 to fill out?
JS 44 has a Form Complexity Index of 60 out of 100, in the moderate tier: 134 fillable fields across 1 page. Instafill.ai's AI fills it in under a minute, with every field there for you to review before you download.
What is the JS 44 Civil Cover Sheet and why is it required?
The JS 44 Civil Cover Sheet is an administrative form used by the Clerk of Court to open a civil case and initiate the civil docket sheet. It does not replace the complaint or other required filings, but it is generally required when you file a civil complaint in U.S. District Court.
Who needs to complete and file the JS 44 form?
The attorney filing the civil case is expected to complete and submit the JS 44 with the complaint. If you are filing without an attorney, you typically complete it as the filer, subject to local court rules.
Does the JS 44 replace the complaint or service requirements?
No. The form specifically states it neither replaces nor supplements filing and service of pleadings or other papers required by law, except as local rules may provide.
What information do I enter in Section I (Plaintiffs/Defendants)?
List the names of the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s) (last name, first name, middle initial). If a party is a government agency, use the full agency name (or standard abbreviation), and if an official is named, identify the agency first and then the official’s name and title.
How do I fill in the 'County of Residence' fields in Section I(b)?
In most cases (except U.S. plaintiff cases), enter the county where the first listed plaintiff resides at the time of filing. In U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the county where the first listed defendant resides; for land condemnation cases, use the location of the tract of land involved.
What should I include in Section I(c) for attorneys?
Provide the firm name, address, telephone number, and the attorney of record. If there are multiple attorneys, you can attach a separate sheet and write “(see attachment)” in this section.
How do I choose the correct 'Basis of Jurisdiction' in Section II?
Check only one box and follow the precedence described in the instructions: (1) U.S. Government Plaintiff, (2) U.S. Government Defendant, (3) Federal Question, then (4) Diversity. If the U.S. is a party, the U.S. plaintiff/defendant option generally takes precedence over federal question.
When do I complete Section III (Citizenship of Principal Parties)?
Complete Section III only if you selected Diversity jurisdiction in Section II. You must mark one citizenship box for the principal plaintiff and one for the principal defendant.
How do I select the 'Nature of Suit' code in Section IV if more than one could apply?
Choose the single Nature of Suit code that is most applicable to the case. If multiple codes seem relevant, select the one that best matches the primary claim.
What does 'Origin' mean in Section V, and which box should I check?
Origin describes how the case arrived in federal court (e.g., original filing, removal from state court, remand, reopening, transfer, or MDL). Check the one box that matches your situation; the instructions note there is no Origin Code 7.
What should I write in Section VI (Cause of Action)?
Cite the U.S. civil statute directly related to your claim and provide a brief description of the cause. Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless the case is based on diversity (the form gives an example like “47 USC 553” with a short description).
How do I complete Section VII for class actions, demand amount, and jury demand?
Check the class action box only if the complaint is filed as a class action under Rule 23. Enter the dollar amount demanded (or describe non-monetary relief like an injunction), and check “Yes” or “No” to indicate whether a jury trial is demanded in the complaint.
What counts as a 'Related Case' in Section VIII, and what do I provide?
Related cases are typically other pending cases that involve similar parties, facts, or issues. If any exist, list the related case docket number(s) and the corresponding judge name(s) as instructed.
Where do I submit the JS 44, and do I need to sign it?
The JS 44 is submitted to the Clerk of Court along with the civil complaint when the case is filed, following local court filing procedures (often electronic). The form should be dated and signed by the attorney of record (or filer, if self-represented).
What happens if I make a mistake or leave something blank on the JS 44?
Because the form is used to open and categorize the case, missing or incorrect information can delay docketing or require correction. If you discover an error, follow the court’s local procedures to file a corrected cover sheet or contact the Clerk’s office for guidance.
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