Rule Appendix A Defense of Indigents Forms

This appendix has the forms courts and defendants use when someone cannot afford a lawyer and needs one appointed by the court. If you are charged with a crime or involved in certain family court cases and cannot pay for an attorney, these are the documents that get filled out to ask for and set up free legal help.

The first form explains your basic rights as someone accused of a crime, so you understand what you are entitled to before the case moves forward. The next set of forms (the affidavits of indigency) are applications you fill out to prove you cannot afford a lawyer. There are different versions depending on whether your case is a divorce or family matter, a criminal case handled in General Sessions court, or a juvenile case involving a minor.

Once the court reviews your application, a judge fills out a certificate confirming that you qualify for a free lawyer. After that, the court uses notice and order forms to officially appoint an attorney to represent you. These notices and orders look different depending on whether your case is in Common Pleas court, General Sessions court, or Family Court. Together, these forms make sure the process of getting a free lawyer is documented properly at every step, from application to appointment.