Operating Status
ShareCivil Actions Branch
The Civil Actions Branch is responsible for processing requests that exceed $10,000 and matters seeking non-monetary relief, such as requiring someone to stop or to perform a certain act.
Judge in Chambers
The Civil Division also has a courtroom called Judge in Chambers (JIC) that handles a wide variety of emergency hearings, short-term cases, and administrative matters such as name changes or other changes to vital records.
Visit the JIC page for information for about the most common matters handled in JIC, as well as applications and forms you can complete and file online or print and file in person.
In most instances, applicants/parties will be required to attend a hearing before a judge in JIC. These hearings are conducted through Webex and will rarely be on the same day that an applicant/party files their paperwork with the court.
Housing Conditions Court
The Housing Conditions Court within the Civil Actions Branch hears cases in which tenants sue landlords for violations of the D.C. Housing Code. Hearings in the Housing Conditions Court are expedited and usually scheduled less than one month after filing a case.
Learn more about Housing Conditions Court.
Electronic Filing of Documents
Important Information about Electronic Filing of Documents – Immediate Access by the Public and Redaction of Documents
If you are filing a civil case on your own (without a lawyer), please be aware that many filings will be automatically accepted and viewable right away by the public, effective September 22, 2025. Before you file anything, make sure to remove or hide any private information—like your social security number, driver’s license number, or other personal details. This is called redacting. The Division will not redact this information.
Instructions: Redacting Filings for Privacy Protection (Civil Rule 5.2)
When you file papers with the court, you must protect everyone’s private information. This means you must redact (hide or remove) certain personal details from your documents before you file them.
What to Leave Out of Your Papers:
- Social security numbers
- Tax ID numbers
- Driver’s license or state ID numbers
- Full birth dates
- Full names of minors (under age 18)
- Full financial account numbers (like bank or credit card numbers)
Safe Ways to Show Required Information:
If you need to refer to any of the above, use the following instead:
| Private Information | Instead, Use |
|---|---|
| Social Security Number | SS (do not use any numbers) |
| Tax ID Number | TID (do not use any numbers) |
| Driver’s or Non-Driver’s License | DL or NDL (do not use any numbers) |
| Birth Date | Only the year (e.g., 1990) |
| Name of a Minor | Initials only (e.g., J.S.) |
| Financial Account Number | Only the last 4 digits (e.g., 1234) |
You can also black out private information using a dark marker before you file your papers.
These rules help keep your personal and financial details safe when documents are shared or viewed by others.
For more information, see the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure – Rule 5.2.
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A complaint form and summons must be filed with the clerk. The person filing a suit is called the “plaintiff.” The person who is being sued is known as the “defendant.” A complaint can involve more than one plaintiff and/or defendant. Each party listed on the complaint must have the following, if known to the plaintiff at the time of filing: first name, last name and address. If the name and/or address of a party is unknown, please indicate “UNKNOWN.” Note that the plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney must sign the complaint and include their first and last name, bar number, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if applicable) at the time of filing.
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One copy of the original complaint for each defendant listed on the complaint should be provided to the clerk.
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A summons must be completed for each named defendant on the complaint. There is no additional fee to issue more than one (initial) summons per defendant at the time of filing the complaint. A $10 fee is required to issue an alias (second) summons on a defendant after an initial summons has been issued by the clerk. There is no fee to have an initial summons issued for service against the District of Columbia or the Mayor. Personal checks are accepted in person with a photograph ID.
- Litigants seeking to waive the fee for filing a complaint must submit an application to waive court costs along with the complaint.
- The complaint and subsequent papers must be on white 8-1/2 x 11 paper single sided and fastened at the top.
- "DC Superior Court" must be indicated across the top of the first page on each filing.
- Pro se parties must sign the complaint and include their address and telephone number (A handwritten signature must be provided, a name affixed by a rubber stamp is not acceptable as a signature).
- Discovery pleadings are not filed with the court unless the court so orders.
