Yes! You can use AI to fill out In Forma Pauperis Affidavit/Petition (AOPC 622A) – Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court

People often skip these fields because they don’t know where to find the numbers or assume the court will fill them in. Missing or mismatched identifiers can cause the filing to be rejected, misfiled, or delayed because staff cannot reliably match the paperwork to the correct case. Always copy the County, Magisterial District number, docket/case number, and (for criminal appeals) the OTN exactly as shown on prior court notices or the docket sheet.

Filers frequently put their own name in the wrong place in the caption or check the wrong party designation on the Notice of Appeal. This happens because the forms mix civil and criminal contexts and the caption format is unfamiliar to self-represented litigants. The consequence can be an incorrect appeal notice or a petition that does not match the underlying case, leading to rejection or the need to refile. Use the caption exactly as it appears on the court’s docket and confirm whether you are the Plaintiff/Appellant, Defendant, or the Commonwealth before completing the form.

A very common error is listing only wages and leaving all other income lines blank (Social Security, unemployment, disability, support payments, public assistance, cash contributions, etc.). People do this because they think “income” means only a paycheck or they are unsure whether irregular payments count. Underreporting can result in denial of IFP status or later sanctions if the court believes the affidavit is inaccurate. Avoid this by entering $0 where applicable and including all income received within the past 12 months, even if intermittent.

Applicants often fill in “type of work” and “salary” but omit the employer name/address, or if unemployed, they forget to provide the date of last employment and prior wages. This happens because the form presents both employed and unemployed sections and people don’t realize one of them must be completed fully. Missing employment history can cause the court to question eligibility and delay review. Complete the employed section fully if currently working; otherwise complete the unemployment section with last employment date, type of work, and prior monthly wages.

Many filers leave the property/debts section blank, especially for vehicles, bank accounts, real estate, loans, rent, and mortgages, or they list an item but omit “cost” and “amount owed.” This usually happens because people assume IFP is based only on income, or they don’t have exact figures handy. The court evaluates ability to pay using both assets and obligations, so incomplete entries can lead to denial or requests for additional documentation. Gather approximate current balances and amounts owed and enter $0 where you have none; include vehicle year/make and any loan balance.

Filers frequently skip spouse income/contributions, contributions from children/parents, and the list of dependents and their relationships/ages. This happens because people are unsure whether household members “count” or they worry about sharing others’ information. The court uses household support and dependents to assess financial hardship, so missing data can distort the analysis and delay a decision. Provide spouse/household contribution amounts (or $0), and list all dependents with relationship and ages of minor children as requested.

A common rejection reason is an unsigned IFP affidavit, an undated verification, or forgetting to sign the Notice of Appeal/Transcript Request/Proof of Service. People miss this because signatures appear in multiple places and the forms span several pages. Unsigned filings may be treated as defective, causing delays or dismissal, and the IFP affidavit specifically warns about penalties for false statements. Before filing, check every page that has a signature line, date line, and verification/certification paragraph and complete them all.

On the Notice of Appeal, filers often forget to include the attached docket entry, proof of service, transcript request, or the required filing fees/checks—or they make checks payable to the wrong entity. This happens because the attachments list is long and includes multiple payees and amounts. Missing attachments can result in the appeal being rejected or not perfected, risking loss of appellate rights. Use the checklist exactly: include the referenced docket entry, proof of service, transcript request, and ensure checks match the stated amounts and payees (or file a properly completed IFP request if seeking fee waiver).

People commonly serve only the opposing party and forget the trial judge(s), court reporter(s), and District Court Administrator, or they fail to state the manner of service and full addresses/phone numbers. This occurs because service rules are technical and the form requires multiple recipients under Pa.R.A.P. 906. Defective service can delay the appeal, trigger court orders to cure, or jeopardize compliance with appellate rules. Avoid this by listing every required recipient, providing complete contact information, and clearly stating how and when each was served (e.g., first-class mail, hand delivery, e-service if permitted).

Filers often request “the transcript” without identifying the specific hearing/trial and date, or they fail to include the reporter’s page estimate, per-page cost, total estimate, and deposit check information when required. This happens because they don’t know which proceeding is relevant for the appeal or they haven’t contacted the court reporter. The consequence is delay in transcript preparation, missed appellate deadlines, or an incomplete record on appeal. Identify the exact proceeding and date, contact the official court reporter(s) promptly for estimates, and include the required deposit/check details or indicate the appropriate checkbox if no verbatim record exists.

On the Civil Cover Sheet, filers frequently check more than one primary case category or choose a category that doesn’t match the complaint (e.g., selecting “Contract” when it’s actually “Tort” or “Real Property”). This happens because the categories are broad and the form instructs you to pick only the ONE primary case. Misclassification can affect routing, case management, arbitration assignment, and processing time. Read the complaint’s main legal theory and select a single best-fitting category; if “Other” is used, write a clear, specific description.