Editing Pauper's oath

{{Short description|Sworn statement to being completely destitute}}
A '''pauper's oath''' is a sworn statement or [[oath]] by a person of being completely destitute or a [[pauperism|pauper]], without much [[money]] or [[property]].

A person without the ability to pay court costs, also known as "being indigent", has the option to swear a pauper's oath to file a [[lawsuit]] without paying filing fees. Prisoners filing legal actions often use a pauper's oath because persons in [[prison]] are often completely without money or any means of acquiring any.

Historically, especially during the [[Great Depression]], the pauper's oath was required as a prerequisite for receiving [[welfare (financial aid)|welfare]] in the [[United States]].

One pauper's oath used when establishing indigent status under US federal law is as follows:<ref>{{usc|18|3569}}</ref>

{{cquote|I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have not any property, real or personal, exceeding $20, except such as is by law exempt from being taken on civil process for debt; and that I have no property in any way conveyed or concealed, or in any way disposed of, for my future use or benefit.}}

"So help me God," at the end, is optional.

==See also==
* [[Bankruptcy]]
* [[Poverty]]
* [[In forma pauperis]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Oaths]]
[[Category:Welfare economics]]

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