The forms in the Appendix of Forms suffice under these rules and illustrate the simplicity and brevity that these rules contemplate. Any form contained within the Appendix of Forms or referred to in any court rule governing proceedings in any branch of the Civil Division of the Superior Court may be modified in the discretion of the Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Court, or a designee of either.
Rule 84.Forms
Group XI: General Provisions · Last amended 2024 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 84 tells litigants that the forms in the Appendix of Forms are enough to satisfy the civil rules and model the simplicity the rules aim for, while giving the Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Court, or either one's designee discretion to modify any form used across the Civil Division.
Full Text of Rule 84
Comments
2024 Amendments:
This rule has been amended to clarify that any form used in the Civil Division may be modified in the discretion of the Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Court, or a designee of either.
2017 Amendments:
In 2015, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 84 was abrogated because there were other sources for forms—including court websites and law libraries. Any necessary forms were directly incorporated into the relevant rule (for example, former federal Forms 5 and 6 were incorporated into Federal Rule 4). This approach was rejected as inconsistent with the needs and processes of the Superior Court.
Comment:
Identical to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 84
Plain-English Summary
Rule 84 makes a modest but useful promise: the forms collected in the court's Appendix of Forms are sufficient under the civil rules. A litigant who fills one out correctly does not need to add extra language or restructure it to satisfy some unstated requirement — the form itself does the job the rules ask of it, and it is meant to show, by example, the kind of brief, uncomplicated filing the rules generally favor.
That does not mean the forms are frozen in place. The rule gives the Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Court, or a designee of either the discretion to modify any form in the Appendix, or any form referred to in a rule governing proceedings in any branch of the Civil Division. A 2024 amendment made that discretion explicit for forms used anywhere in the Civil Division, not just the ones printed in the Appendix itself, so the court can keep its forms current without a full rule-amendment process every time a form needs updating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the forms in the Appendix of Forms mandatory in DC Superior Court?
Rule 84 states that the forms in the Appendix suffice under the rules and illustrate the simplicity and brevity the rules contemplate, making them a reliable option for satisfying the applicable filing requirements.
Can the official court forms be updated or changed?
Yes. Rule 84 gives the Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Court, or a designee of either the discretion to modify any form in the Appendix of Forms, or any form referred to in a rule governing Civil Division proceedings.
Who decides when a court form needs to be modified?
The Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Court, or a designee that either one appoints has that discretion under Rule 84.
Does Rule 84 apply only to forms used in one branch of the Civil Division?
No. It covers forms in the Appendix of Forms as well as any form referred to in a court rule governing proceedings in any branch of the Civil Division of the Superior Court.
What changed with Rule 84 in 2024?
The 2024 amendment clarified that any form used in the Civil Division, not only those printed in the Appendix of Forms, may be modified at the discretion of the Chief Judge, the Clerk of the Court, or a designee of either.
Source & verification. Rule text and official Comments are
reproduced verbatim from the District of Columbia Superior Court Rules of Civil
Procedure, adopted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: official court forms dc superior courtappendix of forms civil division dcmodify court form dc superior courtare dc court forms mandatory