Fillable Instructions: Writing and Filing a Motion (US Courts)

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Instructions: Writing and Filing a Motion (US Courts)

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2017
Instructions: Filing a Motion - General
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Instructions: Writing and Filing a Motion
This template was prepared by the Justice & Diversity Center, a nonprofit organization, and is not an official
court form. It can be used in certain civil lawsuits in the Northern District Court of California. Using this
template does not guarantee any result in your case.
This packet provides general guidance about writing a motion. Before filing this document, make an
appointment for free legal information and advice at one of the Legal Help Centers.
If the case is assigned to a judge in the San Francisco, Oakland, or Eureka federal courthouse,
do one of the following:
Call the appointment scheduling line for the Federal Pro Bono Project: 415-782-8982
Sign up in the appointment book at either:
450 Golden Gate Ave., 15th
Floor, Room 2796, San Francisco or
1301 Clay Street, 4th Floor, Room 470S, Oakland
Email us at federalprobonoproject@sfbar.org
This email is to schedule appointments only-no legal advice is given over email.
If the case is assigned to a judge in the San Jose federal courthouse, do one of the following:
Call the appointment scheduling line for the Federal Pro Se Program: 408-297-1480
Monday to Thursday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, drop in at
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, 152 North 3rd St., 3rd Floor, San Jose
Monday to Thursday 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, drop in at
280 South 1st Street, 2nd Floor, Room 2070, San Jose
Motions are used to ask the Court to decide something. If you want to file a Motion to Dismiss the
Complaint, Motion to Compel Discovery, or a Motion for Summary Judgment, visit a Legal Help Center for
templates for those specific Motions.
CHECKLIST: HOW TO PREPARE A MOTION
Chose a hearing date. Most judges require you to select a hearing date so they can listen to
arguments about the motion from you and the other side. The hearing date is typically at least 35 days
after you file the motion. You can get more information on choosing a hearing date from the judge’s
page on the Court’s website (http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges) or visit a Legal Help Center.
Complete the Declaration. A “Declaration” is a statement of facts signed under penalty of perjury.
HOW TO GET LEGAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE
WHO SHOULD USE THIS TEMPLATE
2017
Instructions: Filing a Motion - General
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o Write the facts. In the Declaration, write each fact the Court needs to know to decide the
Motion. Write only facts that you know about personally. If a person other than you has
personal knowledge of the facts, they may also submit a Declaration using the same template.
o Add exhibits as evidence. If you want to attach a document to your Declaration as evidence,
say what the document is, how you got it and when. You may want to use this format:
“Attached as Exhibit A is a true and correct copy of an email I received from Plaintiff on June
5, 2017.” Mark each exhibit with a letter or number. Many judges require parties to also tab the
exhibit with the letter on the side.
o Review, number the pages and sign. Read the Declaration to make sure it is clear, correct,
and complete. Fill in the name and the page numbers at the bottom of each page, sign and date.
Complete the Notice and Memorandum. This document cannot be longer than 15 pages.
o Notice section. Fill in all of the blanks in the Notice section.
o Issues section. List the things you are asking the Court to decide in this Motion. There may be
one thing, or several. For example:
1. To allow you to amend your complaint
2. Whether this Court is the correct venue for this case
3. Whether Defendant’s subpoena should be narrowed to cover only certain dates
o Statement of Facts section. Repeat each fact stated in the Declaration. At the end of each
sentence, say where in the Declaration the Court can find evidence supporting the facts. You
may want to use these formats:
“On June 4, 2017, I called Defendant. (Plaintiff Declaration, paragraph 4.)”
“I emailed Plaintiff on June 5, 2017. (Defendant Declaration, paragraph 5 and Exhibit A.)”
o Argument section. State why the Court should decide each issue in your favor and grant your
motion. When you mention facts, say where in the Declaration the Court can find the
supporting evidence, just as you did in the Fact section. You can add case law or statutes to
support your position. If you have questions about any argument, contact the Legal Help Center.
o Review, number the pages, and sign. Read the Memorandum to make sure it is clear, correct,
and complete. Fill in the type of motion and page numbers at the bottom of each page, sign and
date. If the Memorandum is longer than 10 pages (excluding the title page), you must add a
table of contents and a table of cases and statutes. Insert these after the title page.
Complete the Proposed Order. This is the order that you want the Court to sign, granting your
motion. Briefly state the issues you want the Court to rule on in your favor. Do NOT sign or date
this document.
Prepare the Certificate of Service. Each document that you file must be “served” on each other
party, usually by sending it in the mail. Follow the instructions on the Certificate of Service. You can
do one Certificate of Service for all documents you serve with this motion.
Mark your calendar. Put the hearing date on your calendar, and be sure to show up at Court. You
must follow whatever decision is made at or after the hearing and any instructions from the Court.
FILING AND SERVING YOUR MOTION PAPERS
1. Make copies. Once the documents are complete, make three copies of each. On one copy of the
documents, write “Chambers” on the top in pen. (If there is more than one plaintiff or defendant,
you will also need one copy for each of them.)
2. File the Motion. Deliver or mail the original plus two copies of the documents to the Clerk’s
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Instructions: Filing a Motion - General
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Office at the courthouse where the judge for your case is located. The Clerk will take the original
and one copy. The other copy is for you to keep after it is stamped by the Clerk. If you file by
mail, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that the Clerk can send a copy back to you.
3. Serve the Motion. Be sure the Motion papers and Certificate are served on each party.
TIMELINE: AFTER THE MOTION PAPERS ARE FILED
The timeline below lists what generally happens after the Motion is filed. The Legal Help Centers (see page
1) can provide guidance about these steps, and have many other templates for you to use in your case.
STAY UP TO DATE
1. Update your contact information. File a notice with the Clerk right away if your address, email, or
phone number changes, or you may miss important deadlines, causing you to lose your case.
2. Check your mail. Be sure to check regularly for documents from the Court and opposing side.
3. A list of the documents that have been filed, and (usually) the documents themselves can be
viewed online. See Chapter 7 of the Handbook (below), and contact the Legal Help Centers.
UNDERSTANDING THE LAWS AND RULES
The Legal Help Centers (see page 1) are the best resource for people without lawyers. There are other
resources for understanding the laws and rules of the Court:
1. Handbook for Pro Se Litigants. The Handbook is a procedural guide for people who are
representing themselves. It was prepared by the Court and is available at the Clerk’s Office or on the
Court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov/prosehandbk.
2. Legal Research Guide for Pro Se Litigants. The Guide provides information for people who are
representing themselves about how to do legal research, like finding statutes and decisions in other
cases. It was prepared by the Justice & Diversity Center and is available at the Legal Help Centers
and at www.cand.uscourts.gov/Legal-Help-Center-Templates.
3. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (“FRCP”). These Rules explain the procedures from filing
through trial for all civil cases in federal courts across the country, and are available at
www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf.
4. Local Rules. The Local Rules follow the same numbering as the FRCP, but generally provide more
detail. They apply in this District only, and are available at www.cand.uscourts.gov/localrules/civil.
Motion
filed and
served
Opposition served
(within 14 days)
Moving party
may file a
Reply
(within 7 days)
Court has hearing
on Motion, or
cancels the hearing
Court sends out a written Order
deciding whether the Motion is
granted or denied
(no deadline, but usually within
a few weeks of hearing date)
NOTICE AND MOTION [type of motion]_______________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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Your name:
Address:
Phone Number:
E-mail Address:
Pro se
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Division [check one]: San Francisco Oakland San Jose Eureka
Plaintiff,
vs.
Defendant.
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Case Number:
NOTICE
AND MOTION [type of motion]
________________________________________
________________________________________
AND MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT
D
ATE: _________________________________
TIME:
__________________________________
COURTROOM: __________________________
JUDGE:
Hon. ____________________________________
NOTICE AND MOTION [type of motion]_______________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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I. NOTICE OF MOTION
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on [date] __________________________________________,
at [time] ___________________________________________, at [courtroom number and address]
________________________________________________________________________________,
before the Honorable [judge’s name] __________________________________________________,
I will, and hereby do, move for an order granting this Motion [type of motion]
_________________________________________________________________________________.
The motion will be based on this Notice and Motion, the Memorandum of Points and Authorities
below, the Declaration(s) of [names of people who wrote declarations]
_________________________________________________________________________________
and the [Proposed] Order.
II. ISSUES TO BE DECIDED
[Write each question or request that you are asking the Court to decide in this Motion. There may be
one issue, or more. See the Instructions for examples.]
1. ________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________
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4. ________________________________________________________________________
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5. _____________________________________________________________________
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NOTICE AND MOTION [type of motion]_______________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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III. MEMORANDUM
A. Statement of Facts
[Write the facts relevant to the Motion. Add more pages as needed. At the end of each sentence, write
where evidence of that fact can be found. See the Instructions for more detail.]
_________________________________________________________________________________
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NOTICE AND MOTION [type of motion]_______________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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B. Argument
[You should have an argument section for each issue that you listed on page 2. Explain why the
Court should rule in your favor on each issue. Provide facts and case law/statutes (if you have any).
Add more pages as needed.]
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NOTICE AND MOTION [type of motion]_______________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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[You must sign and date.]
Respectfully submitted,
Date:
Sign Name:
Print Name:
NOTICE AND MOTION [type of motion]_______________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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Insert a copy of this page as needed to continue any section, or to write an introduction.
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DECLARATION OF [name] _________________________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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Your name:
Address:
Phone Number:
E-mail Address:
Pro se
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Division [check one]: San Francisco Oakland San Jose Eureka
Plaintiff,
vs.
Defendant.
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Case Number:
DECLARATION OF
[name of person signing]
________________________________________
IN
SUPPORT OF MOTION [motion title]
________________________________________
________________________________________
DATE:
_________________________________
TIME:
__________________________________
JUDGE:
Hon.
___________________________________
[In the first paragraph, explain who you are. If you are the Plaintiff or Defendant, say so here. If you
are a witness, say how you are connected to the party or events in this case.]
1. I am ____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________.
2. I have personal knowledge of all facts stated in this declaration, and if called to testify, I
could and would testify competently thereto.
DECLARATION OF [name] _________________________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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[Write each fact in a separate, numbered paragraph, starting with 3. You may only write about facts
that you know personally, such as events you witnessed. Explain how you know each fact. If you want
to include documents, see the Instructions. Make copies of this page if you need more space.]
____. ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
____. ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
____. ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
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DECLARATION OF [name] _________________________________________________________
CASE NO.: _________________________________; PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 2017]
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____. ______________________________________________________________________
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____. ______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the foregoing is true
and correct.
Date:
Sign Name:
Print Name:
[PROPOSED] ORDER; CASE NO.: ___________________________________________________
PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 07/17]
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Your name:
Address:
Phone Number:
E-mail Address:
Pro se
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Division [check one]: San Francisco Oakland San Jose Eureka
Plaintiff,
vs.
Defendant.
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Case Number:
[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING
MOTION
[type of motion]
________________________________________
________________________________________
[PROPOSED] ORDER; CASE NO.: ___________________________________________________
PAGE ____ OF ____ [JDC TEMPLATE - rev. 07/17]
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Considering the papers and arguments, and finding good cause, the Motion to [type of motion]
_________________________________________________________________________________
is GRANTED. [Add details of what you have asked the Court to decide.]
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
IT IS SO ORDERED.
[Do not write below.]
Date:
UNITED STATES DISTRICT/MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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Instructions: Writing and Filing a Motion (US Courts)

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