Federal law permits impoverished parties to litigate in federal court without paying filing fees. Such litigants proceed in forma pauperis (IFP), and doing so requires them to file an affidavit with the court detailing their financial status by disclosing their assets, income and expenses. If, based on that affidavit, the court determines that they are sufficiently impoverished, then IFP status will be granted and fees will be waived. Click here to continue reading.