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New Jersey Pleading Paper Template

New Jersey filed papers reserve a blank space of approximately 3 inches at the top of the first page for the clerk, on portrait letter-size paper, double spaced, in type no smaller than 10-pitch or 12-point, under New Jersey Court Rule 1:4-9.

Introduction

New Jersey's most distinctive formatting rule sits at the top of the first page. Under New Jersey Court Rule 1:4-9, a blank space of approximately 3 inches is reserved at the top of the first page of each paper filed for notations of receipt and filing by the clerk. The papers themselves are portrait-oriented letter size, approximately 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall, on paper of standard weight and quality for copy paper, and shall be double spaced with type no smaller than 10-pitch or 12-point. Only one side of the paper may be used, and recycled paper should be used provided legibility is maintained. The caption follows New Jersey Court Rule 1:4-1. New Jersey is not a numbered-line pleading-paper state. For e-filed documents through statewide eCourts, the orientation rule applies: all electronically filed documents must be appropriately rotated and may not be submitted in an incorrect orientation such as upside down, sideways, or backwards. A filing that crowds the reserved clerk space, drops below 10-pitch or 12-point type, or single spaces the body can be returned. DocDraft drafts your document on properly formatted New Jersey court format from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.

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Key Things to Know

  1. 1

    A blank space of approximately 3 inches is reserved at the top of the first page of each paper filed for notations of receipt and filing by the clerk, under R. 1:4-9.

  2. 2

    Papers are portrait-oriented letter size, approximately 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches tall, on paper of standard weight and quality for copy paper, under R. 1:4-9.

  3. 3

    The body shall be double spaced with type no smaller than 10-pitch or 12-point, under R. 1:4-9.

  4. 4

    Only one side of the paper may be used, and recycled paper should be used provided legibility is maintained, under R. 1:4-9.

  5. 5

    The caption follows New Jersey Court Rule 1:4-1, which governs the form of the caption on filed papers.

  6. 6

    For statewide eCourts e-filing, all electronically filed documents must be appropriately rotated and may not be submitted upside down, sideways, or backwards.

  7. 7

    New Jersey does not use numbered-line pleading paper; the format is set by R. 1:4-9 and the caption by R. 1:4-1.

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Pleading Paper in New Jersey, 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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[Top of first page: blank space of approximately 3 inches reserved for the clerk under R. 1:4-9]

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY [LAW/CHANCERY] DIVISION, [COUNTY] COUNTY DOCKET NO. [DOCKET NUMBER]

[ATTORNEY OR PARTY NAME], [BAR ID IF ANY] [FIRM/ADDRESS] [TELEPHONE] / [EMAIL] Attorney for / Self-Represented [PLAINTIFF/DEFENDANT]

[PLAINTIFF NAME], Plaintiff, v. [DEFENDANT NAME], Defendant.

Civil Action [TITLE OF DOCUMENT, e.g. COMPLAINT]

[Body formatted per R. 1:4-9: portrait letter-size paper approximately 8.5 by 11 inches, standard copy-paper weight and quality, double spaced, type no smaller than 10-pitch or 12-point, one side of the paper only. Caption per R. 1:4-1. E-filed documents appropriately rotated.]

DATED: [DATE]

[SIGNATURE] [NAME], [BAR ID IF ANY] Attorney for / Self-Represented [PARTY]

New Jersey Requirements for Pleading Paper

3-inch clerk space on first page

A blank space of approximately 3 inches is reserved at the top of the first page for clerk notations of receipt and filing, under R. 1:4-9.

Portrait letter-size paper

Papers are portrait-oriented letter size, approximately 8.5 by 11 inches, on standard copy-paper weight and quality, one side only, under R. 1:4-9.

Double spacing

The body shall be double spaced under R. 1:4-9.

Type size

Type shall be no smaller than 10-pitch or 12-point under R. 1:4-9.

Caption

The caption follows New Jersey Court Rule 1:4-1, identifying the court, division, county, docket number, parties, and document title.

E-filing orientation

For statewide eCourts e-filing, all documents must be appropriately rotated and may not be submitted upside down, sideways, or backwards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Under New Jersey Court Rule 1:4-9, a blank space of approximately 3 inches is reserved at the top of the first page of each paper filed for notations of receipt and filing by the clerk.

Under R. 1:4-9, the body shall be double spaced with type no smaller than 10-pitch or 12-point. Papers are portrait letter size, approximately 8.5 by 11 inches, on standard copy-paper weight and quality.

Double spaced. Under New Jersey Court Rule 1:4-9, filed papers shall be double spaced with type no smaller than 10-pitch or 12-point, and only one side of the paper may be used.

No. New Jersey filed papers follow R. 1:4-9 for size, weight, and format and R. 1:4-1 for the caption. There is no requirement for consecutive numbered lines down the left margin of each page.