What can I find on your site?
LegalPleadingTemplate.com offers free PDF and Microsoft Word downloads of legal pleading papers, templates, notary forms and law office forms, in various formats to suit the needs of many courts.
We also offer time-saving legal pleading templates already set up for users to "overtype" the court name, case number, document name, parties' names, attorney or "in pro per" (self-representing) name as well as a signature line and other elements. These templates are designed to comply with the typical specifications of superior, district, bankruptcy and other courts.
Why do you offer pleading paper in different formats?
Courts have different requirements as to the format of the pleading paper that must be used, such as the width of the left and right margins, how many numbered lines are included, the font and point size and the vertical border line(s) at the left and right of the page. Because of this, LegalPleadingTemplate.com offers many different options for your pleading paper needs.
How do I know what type of pleading paper I need?
The type of pleading paper you need depends on where you're going to be filing your pleading. To find out what style you should use, visit the web site for the court in which you're planning to file. Many counties and court systems have a web page or PDF download called "Rules of Court." If you can't find the information, or the Rules of Court don't specify the pleading paper guidelines, try calling the court clerk's office directly. Your local law library may also be of help.
What is the difference between the PDF version and the Microsoft Word version of the pleading paper at LegalPleadingTemplate.com?
The free PDF download is convenient and printable but it is not as flexible as a word processing document and, depending on your version of PDF reader, you will probably not be able to keyboard upon it (fill it in) and/or save your changes. You'll likely need to load your printer or typewriter with the paper and print upon it that way. In other words, downloading the PDF version is almost as if you had gone to a specialty office supply store or ordered pleading paper from a vendor, but without having to take the time or leave the comfort of your home or office.
The Word version, which is also free, is fully customizable. Users can easily keyboard directly onto the document as well as adjust the template by adding footers, legal citations and other elements. Also, the Word version is set up so that the pleading paper format is continuous: As you reach the end of the first page, a second page will appear (with the same numbers and other formatting), and so on.
Can I alter your pleading paper to suit my specific needs?
If you opt to download the Microsoft Word version, you can customize the pleading paper and template however you'd like. If you want to see some of the styles and features Word makes available for legal pleadings, activate the Pleadings toolbar by checking the box that appears when you select Toolbars under the View drop-down menu. You can add formatted legal citations, headers, footers, caption box and other custom formatting as well as change the font, point size and so on.
So, I can add footers and headers to the pleading paper?
Yes, if you've downloaded the Word version. Simply click near the top of bottom of the page and a header or footer box will appear. Many courts ask that each page have a footer with a summary title of the filing as well as a page number.
How do I change the font and point size on the pleading paper?
On the Microsoft Word version, change the font and point size just as you would in most word processing files: by selecting Font under the Format menu. If you need to change the font or point size of the numbered lines, click near the numbers and a box will appear. Select All and change as desired. In most cases, changing the font size slightly (for example, from 10 to 12 point or from 10 to 9 point) will not "mess up" the numbers or spacing.
Can I use the pleading paper in a typewriter?
Yes. You may need to adjust the typewriter's spacing and test out how the paper feeds into the platen (roller). Please be aware that if you photocopy the pleading paper, the document features may "shrink" by up to 2 percent, making it harder to line up consistently in the typewriter. Many law firms keep pleading paper on hand in case of power outages, computer breakdowns and other malfunctions that can happen as a court deadline nears. Also, many courts allow pleadings to be submitted in handwriting, as long as the penmanship is clear and pleading paper is used.
How do I make the blank pleading paper work with my computer printer?
Load the blank pleading paper into your printer tray. You may need to run a couple of test prints to make sure the words you keyboard in print alongside the numbered lines. If it's "off," try adjusting the line height and/or point size. Of course, if you've downloaded the Word version, you could choose to open the pleading paper document in Microsoft Word, keyboard onto the document, and print that.
Do you have any other tips for using pleading paper?
Be sure to use only one side of the paper. Use only 8 1/2-by-11-inch paper. Pleadings should almost always be double-spaced, but quotes and other citations may often be single spaced. It's most common to indent (tab) five spaces with each new paragraph. Keep in mind that you will likely need to fasten your document together at the top. To be certain about the rules, check with the court where you will file your plea.
I can't find the pleading paper I'm looking for.
Our goal at LegalPleadingTemplate.com is to offer a range of pleading paper and legal pleading templates for use by anyone who needs them. Please help us to grow this site by sending us your requests and suggestions.
What can I find on your site?
LegalPleadingTemplate.com offers the instant download of customizable Microsoft Word versions of legal pleading templates to suit the needs of many courts. These legal pleading templates are already set up for users to "overtype" the court name, case number, document name, parties' names, attorney or "in pro per" (self-representing) name as well as a signature line and other elements. These templates are designed to comply with the typical specifications of superior, district, bankruptcy and other courts. LegalPleadingTemplate.com also offers free PDF downloads of legal pleading paper and free Word-customizable pleading paper in various formats.
How do I know which legal pleading template I need?
The type of legal pleading template you need depends on where you're going to be filing your pleading. To find out what one you should use, visit the web site for the court in which you're planning to file. Many counties and court systems have a web page or PDF download called "Rules of Court." If you can't find the information, or the Rules of Court don't specify the pleading paper guidelines, try calling the court clerk's office directly. Your local law library may also be of help.
What are the style variations in your legal pleading templates?
LegalPleadingTemplate.com has generated legal pleading templates based on the most common anticipate uses, but we plan to add many more. Currently, each template is available formatted with 25, 26 or 28 numbered lines. All margins are 1 inch, and there are two vertical lines at the left of the page and one at the right. The font is Courier and the point size is 9, but both can be easily changed by the user.
How do I get my information on to the legal pleading template?
The templates are designed so that the placement of the elements (i.e. centered Name of the Court) are where they typically need to be. The user simply "types over" the place-holder text: Type in the case number where it says "[case number]," etc. Don't forget to change the date to match your filing date! If you are representing yourself, put your name and "In Pro Per" where the attorney information would go. (Check with your local court and/or law library for specifics.)
Can I alter the legal pleading templates to suit my specific needs?
You can customize the template however you choose. The legal pleading templates contain the styles and features offered by Microsoft Word's legal pleading function. The pleadings toolbar is active, and a Table of Authorities is included for formatted legal citations. Headers, footers and other elements can be added, along with custom formatting. It's simple to change the font and point size as well. To change the font or point size of the numbered lines, click near the numbers and a box will appear. Select All and change as desired. In most cases, changing the font size slightly (for example, from 10 to 12 point or from 10 to 9 point) will not disrupt the numbers or spacing.
I can't find the legal pleading template I'm looking for.
LegalPleadingTemplate.com intends to offer a range of pleading paper and legal pleading templates for use by anyone who needs them. Please help us add to this resource by sending us your requests and suggestions.
While LegalPleadingTemplate.com has made every effort to ensure the pleading paper offered complies with court rules and meets the specifications described, it is ultimately your responsibility to research the rules of the specific court to which you are submitting your pleading. Documents on LegalPleadingTemplate.com are not guaranteed to be legally compliant, current or complete. Use of this site does not constitute an attorney-client relationship, and the documents and information contained herein are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. LegalPleadingTemplate.com, Savetz Publishing, Inc., its employees, affiliates, etc. will not be held liable for any damages resulting from the use of the tools, information and documents on this site.
