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.
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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.
Key Things to Know
- 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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Sample Pleading Paper
California Requirements for Pleading Paper
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).
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 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).
The lines on each page must be one-and-one-half spaced or double-spaced and numbered consecutively (CRC Rule 2.108).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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)).
