Financial affidavit form CJA 23 is a form where you list your income, property, expenses, and debts. There are various cases when one might need to provide some financial information to the court. For example, parents are obliged to provide their financial information in the following cases: custody, separation, and divorce. This data is obligatory for the court as it is used for alimony agreements, child benefits, and legal fees.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
The CJA-23 financial affidavit asks about your income, property, expenses, and debts, so it helps to collect your records before you start. Like any other legal document, the CJA-23 form has particular requirements regarding its contents. Here is the list of primary items that should go on your affidavit form:
Then answer the questions and enter the necessary numbers in your form template. If some questions do not apply to your particular situation, simply fill in “0” or “None” in the respective blank spaces.
The example below shows how a filled-in entry can look for a fictional filer, Anna Baker, who lives at 123 Main Street.
| Part of the financial affidavit | What to enter | Example for Anna Baker |
|---|---|---|
| Case and filer details | The case title and your full name | Baker v. Baker, Anna Baker, 123 Main Street |
| Employment and income | Mark “Yes” or “No” and give your monthly earnings | Yes, $3,200 per month |
| Property | The value of each item and the amount you still owe | Car: value $8,500, owed $2,000 |
| Cash and savings | The balance from your latest account statement | Checking account: $1,100 |
| Financial support | Who you support and how much per month | Child support: $400 per month |
| Obligations and debts | Each monthly expense and each debt amount | Rent: $1,200 per month. Credit card debt: $650 |
Rows like these are a guide only. Your own copy of the financial affidavit may have more or fewer lines, so follow the labels on the template in front of you.
Common mistakes to avoid: leaving a question blank instead of writing “0” or “None”, mixing up monthly and yearly amounts, and spelling a name differently from your ID.
Keep your bills, statements, and pay stubs in one folder while you complete the financial affidavit. That way you can check each number you enter against a document.
You can fill out the financial affidavit by hand or type your answers on a computer. If you type, the financial affidavit form makes the necessary calculations for you. Work through the form from top to bottom, one section at a time, and use the steps below as a guide.
It is better to start with the Instructions section at the top of the Financial Affidavit. You may find detailed instructions on the official United States Courts governmental website. After you read them, fill out the financial affidavit template.
The first section of the form is represented by several fields designed for the case and the filer identification. Mark the court that is to consider your case at the top of the document. Check the corresponding box to do so.
First off, fill in the case title in the “Who v. Who” format. Enter only the last names of the parties in the lawsuit.
Then enter the full legal name of the person represented, who is the financial affidavit filer.
Identify the type of charges the defendant is facing. You can either check one of the suggested boxes or provide a complete description in the given blank space.
There is a box in the top right corner of the form template designed to specify the court specifications. If you have full information about the hearing, you can fill it out yourself. If not, ask your legal representative to fill it out for you.
The next section is devoted to the financial information of the defendant. If you are currently employed, mark the “Yes” box and indicate how much you earn per month. If you are unemployed, check the “No” box and leave it there. Also, say whether you will still have your job after a possible arrest, if you know.
Next, estimate the value of all the property you own, and enter its value and any amount you still owe in the matching boxes. Say whether you own a home, a motor vehicle, a boat, stock, shares, or other property.
Also, list any cash or savings you have. Use your latest account statement for the balance.
You must also indicate if you currently provide financial aid to anyone. It might be child support, spousal support, or help for older parents or grandparents.
The Financial Affidavit is based on your income and expenses. The last part covers your monthly expenses, financial obligations, and existing debts, in other words, your liabilities.
Enter the expense and the debt amount in the matching columns. List every item you owe money for, including unpaid overdue items such as utility and tax bills, credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, and student loans. Use a recent bill or statement for each amount, so your numbers match your records.
Before you take the financial affidavit to be signed, read the whole affidavit once from top to bottom. Use this quick check:
If you spot a mistake, print a clean copy of the affidavit form and enter the corrected numbers there. A neat financial affidavit is easier for everyone to read and check.
Please bear in mind that you should not sign the completed form. You can take it to the court clerk, a notary, or a lawyer. It is worth mentioning that you will have to sign the form in their presence, and that person will sign as your witness. Once your statement is reviewed and witnessed by a legal representative, you shall put your signature and current calendar date.
You will only need to give your financial information to the court once the case is finished. However, in certain cases, you might need it for making temporary orders. It would also be a good idea to have three extra copies of the completed and signed form in total:
Common questions about the CJA-23 financial affidavit include which version to use and where to find the form. People also ask how to fill it out on a computer, how to handle changing income, and what to do if they cannot pay court fees.
The first thing to do is to find and fill out the appropriate form. In this case, it is CJA–23 Financial Affidavit form. Please note that if your income rate is below average, you should use the short version of the form. Conversely, if you have an income rate higher than average, you will need to fill out the extended version of the form respectively.
FormsPal lets you find the legal form you need and customize it. You have two ways to complete it:
If you need a different document, see more printable affidavit form templates on FormsPal.
Add up your pay for the last few months and divide the total by the number of months. Enter that average as your monthly income. Keep your pay stubs, so you can show how you got the number.
Yes. Open the financial affidavit form in an online editor, type your answers into the fields, and save the file. A typed affidavit is easy to read, and the affidavit form adds up your totals for you. Keep a saved copy on your computer, so you can print more copies later.
Gather your recent pay stubs, bank statements, and bills. Add loan and credit card statements for your debts. With these records in front of you, you can copy each amount straight into the financial affidavit, so you do not need to guess.
Do not worry about it. Print a clean copy of the affidavit and enter your answers again with the corrected numbers. A clean financial affidavit is easier to read than one with many cross-outs.
If you do not have a financial opportunity to cover your court fees and related bills, you will have to fill out another form called the Application for Waiver of Fees. You can look it up online for more filing tips, or search our website.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
