General Notes:

• use for civil actions other than domestic, estates and special proceedings
• use to initiate a lawsuit (e.g., complaint) and to file initial responses (e.g., answer, Rule 12 motion in lieu of answer); accordingly, check the appropriate box at the top right of the form to indicate whether the pleading is an initial filing or a subsequent response
• the General Civil Action Cover sheet is not required for small claims filings

Top Portion of Form:

• provide plaintiffs’ names and defendants’ names
• provide the name, bar number and other requested information for the attorney who is filing the pleading; a pro se party should provide his or her address and telephone number
• for each defendant listed, check the appropriate box to indicate whether you are submitting a summons for that defendant
• if you need additional room to list plaintiffs, defendants or third-party defendants, use the back side of the form
• please indicate on the back side of the form the plaintiffs against whom you are asserting a counterclaim or the defendants against whom your are asserting a cross claim

Middle Portion of Form:

• check the appropriate box(es)

Bottom Portion of Form:

• in the section to the left, check the appropriate box(es) to indicate the type(s) of pleading(s) you are filing; if your pleading type is not listed, check the "Other" box and provide a brief, written explanation of the pleading you are filing
• in the section to the right, check the appropriate box(es) to indicate the claim(s) for relief asserted in the pleading(s) you are filing; if your claim is not listed, check the "Other" box and provide a brief, written explanation of the claim you are asserting (note: you need not include on the cover sheet routine claims for costs and attorney fees)
• please sign the cover sheet, date it, and attach it as the first page of the pleading you are filing

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General Notes:

• use for domestic actions
• use to initiate a lawsuit (e.g., complaint) and to file initial responses (e.g., answer, Rule 12 motion in lieu of answer); accordingly, check the appropriate box at the top right of the form to indicate whether the pleading is an initial filing or a subsequent response
• the Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet is not required for voluntary support agreements, simple orders of paternity and pro se domestic violence filings using form AOC-CV-303

Top Portion of Form:

• provide plaintiffs’ names and defendants’ names
• provide the name, bar number and other requested information for the attorney who is filing the pleading; a pro se party should provide his or her address and telephone number
• for each defendant listed, check the appropriate box to indicate whether you are submitting a summons for that defendant
• if you need additional room to list plaintiffs or defendants, use the back side of the form
• please indicate on the back side of the form the plaintiffs against whom you are asserting a counterclaim

Middle Portion of Form:

• check the appropriate box

Bottom Portion of Form:

• in the section to the left, check the appropriate box(es) to indicate the type(s) of pleading(s) you are filing; if your pleading type is not listed, check the "Other" box and provide a brief, written explanation of the pleading you are filing
• in the section to the right, check the appropriate box(es) to indicate the claim(s) for relief asserted in the pleading(s) you are filing; if your claim is not listed, check the "Other" box and provide a brief, written explanation of the claim you are asserting (note: you need not include on the cover sheet routine claims for costs and attorney fees)
• please sign the cover sheet, date it, and attach it as the first page of the pleading you are filing

General Notes:

• use for written motions (note: if you are filing a Rule 12 motion in lieu of an answer, use the General Civil Action Cover Sheet or Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet)

Top Portion of Form:

• provide the name of the first party on each side of the case
• provide the name, bar number and other requested information for the attorney who is filing the motion; a pro se party should provide his or her address and telephone number

Bottom Portion of Form:

• in the far left column, provide the four-character code that corresponds to the type of motion you are asserting; the motion types and corresponding codes are listed alphabetically on the back side of the form (note: if you are asserting a motion that is not listed on the back side of the form, use the code "OTHR" and provide a brief, written explanation of the motion in the far left column)
• in the middle column, provide the name(s) of the party(ies) by whom the motion is being asserted; if, for example, all of the defendants are asserting the motion, check the "All" box and write or type "defendants" beside the word "All"
• in the far right column, provide the name(s) of the party(ies) against whom the motion is being asserted; if, for example, you are asserting the motion against all of the plaintiffs, check the "All" box and write or type "plaintiffs" beside the word "All"
• please sign the cover sheet, date it, and attach it as the first page of the motion

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General Notes:

• use when filing a formal order after the court has taken some action on a claim for relief or motion
• also use if you are filing a voluntary dismissal

Top Portion of Form:

• provide the name of the first party on each side of the case
• if the court’s action completed the litigation, check the "Yes" box; if all or part of the action remains pending, check the "No" box

Bottom Portion of Form:

• in the far left column, provide the four-character code that corresponds to the type of motion or claim for relief on which the court took action; the types of motions and claims for relief and their corresponding codes are listed alphabetically on the back side of the form (note: if the motion or claim for relief on which the court took action is not listed on the back side of the form, use the code "OTHR" and provide a brief, written explanation of the motion or claim for relief in the far left column)
• in the column second from the left, provide the date on which the motion was filed or the date on which the pleading containing the claim for relief was filed
• in the "By" column, provide the name(s) of the party(ies) by whom the motion or claim for relief was asserted; if, for example, all of the defendants asserted the motion or claim for relief, check the "All" box and write or type "defendants" beside the word "All"
• in the "Against" column, provide the name(s) of the party(ies) against whom the motion or claim for relief was asserted; if, for example, the motion or claim for relief was asserted against all of the plaintiffs, check the "All" box and write or type "plaintiffs" beside the word "All"
• in the "Action" column, provide the two-character code that corresponds to the action taken on the motion or claim for relief; the action types and their corresponding codes are listed on the back side of the form in the bottom left hand corner
• if the court took different action with respect to different parties, please list the parties individually and indicate for each party what action the court took; for example, a motion may have been asserted against all four plaintiffs, but granted with respect to only three of the four plaintiffs; in such a situation, list all four of the plaintiffs individually in the "Against" column, and indicate in the "Action" column what action the court took with regard to each of the plaintiffs
• in the far right column, provide the date on which the order is filed with the clerk of court
• please sign the cover sheet, date it, and attach it as the first page of the order

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General Notes:

• use for estates filings
• the Estates Action Cover Sheet is not required for "open and shut" matters (e.g., a surviving spouse’s year’s allowance, for which an AOC form already exists)

Top Portion of Form:

• provide the name of the decedent, minor or incompetent whose estate is at issue
• provide the minor’s date of birth or the decedent’s date of death
• provide the name(s) of the fiduciary(ies)
• provide the names of the potential beneficiaries; if you need additional room to list potential beneficiaries, use the back side of the form
• provide the name, bar number and other requested information for the attorney who is filing the document; a pro se party should provide his or her address and telephone number

Bottom Portion of Form:

• check the appropriate box(es) to indicate the type(s) of document(s) you are filing; if your document type is not listed, check the "Other" box and provide a brief, written explanation of the document you are filing
• please sign the cover sheet, date it, and attach it as the first page of the document you are filing

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General Notes:

• use for special proceedings filings

Top Portion of Form:

• provide petitioners’ names and respondents’ names
• provide the name, bar number and other requested information for the attorney who is filing the pleading; a pro se party should provide his or her address and telephone number
• for each respondent listed, check the appropriate box to indicate whether you are submitting a summons for that respondent
• if you need additional room to list petitioners or respondents, use the back side of the form

Bottom Portion of Form:

• check the appropriate box(es) to indicate the type(s) of pleading(s) you are filing; if your pleading type is not listed, check the "Other" box and provide a brief, written explanation of the pleading you are filing
• please sign the cover sheet, date it, and attach it as the first page of the pleading you are filing

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