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Pro Hac Vice Application

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PRO HAC VICE ADMISSION - INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

2211 United States Courthouse, 75 Spring Street, S.W.

Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3361

404-215-1600

Local Rule 83.1B, below, sets forth the requirements for admission pro hac vice.

83.1B. Permission to Practice in a Particular Case.

A non-resident attorney who is not an active member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia, but who is a member in good standing of the bar of any United States Court or of the highest court of any State may apply in writing for permission to appear pro hac vice.

Applications for admission pro hac vice may be obtained from the Clerk. The applicant shall state under penalty of perjury the applicant's (1) residence address, (2) office address and telephone number, (3) the courts to which admitted to practice and the dates of admission, and (4) a statement that the applicant is in good standing and eligible to practice in all courts to which admitted. Applications for admission pro hac vice must be accompanied by payment of a prescribed admission fee. A non-resident attorney will not be permitted to appear until the applicant's application for admission pro hac vice has been signed by the district judge to whom the case is assigned or by the district judge's courtroom deputy, if so authorized by the district judge.

An attorney applying to appear pro hac vice must also designate a local member of the bar of this Court with whom the opposing counsel and the Court may readily communicate regarding the conduct of the case and upon whom papers shall be served. The address, telephone number, and written consent of the designated local counsel must be filed with the attorney's pro hac vice application.

If the non-resident attorney fails to respond to any order of the Court for appearance or otherwise, the local attorney shall have the responsibility and full authority to act for and on behalf of the client in all proceedings in connection with the case, including hearings, pretrial conferences, and trial.

Admission Fee: $100.00: cash, U.S. Postal money order, cashier's check, or law firm check payable to Clerk, U.S. District Court.

Application:

1. Type, completing all blanks.

2. May be presented at the Clerk’s Office public intake counter or mailed, with fee, to Clerk, U.S. District Court:

Atlanta: Room 2216, 75 Spring Street, S.W., 30303

Gainesville: 201 Federal Building, 30501 (678-450-2760),

Newnan: Room 352, 18 Greenville Street, 30264 (678-423-3060)

Rome: Room 304, 600 East First Street, 30161 (706-291-5629)

Designated Local Counsel: Must be an active member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia and the Bar of this Court and maintain an office in the Northern District of Georgia.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

1. Provide a list of all cases filed in this Court in which applicant has appeared as counsel.

2. Type local counsel's name below the signature line and enter the bar number in the space provided.

3. Pay $100.00 fee at time of filing.


UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

Plaintiff

v.

Defendant.

CASE NO.:

Appearing on behalf of:

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION PRO HAC VICE

Petitioner, , hereby requests permission to appear pro hac vice in the subject case filed in the Division of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Petitioner states under penalty of perjury that (he/she) is a member in good standing of the Bar of the following United States Court, , and/or the highest Court of the State of .

Petitioner states further that (he/she) is not eligible for admission under Local Rule 83.1A and that (he/she) does not reside or maintain an office for the practice of law in the State of Georgia.

Petitioner states that (he/she) has provided fully all information requested on the reverse side of this application. Petitioner designates as local counsel.

This day of , 20 .

(Signature of Petitioner)

CONSENT OF DESIGNATED LOCAL COUNSEL

I, , designated local counsel for the subject case, agree to readily communicate with opposing counsel and the Court regarding the conduct of this case and accept papers when served and recognize my responsibility and full authority to act for and on behalf of the client in all proceedings related to this case, including hearings, pretrial conferences and trials, should the Petitioner fail to respond to any Court order for appearance or otherwise.

This day of , 20 .

Signature of Local Counsel


ORDER OF ADMISSION

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

Civil/Criminal Action Number

It appearing to the Court that the requirements stated in LR 83.1B for admission pro hac vice have been satisfied, Petitioner's request to appear pro hac vice in the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia in the subject case is GRANTED.

This day of , 20 .

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

***

NAME OF PETITIONER:

Residence Address:

Business Address:

COURTS TO WHICH ADMITTED (Identify Court and Location)

Enter text✕

What a Pro Hac Vice Application Is and when it’s used

A Pro Hac Vice Application is the court filing through which an attorney not admitted in a particular state or federal district requests permission to appear in a specific case. The application typically attaches a motion, an affidavit from the out‑of‑state attorney, a certificate of good standing from the home jurisdiction, and any local counsel sponsorship or association required by the admitting court. Local rules control format, required supporting documents, filing fees and whether electronic submission or e-signatures are accepted for the motion and accompanying affidavits.

Why this application matters for case strategy and compliance

Using a complete Pro Hac Vice Application ensures the court can assess an out‑of‑state attorney’s fitness to appear, prevents procedural delays, and preserves client representation while jurisdictional admission is pending.

Why this application matters for case strategy and compliance

Who prepares and files a Pro Hac Vice Application

Typical filers include out‑of‑state counsel, local sponsoring counsel, and litigation support staff who coordinate filings and service.

  • Out‑of‑state counsel — Prepares affidavit, obtains certificate of good standing, certifies compliance with local rules.
  • Local counsel — Reviews motion, signs association or sponsorship statement, and accepts service of papers locally.
  • Law firm administrator — Manages filing, pays court fees, and tracks any hearing or pro hac vice deadlines.

Confirm local court rules for required signatures, notarization, fees, and whether the court accepts electronic filings or scanned/e-signed affidavits.

Primary signers and their roles

Out‑of‑State Attorney

The requesting attorney swears or affirms to credentials and disciplinary history, signs the affidavit and motion, and typically attaches a certificate of good standing from their admitting jurisdiction.

Local Sponsoring Counsel

Local counsel signs an association or sponsorship statement accepting local service and regulatory responsibilities, and may be required to file an appearance or consent to be the point of contact.

Essential components included in a professional application

A well‑assembled Pro Hac Vice Application bundles the court motion, sworn affidavit, local counsel association, certificate of good standing, fee payment, and a proposed order in the correct local format.

Motion

A concise motion stating the legal grounds for admission and the specific case events that justify out‑of‑state counsel’s appearance; follow local procedural form and numbering.

Affidavit

Sworn or affirmed statement by the out‑of‑state attorney listing bar admission dates, disciplinary history, contact information, and certificate provenance; notarize only if local rules require.

Good Standing

Official certificate or letter from the attorney’s home bar showing active status; many courts require the certificate to be recent (commonly within 30–90 days).

Local Counsel

Signed association or sponsorship form from a member of the admitting court’s bar accepting local responsibility and service of papers in the jurisdiction.

Proposed Order

A ready‑to‑enter proposed order granting pro hac vice admission in the local court’s preferred template or format to expedite judicial action.

Fee/Proof

Payment confirmation or fee‑exemption documentation as required by the clerk’s office; retain receipts and file slips for the record.

Step-by-step: prepare and submit a Pro Hac Vice Application

Follow a consistent sequence to compile documents, verify requirements, and submit to the correct clerk’s office or e‑filing portal.

  • 01
    Gather Documents: Collect motion, affidavit, certificate of good standing, and local counsel sponsorship.
  • 02
    Confirm Local Rules: Check court rules for format, notarization, and e‑filing or original signature requirements.
  • 03
    Pay Fees: Calculate and prepare required filing fee and payment method for the clerk or e‑filing system.
  • 04
    File and Serve: File with the clerk (or e‑file) and serve opposing counsel per local rules; retain proof of service.

Configure an online workflow for repeatable filings

When handling multiple pro hac vice matters, standardize fields, authentication, and attachments to reduce errors and speed submission.

Field Configuration
Signer Authentication Email + SMS code or stronger KBA where court requires increased identity proofing
Signature Type Allow handwritten e‑signature image or cryptographic signature per court acceptance
Attachment Required Make certificate of good standing and local counsel letter required uploads
Notifications Auto‑notify sponsoring counsel, filers, and admin when filing completes

Where to send the completed application and how it is processed

Filed documents follow a predictable routing from filer to clerk to judge; confirm whether the court requires paper originals or accepts scanned/e‑filed submissions.

  • Clerk’s Office: Primary recipient for filing or e‑filing; accepts fees and assigns docket number
  • Opposing Counsel: Serve electronically or by mail as required; include proof of service
  • Judicial Review: Judge or magistrate reviews motion and supporting materials
  • Order Entry: Court issues an order granting or denying admission, which is docketed

Digital submission and signature platform requirements

Confirm the court’s e‑filing rules and acceptable signature formats before using any eSignature platform for pro hac vice filings.

  • File Formats: PDF/A or PDF preferred by most e‑filing systems
  • Authentication: Email + SMS codes, KBA, or SSO depending on required assurance
  • Integrations: Ensure compatibility with document storage and docketing systems

When courts accept electronic affidavits, maintain audit trails, signed PDFs, and any identity proofing logs to support the filing if questioned.

Comparing eSignature vendors for Pro Hac Vice workflows

Choose an eSignature provider that aligns with your security, HIPAA or court requirements, and team scale. Below is a concise vendor comparison; signNow is listed first per platform data.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7‑day free trial, no card Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Typical timing and evidence required with the application

Courts set local timing and may require recent supporting documents or prompt service; anticipate internal lead time for document collection and payment.

Certificate Recency:

Obtain certificate of good standing dated within 30–90 days per many courts

Filing Lead Time:

Allow 2–7 business days for internal review and fee processing

Clerk Processing:

Clerk review timelines vary; some courts rule within days, others schedule a hearing

Service Deadline:

Serve opposing counsel per local rule timelines—often contemporaneous with filing

Order Entry:

Court may enter a written order or require a hearing before admission

Key milestones from preparation to court order

Track these milestones sequentially to minimize delay and ensure documentary compliance with the admitting court.

01

Document Assembly

Compile motion, affidavit, certificate, and proposed order before filing

02

Local Rule Check

Confirm signature, notary, and e‑filing requirements

03

File and Pay

Submit to clerk and pay required fees or request waivers if applicable

04

Judicial Action

Judge signs order or schedules a hearing to decide the motion

Common mistakes that cause rejection or delay

  • Submitting an outdated certificate of good standing; many clerks require certificates dated within 30–90 days of filing.
  • Failing to include a signed local counsel association form, which many courts require before accepting the pro hac vice filing.
  • Using an e-signature where the court requires an original notarized affidavit or rejects electronic affidavits under local practice rules.
  • Omitting proof of service or using incorrect service methods under the local rules, leading to procedural defects.

Consequences of incorrect or unauthorized filings

Motion Denial: Court may deny admission for noncompliance
Sanctions: Potential monetary or disciplinary sanctions by the court or bar
UPL Exposure: Risk of unauthorized practice of law issues in some jurisdictions
Fee Forfeiture: Unrecoverable filing costs and wasted attorney time
Delay: Client representation delayed pending cure or rehearing
Record Challenge: Admissibility or enforcement affected by improper signature/verification

Document and platform security considerations

In Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3 encryption
At Rest: AES‑256 encryption
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 available
Regulatory: ESIGN and UETA compliance
Healthcare: HIPAA available with BAA
Audit Trail: Timestamp, IP, and action log retained

Practical tips for a clean, court‑ready application

Adopt these practices to reduce rejections and speed judicial consideration.

Confirm Local Court Rules
Before drafting, review the admitting court’s local rules or standing orders for pro hac vice procedures, signature and notary requirements, and any required forms or fee amounts to prevent avoidable rejections.
Use Recent Good‑Standing Proof
Obtain the certificate of good standing from the home bar within the timeframe required by the admitting court (commonly 30–90 days) and attach the official or certified copy as required.
Coordinate with Local Counsel
Have local sponsoring counsel review and sign the association statement and confirm they are prepared to accept service and meet any jurisdictional obligations imposed by the local bar.
Preserve Complete Audit Trails
If using electronic signatures or remote notarization, retain signed PDFs, audit logs, identity proofing records, and payment receipts to support authenticity if the court or opposing party challenges the filing.

Representative scenarios showing how the application is used

Two concise examples illustrate common Pro Hac Vice workflows and outcomes in typical civil litigation contexts.

Civil Litigation — Out‑of‑State Lead

An out‑of‑state partner prepares the motion and affidavit

  • local counsel signs an association statement
  • the filer attaches a 45‑day‑old good‑standing certificate, pays the fee, and the court grants admission after clerk review and docketing.

Complex Commercial Case

Counsel coordinates multiple filings across districts

  • each court requires slightly different affidavit wording
  • consistent templates, recent certificates, and local counsel sponsorship reduced rework and kept the team on the same schedule.

Frequently asked questions about Pro Hac Vice Applications

Answers to common procedural and technical questions to help avoid delays; consult local rules or the clerk for court‑specific practice.


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