Exhibit Labels for
Court Filings
Complete, embedded labels for trial exhibits, motion exhibits, and deposition exhibits. Preview the exact output, then compare it with the governing federal, state, or administrative filing rules.
- An exhibit label needs an identifier, either a number (1, 2, 3) or a letter (A, B, C), though your court's rules or orders may require more.
- Party designation, written as "Plaintiff's Exhibit 1" or "Defendant's Exhibit A," is required by some courts and optional in others.
- Optional label elements include the case or docket number and, for deposition exhibits, the deponent's name and the date.
- ExhibitPrep-labeled PDFs are compatible with CM/ECF (federal courts), Odyssey File & Serve, File & ServeXpress, and state court e-filing portals.
- Labeling 20 exhibits by hand in Adobe Acrobat takes 45-90 minutes; ExhibitPrep completes the same batch in 5-10 minutes.
- Paralegal services charge per filing to label exhibits, and desktop litigation software is sold as a monthly subscription.
- Trial exhibits become part of the trial record once admitted; motion exhibits support arguments in briefs and declarations and may never be offered at trial.
- ExhibitPrep can generate an automatic table of contents with page numbers when exhibits are combined into a single PDF, serving as the filing's exhibit index.
Your motion is due tomorrow and exhibits need labels...
17 declaration exhibits need consistent labeling
E-filing deadline is 5pm and it's already 2pm
Manual labeling in Acrobat takes too long
Labels need to match references in your brief
Exhibit Labels for Every Filing Type
Trial Exhibits
Evidence presented at trial
Common Examples:
- Documentary evidence
- Photographs
- Medical records
- Contracts
Motion Exhibits
Supporting documents for motions
Common Examples:
- Declaration exhibits
- Summary judgment evidence
- Discovery responses
- Deposition excerpts
Deposition Exhibits
Documents marked during depositions
Common Examples:
- Documents shown to witness
- Exhibits marked during questioning
- Prior statements
Hearing Exhibits
Evidence for motion hearings
Common Examples:
- Temporary restraining orders
- Preliminary injunctions
- Status conferences
What to Include in Exhibit Labels
Required Elements
- 1Exhibit Identifier
Number (1, 2, 3) or letter (A, B, C)
- 2Party Designation
"Plaintiff's" or "Defendant's" (if required)
Optional Elements
- +Case Number
Court case or docket number
- +Deposition Info
Deponent name and date (for deposition exhibits)
E-Filing Compatible Labels
Prepared for PDF E-Filing Workflows
ExhibitPrep creates PDFs with embedded labels for upload through common filing systems. Each court controls acceptance and technical requirements:
Court Filing Exhibit Labels: Dos and Don'ts
DO
- Use consistent label format throughout filing
- Match exhibit numbers to brief references
- Include party designation when required
- Create an exhibit index for multiple exhibits
- Place labels consistently (same position each time)
DON'T
- Use different label styles within same filing
- Reference exhibits by number not in labels
- Skip numbers in sequence (1, 2, 4 without 3)
- Use temporary annotations that disappear in e-filing
- Place labels over important document content
Prepare Filing Exhibits Faster
| Method | Time (20 exhibits) | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Acrobat (manual) | 45-90 minutes | $239.88/year |
| Paralegal services | 30-60 minutes | Per filing |
| Desktop litigation software | 20-30 minutes | $100-300/month |
| ExhibitPrep | 5-10 minutes | $4.99 or $14.99/day |
Filing Deadline Approaching?
Label all your exhibits in minutes, not hours. Upload your documents, apply consistent labels, and download e-filing ready PDFs. No account required. Preview free; purchase when ready to save.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information should court exhibit labels include?
Court exhibit labels commonly include the exhibit identifier (letter or number), a party designation if required (e.g., "Plaintiff's Exhibit 1"), and optionally the case number or court caption. Check your court's rules for the minimum exhibit label; an identifier is the usual starting point. Some courts require party designation to distinguish between plaintiff and defendant exhibits. ExhibitPrep offers 29 templates covering all common label formats and allows customization of each element.
Are there different label requirements for different courts?
Yes. Federal courts follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Federal Rules of Evidence, with additional local rules varying by district. State courts have their own requirements—California uses CRC 3.1110, Texas has different conventions. Administrative proceedings, arbitrations, and depositions may have additional variations. ExhibitPrep offers multiple format options, and you can inspect the exact prepared files before downloading. Compare the result with the court’s current requirements before filing.
Can I use these labels for electronic court filings?
ExhibitPrep embeds exhibit labels in PDFs and preserves existing text. Image-only scans need OCR in another application to make their contents searchable. E-filing portals and court rules vary and may change, so reopen the downloaded PDF and verify its size, page order, labels, and current portal requirements before filing.
What's the difference between trial exhibits and motion exhibits?
Trial exhibits are documents introduced as evidence during trial and become part of the trial record. Motion exhibits support legal arguments in motions (e.g., summary judgment exhibits, declaration exhibits) and may or may not be admitted at trial. Both need proper labeling, but motion exhibits are usually attached to declarations or briefs. ExhibitPrep handles both types with appropriate labeling options.
How do I label exhibits for a motion with multiple declarations?
For motions with multiple declarations, each declaration may have its own exhibits. Common approaches: (1) Sequential numbering across all declarations (Exhibit 1-20), (2) Declaration-specific labels (Smith Decl. Ex. A, Jones Decl. Ex. A), or (3) Nested numbering (Ex. 1A, 1B for Smith; Ex. 2A, 2B for Jones). Check your court's local rules for preferred format. ExhibitPrep supports all these labeling schemes.
Should I create an exhibit index for my filing?
Yes, for filings with multiple exhibits, an exhibit index helps the court navigate your documents. Some courts require exhibit lists for trial, and they can also help in motion practice. ExhibitPrep can generate an automatic table of contents when you combine exhibits into a single PDF. This serves as your exhibit index and includes page numbers for quick reference.
Related Resources
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Professional exhibit labels for any court filing. E-filing compatible, court exhibit formatting, ready in minutes.
Start Labeling Exhibits →ExhibitPrep is a document preparation tool. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify exhibit requirements with your specific court or jurisdiction.