IFP
Law & Legal abbreviation · Latin Legal
| Stands for | In forma pauperis (in the manner of a pauper) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Law & Legal |
IFP stands for In forma pauperis (in the manner of a pauper), a Latin legal abbreviation.
Status granted to a litigant who cannot afford court fees, allowing a lawsuit or appeal to proceed without prepaying filing costs. In federal court, applications are made under 28 U.S.C. § 1915 with an affidavit listing income and assets.
Example: The prisoner's IFP application was granted, and the fee will be deducted from his trust account.
Usage notes
Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1996, prisoners granted IFP status still owe the full filing fee in installments, and the "three strikes" rule bars IFP status for prisoners with three earlier suits dismissed as frivolous, unless they face imminent danger. Courts must dismiss IFP cases found frivolous. Also called pauper status.
Related abbreviations
More Latin legal abbreviations
- et ux. – Et uxor (and wife)
- ex p. – Ex parte (on the application of)
- ex rel. – Ex relatione (on the relation of)
- fi. fa. – Fieri facias (that you cause to be made)
- habeas – Habeas corpus (you should have the body)
- i.a. – Inter alia (among other things)
- JNOV – Judgment non obstante veredicto (judgment notwithstanding the verdict)
- L.S. – Locus sigilli (place of the seal)
- nem. con. – Nemine contradicente (with no one dissenting)
- nol. pros. – Nolle prosequi (to be unwilling to prosecute)
- nolo – Nolo contendere (I do not wish to contend)
- pro per – In propria persona (in one's own person)
See all 22 Latin legal abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.