In forma pauperis

"In the manner of a pauper." Permission given by the court to a person to file a case without payment of the required court fees because the person cannot pay them.

Additional Sources

Answers.com

Appeals that come before the Supreme Court from litigants who cannot afford to pay court costs are known as in forma pauperis petitions. In the 1930s the Court began to receive in forma pauperis petitions in significant numbers and by the 1988 term more than half of all cases received by the Court were petitions by indigent defendants. In the early 1980s the Court began to require indigent petitioners to provide documentation that they could not afford to pay the court costs. Against the objections of four justices, the Court also began to deny motions to proceed in forma pauperis without first having determined whether the certiorari petitions merited plenary review.

Most in forma pauperis petitions come from criminal defendants. When the court agrees to review in forma pauperis petitions from federal defendants it usually does so in order to resolve an intercircuit conflict and/or to decide an issue of statutory law. On the other hand, state petitions from indigent defendants that are granted review tend to be challenges to the state court's rejection of a constitutional claim. Regardless of the nature of the claim, all in forma pauperis petitions have a much lower chance of being granted review than do paid petitions. Approximately 1 percent of in forma pauperis petitions was granted review during the Court's 2003 term compared to 10 percent of the paid petitions.

FindLaw

As a poor person: relieved of the fees and costs of a legal action because of inability to pay.

Law.com Dictionary

Latin for "in the form of a pauper," referring to a party to a lawsuit who gets filing fees waived by filing a declaration of lack of funds (has no money to pay). These declarations are most often found in divorces by young marrieds or poor defendants who have been sued.

Lect Law Library

IN FORMA PAUPERIS - Lat. 'in the form of a pauper.' Someone who is without the funds to pursue the normal costs of a lawsuit or criminal defense. Upon the court's granting of this status the person is entitled to waiver of normal costs and/or appointment of counsel (but seldom in other than a criminal case).

It can also refer to a petition filed by a poor person in order to proceed in court without having to pay court costs such as filing fees. In most civil cases it does not cover other cost such as those involved in discovery (depositions, witness fees, court reporters, etc.) and service of process, except in rare cases. Also, barring exceptional circumstances such as some civil rights suits, it does not cover attorney appointments.

In forma pauperis proceedings are available in every state and on the federal level (except most bankruptcies). A person with a low income (usually eligible for or receiving public assistance including food stamps) fills out in forma pauperis papers (indicating income and expenses) before filing his first court paper (complaint or answer). The papers request that the court decide whether or not the costs be paid. Although a hearing before a judge is sometimes needed, the more usual practice is for the court to grant or deny the request without a hearing.

Wikipedia

In forma pauperis (IFP or i.f.p.) is a legal term derived from the Latin phrase in the character or manner of a pauper. In the United States, the IFP designation is given by both state and federal courts to someone who is without the funds to pursue the normal costs of a lawsuit or a criminal defense. The status is usually granted by a judge without a hearing, and entitles the person to a waiver of normal costs, and sometimes in criminal cases the appointment of counsel. While court imposed costs such as filing fees are waived, the litigant is still responsible for other costs incurred in bringing the action such as deposition and witness fees.

Approximately two-thirds of writ of certiorari petitions to the Supreme Court are filed in forma pauperis. Most of those petitioners are prisoners. Petitions that appear on the Supreme Court's in forma pauperis docket are substantially less likely to be granted review than those on the paid docket.