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California Pleading Paper Template

California court filings use pleading paper: consecutively numbered lines down the left margin, at least three line numbers per vertical inch, on 8.5 by 11 paper. Rules 2.100 through 2.119 of the California Rules of Court govern the format.

Introduction

California is one of the few states that still requires true pleading paper. Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.108, the lines on each page must be one-and-one-half or double-spaced and numbered consecutively, beginning with the number 1 on each page, with at least three line numbers for every vertical inch. Those numbers sit at the left margin, separated from the text by a vertical column of space at least 1/5 inch wide or a single or double vertical line. The rest of the format follows the same chapter: papers are 8.5 by 11 inches on white or unbleached paper of at least 20-pound weight (Rule 2.103), font no smaller than 12 points (Rule 2.104) in a style essentially equivalent to Courier, Times New Roman, or Arial (Rule 2.105), with a left margin of at least one inch and a right margin of at least 1/2 inch (Rule 2.107). A filing that arrives without numbered lines, on the wrong paper, or with a defective first-page caption can be rejected by the clerk, which costs you the filing date. This page lays out the line numbering, margins, font, first-page caption under Rule 2.111, and footer rules so your document is in the form a California trial court expects. DocDraft drafts your document on properly formatted California pleading paper from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.

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Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    Lines must be numbered consecutively starting at 1 on every page, with at least three line numbers per vertical inch, and the page text must be one-and-one-half or double-spaced (CRC Rule 2.108).

  2. 2

    Line numbers go at the left margin, separated from the text by a vertical column at least 1/5 inch wide or a single or double vertical line (CRC Rule 2.108).

  3. 3

    Font must be at least 12 points (CRC Rule 2.104) in a style essentially equivalent to Courier, Times New Roman, or Arial (CRC Rule 2.105), in black or blue-black (CRC Rule 2.106).

  4. 4

    The left margin must be at least one inch from the left edge and the right margin at least 1/2 inch from the right edge (CRC Rule 2.107).

  5. 5

    Paper must be 8.5 by 11 inches, opaque, unglazed, white or unbleached, at least 20-pound weight, and printed on one side only when not filed electronically (CRC Rules 2.103, 2.102).

  6. 6

    The first page follows Rule 2.111: attorney or party info beginning 1 inch from the top to the left of center, a clerk's blank space to the right, the court title on line 8 at or below 3 1/3 inches, then case title, case number, and the nature of the paper.

  7. 7

    Each page is numbered consecutively at the bottom in Arabic numerals (CRC Rule 2.109) and carries a footer with the title of the paper in at least 10-point font (CRC Rule 2.110).

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Pleading Paper in California, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Pleading Paper guide walks through them.

Open the Pleading Paper guide

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SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

[Line 1, beginning 1 inch from the top, to the left of center:] [YOUR NAME], [State Bar No. if attorney] [OFFICE / MAILING ADDRESS] [CITY, STATE, ZIP] Telephone: [PHONE] Fax: [FAX] E-mail: [EMAIL] [Attorney for / Self-represented:] [PARTY]

[To the right of center, in the first 2 inches between lines 1 and 7: blank space reserved for the clerk.]

[On line 8, at or below 3 1/3 inches from the top, centered:] SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

[Below the court title, to the left of center:] [PLAINTIFF NAME], Plaintiff, vs. [DEFENDANT NAME], Defendant.

[To the right of and opposite the title:] Case No. [CASE NUMBER]

[Below the case number:] [NATURE OF THE PAPER, e.g. COMPLAINT FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT]

[Body formatted per CRC Rules 2.100-2.119: 8.5 by 11 paper (Rule 2.103); consecutively numbered lines at the left margin, at least three per vertical inch, one-and-one-half or double-spaced (Rule 2.108); font at least 12 points (Rule 2.104) in a style essentially equivalent to Courier, Times New Roman, or Arial (Rule 2.105), black or blue-black (Rule 2.106); left margin at least 1 inch, right margin at least 1/2 inch (Rule 2.107).]

[Averments / argument set out in numbered paragraphs along the numbered lines.]

Dated: [DATE]

                                    ____________________________
                                    [SIGNATURE]
                                    [TYPED NAME], [State Bar No.]
                                    [Attorney for / Self-represented] [PARTY]

[Bottom of each page: page number in Arabic numerals (Rule 2.109) and a footer with the title of the paper in at least 10-point font, below the page number and divided by a printed line (Rule 2.110).]

California Requirements for Pleading Paper

8.5 by 11 paper, white, 20-pound

All papers must be 8.5 by 11 inches; papers not filed electronically must be opaque, unglazed, white or unbleached, of at least 20-pound weight, and printed on one side only (CRC Rules 2.103, 2.102).

Left margin 1 inch, right 1/2 inch

The left margin of each page must be at least one inch from the left edge and the right margin at least 1/2 inch from the right edge (CRC Rule 2.107).

Font at least 12 points, equivalent style

Font must be no smaller than 12 points (CRC Rule 2.104), in a style essentially equivalent to Courier, Times New Roman, or Arial (CRC Rule 2.105), in black or blue-black (CRC Rule 2.106).

Line spacing 1.5 or double

The lines on each page must be one-and-one-half spaced or double-spaced and numbered consecutively (CRC Rule 2.108).

Consecutively numbered lines

Line numbers go at the left margin, separated from the text by a vertical column at least 1/5 inch wide or a single or double vertical line, numbered from 1 on each page, with at least three line numbers per vertical inch (CRC Rule 2.108).

First-page caption per Rule 2.111

The first page carries the filer info beginning 1 inch from the top to the left of center, a clerk's blank space to the right, the court title on line 8 at or below 3 1/3 inches, then the case title, case number, and nature of the paper (CRC Rule 2.111).

Consecutive page numbering

Each page must be numbered consecutively at the bottom using only Arabic numerals; the page number may be suppressed on the first page (CRC Rule 2.109).

Footer with title of the paper

Each page must bear a footer below the page number, divided by a printed line, containing the title of the paper or a clear abbreviation in at least 10-point font (CRC Rule 2.110).

Electronic filing is court-by-court

Papers submitted electronically must meet the requirements in Rule 2.256(b); whether e-filing is mandatory is set court-by-court under Code of Civil Procedure 1010.6, and clerks may not reject a PDF solely for minor font-size variation (CRC Rules 2.100(c), 2.118(a)(3)).

Frequently Asked Questions

Pleading paper is the format California trial courts require for many filings: 8.5 by 11 paper with consecutively numbered lines running down the left margin. California Rules of Court Rule 2.108 requires at least three line numbers per vertical inch, numbered starting at 1 on each page, with the text one-and-one-half or double-spaced.

Under California Rules of Court Rule 2.107, the left margin of each page must be at least one inch from the left edge and the right margin at least 1/2 inch from the right edge. Line numbers required by Rule 2.108 sit at the left margin, separated from the text by a vertical column at least 1/5 inch wide.

California Rules of Court Rule 2.104 requires a font no smaller than 12 points. Rule 2.105 requires a style essentially equivalent to Courier, Times New Roman, or Arial, and Rule 2.106 requires the color to be black or blue-black.

Rule 2.111 sets the first-page layout: the filer's name and contact information begin 1 inch from the top to the left of center, a blank space for the clerk sits to the right, the court title appears on line 8 at or below 3 1/3 inches from the top, then the case title, case number, and nature of the paper follow below.

The California Rules of Court chapter on form (Rules 2.100 through 2.119) prescribes the format of papers filed in trial courts, and Rule 2.108 sets the line-numbering requirement. Some forms and document types follow different rules, so confirm the specific requirement for your filing with the court.