Forma Pauperis

English Law: Forma Pauperis in the Past

When a person is so poor that he cannot bear the charges of suing at law or in equity (see more about this popular legal topic in the U.K. encyclopedia), upon making oath that he is not worth five pounds and bringing a certificate from a counselor at law, that he believes him to have a just cause, he is permitted to sue informa pauperis, in the way of a pauper; that is, he is allowed to have original writs and subpoenas gratis and counsel assigned him without fee. 3 Bl. Com. 400. See 3 John. Ch. R. 65; 1 Paige, R. 588; 3 Paige, R. 273; 5 Paige, R. 58; 2 Moll. R. 475; 1 Beat. R. 54. [1][rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Partialy, this information about forma pauperis is based on the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, 1848 edition. There is a list of terms of the Bouvier´s Law Dictionary, including forma pauperis.

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