What line spacing do North Dakota court documents require?

Under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1, North Dakota district court text is double-spaced, except for quoted material, which may be set more closely. The rule governs the physical form of the document rather than the caption.

Does North Dakota use numbered-line pleading paper?

No. North Dakota does not require consecutive left-margin line numbers. N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1 requires that each sheet be separately numbered, which is page numbering, not line numbering.

What goes in a North Dakota court caption?

Under N.D.R.Civ.P. 10, the caption sets forth the name of the court, the county, the title of the action, the file number, and a Rule 7(a) designation. N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1 then governs the physical form of the rest of the document.

North Dakota Pleading Paper Template

Q: What paper size does North Dakota require for court filings?

Under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1, North Dakota district court documents use 8 1/2 by 11 inch white paper printed on one side of the sheet only. Documents are filed flat and unfolded, with each set firmly fastened together.

Introduction

North Dakota does not use numbered-line pleading paper. The physical form of district court documents is set by N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1, which calls for 8 1/2 by 11 inch white paper printed on one side of the sheet only, double-spaced except for quoted material, with each sheet separately numbered, and with documents filed flat and unfolded, each set firmly fastened together. The caption itself is governed separately by N.D.R.Civ.P. 10, which sets out the court, county, title of the action, file number, and the Rule 7(a) designation. Rule 3.1 controls how the paper looks; Rule 10 controls what the heading says. A document that arrives folded, double-sided, or with unnumbered sheets does not match the rule and can be returned for correction, and in a deadline-driven matter a bounced filing can cost you the date. Electronic filing is handled through the statewide Odyssey system under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.5 on electronic filing in district courts, which applies to attorneys statewide; confirm the exact mandatory-versus-permissive wording against the primary rule. This page covers the caption block, the paper and one-sided rule, the double-spacing requirement, the per-sheet numbering, and the e-filing path so your document matches what a North Dakota district court accepts. DocDraft drafts your document on properly formatted North Dakota court format from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.

Key Things to Know

The physical form of documents is governed by N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1, while the caption is governed by N.D.R.Civ.P. 10.

Documents use 8 1/2 by 11 inch white paper, printed on one side of the sheet only, under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1.

Text is double-spaced except for quoted material under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1.

Each sheet must be separately numbered under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1.

Documents are filed flat and unfolded, with each set firmly fastened together, under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1.

The caption sets forth the court, county, title of the action, file number, and a Rule 7(a) designation under N.D.R.Civ.P. 10.

Electronic filing runs through the statewide Odyssey system under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.5; confirm the exact mandatory-versus-permissive wording against the primary rule.

Customize your Pleading Paper Template with DocDraft

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA IN DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF [COUNTY], [ORDINAL] JUDICIAL DISTRICT

[PLAINTIFF NAME], Plaintiff,

vs. Case No. [CASE NUMBER]

[DEFENDANT NAME], Defendant.

[TITLE OF DOCUMENT]

[Caption per N.D.R.Civ.P. 10: court, county, title of the action, file number, and Rule 7(a) designation.]

[Body formatted per N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1: 8 1/2 x 11 inch white paper, one side of the sheet only, double-spaced except quoted material, each sheet separately numbered, filed flat and unfolded with each set firmly fastened together.]

Dated this [DAY] day of [MONTH], [YEAR].

[ATTORNEY OR SELF-REPRESENTED PARTY NAME] [BAR NUMBER, IF ATTORNEY] [ADDRESS] [TELEPHONE] [EMAIL]

[E-file through the statewide Odyssey system per N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.5.]

North Dakota Requirements for Pleading Paper

Letter-size white paper

Use 8 1/2 by 11 inch white paper printed on one side of the sheet only under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1.

Double spacing

Double-space the text except for quoted material under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1.

Numbered sheets

Separately number each sheet under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1.

Flat, fastened filing

File documents flat and unfolded, with each set firmly fastened together, under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.1.

Caption block

Set forth the court, county, title of the action, file number, and a Rule 7(a) designation under N.D.R.Civ.P. 10.

Electronic filing

File electronically through the statewide Odyssey system under N.D.R.Ct. Rule 3.5. Confirm the exact mandatory-versus-permissive wording against the primary rule.