PACER Fee Exemption Request Generator

About PACER fee exemptions

PACER fee exemptions are issued at the discretion of each individual court (or, in some districts, the Chief Judge or Clerk of Court) under Section 8 of the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule, promulgated by the Judicial Conference of the United States (JCUS). Section 8 authorizes a court to exempt indigent or otherwise qualifying users for cause shown. Most common grants in practice:

• Pro se litigants who qualify for in forma pauperis status
• Academic researchers conducting bona fide research projects
• Section 501(c)(3) nonprofits with educational or public-interest missions
• Journalists with newsroom affiliations conducting reporting
• Pro bono attorneys representing non-paying clients

Attach supporting documents. The strongest requests come bundled with documentation: an IFP financial declaration (e.g., AO-240) for pro se requests, the IRS §501(c)(3) determination letter for nonprofits, an institutional affiliation letter for academic researchers, an editor or publication credentials letter for journalists, and a representation letter for pro bono attorneys. Exemptions, when granted, are typically time-limited and use-limited.