Exhibit Numbering Rules by Court Type
Quick reference guide for exhibit labeling conventions across federal courts, state courts, and specialty courts. Learn how plaintiffs, defendants, and multiple parties should number their exhibits.
Quick Reference Table
Standard exhibit numbering conventions by court type. Always verify with your specific court's local rules.
Federal District Courts
Plaintiff
1, 2, 3...
Defendant
A, B, C...
Joint
J-1, J-2...
Check CM/ECF requirements
State Civil Courts
Plaintiff
1, 2, 3...
Defendant
A, B, C...
Joint
Joint 1...
Most follow CRC 3.1110 pattern
Bankruptcy Courts
Plaintiff
D-1, D-2...
Defendant
C-1, C-2...
Joint
T-1 (Trustee)
Party-specific prefixes
Family Courts
Plaintiff
1, 2, 3...
Defendant
A, B, C...
Joint
J-1 or JT-1
Petitioner/Respondent labels
Small Claims
Plaintiff
1, 2, 3...
Defendant
1, 2, 3...
Joint
—
Often simplified rules
Administrative
Plaintiff
CX-1, CX-2...
Defendant
RX-1, RX-2...
Joint
Varies
Agency-specific rules
| Court Type | Plaintiff/Petitioner | Defendant/Respondent | Joint Exhibits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Federal District Courts | 1, 2, 3... | A, B, C... | J-1, J-2... | Check CM/ECF requirements |
State Civil Courts | 1, 2, 3... | A, B, C... | Joint 1... | Most follow CRC 3.1110 pattern |
Bankruptcy Courts | D-1, D-2... | C-1, C-2... | T-1 (Trustee) | Party-specific prefixes |
Family Courts | 1, 2, 3... | A, B, C... | J-1 or JT-1 | Petitioner/Respondent labels |
Small Claims | 1, 2, 3... | 1, 2, 3... | — | Often simplified rules |
Administrative | CX-1, CX-2... | RX-1, RX-2... | Varies | Agency-specific rules |
Federal Court Rules
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) 26 governs exhibit exchange, but local district rules control numbering format. Most districts follow the standard convention.
Standard Convention
- • Plaintiff exhibits: Numbers (1, 2, 3...)
- • Defendant exhibits: Letters (A, B, C...)
- • Joint exhibits: J-prefix (J-1, J-2...)
- • Third-party defendants: TPD-prefix
CM/ECF Requirements
Electronic filing typically requires PDF format. Some courts require specific naming conventions (e.g., "Exhibit_1.pdf") and file size limits.
State Court Variations
State courts largely follow the federal convention, but some have unique requirements. Always check your state's rules of court and local court rules.
California (CRC 3.1110)
Plaintiffs use numbers, defendants use letters. Exhibits must be exchanged 30 days before trial per CRC 3.1302.
Texas (TRCP 193.7)
Similar convention to federal courts. Pre-trial order often specifies exhibit format and exchange deadlines.
New York (Uniform Rules)
Standard party-based numbering. Check specific county's local rules for additional requirements.
State-Specific Exhibit Guides
Detailed exhibit requirements for the most common state jurisdictions.
Specialty Court Requirements
Specialty courts often have unique exhibit conventions based on their procedural rules.
Bankruptcy Court
- Debtor exhibits: D-1, D-2, D-3...
- Creditor exhibits: C-1, C-2, C-3...
- Trustee exhibits: T-1, T-2, T-3...
Family Court
- Petitioner exhibits: 1, 2, 3...
- Respondent exhibits: A, B, C...
- Guardian exhibits: G-1, G-2...
Tax Court
- Petitioner exhibits: P-1, P-2, P-3...
- Respondent (IRS): R-1, R-2...
- Stipulated exhibits: S-1, S-2...
Immigration Court
- Respondent: Sequential tabs (Tab A, B...)
- DHS exhibits: Group 1, 2, 3...
- Check judge's specific requirements
Small Claims Court
- Often simplified: 1, 2, 3 for all parties
- Some courts don't require labels
- Contact clerk for specific requirements
Administrative Hearings
- EEOC: CX-1 (Complainant), RX-1
- Workers' comp: Agency-specific
- Check agency procedural rules
Multi-Party Case Numbering
Complex cases with multiple plaintiffs, defendants, or intervenors require coordinated exhibit numbering to avoid conflicts.
Multiple Plaintiffs
Use party-specific prefixes or number ranges:
- • First Plaintiff: P1-1, P1-2, P1-3...
- • Second Plaintiff: P2-1, P2-2, P2-3...
- • Or ranges: 1-100, 101-200...
Cross-Claims & Third-Party
- • Third-Party Defendant: TPD-A, TPD-B...
- • Cross-Claimant: CC-1, CC-2...
- • Intervenor: INT-1, INT-2...
Coordination is Key
In multi-party cases, coordinate exhibit numbering with co-counsel early to prevent duplicate numbers. Consider:
- • Agree on numbering scheme at initial conference
- • Reserve number ranges for each party
- • Document the scheme in a stipulation
- • Share running exhibit lists regularly
- • Check pretrial order for specific requirements
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Exhibit Numbering FAQ
What is the standard exhibit numbering convention in federal court?
Federal courts generally follow the party-based convention: plaintiffs use sequential numbers (1, 2, 3...) and defendants use letters (A, B, C...). Joint exhibits typically use "J-" prefix (J-1, J-2). Always check your district's local rules as some courts have specific CM/ECF filing requirements.
Do state courts use the same exhibit numbering as federal courts?
Most state courts follow the same plaintiff-numbers/defendant-letters convention, but there are variations. California requires this per CRC 3.1110(c). Texas, Florida, and New York largely follow the same pattern. Some state courts use all numbers with party prefixes (P-1, D-1). Always verify with local rules.
How do you number exhibits in bankruptcy court?
Bankruptcy courts typically use party-based prefixes: Debtor (D-1, D-2), Creditor (C-1, C-2), Trustee (T-1, T-2). Some courts use descriptive prefixes like "DX" for debtor exhibits. The bankruptcy local rules and judge's standing orders control the specific format.
What exhibit format do family courts use?
Family courts usually use Petitioner (numbers: 1, 2, 3) and Respondent (letters: A, B, C), mirroring civil court convention. Some family courts use "P-" and "R-" prefixes. Child-related exhibits may have special designations. Check your state's family law local rules.
How do you handle exhibit numbering with multiple plaintiffs or defendants?
Multi-party cases use party-specific prefixes or number ranges. Examples: First plaintiff (P1-1, P1-2), second plaintiff (P2-1, P2-2). Third-party defendants often use "TPD-" prefix. Intervenors may use "INT-" prefix. Coordinate with co-counsel to avoid duplicate numbers.
What happens when defendant exhibits exceed 26 letters?
When exhibits exceed A-Z, use double letters: AA, AB, AC... through AZ, then BA, BB, BC... Some courts prefer letter-number combinations (A1, A2, B1, B2). Check local rules or contact the clerk for guidance on your court's preference.
Are there special rules for small claims court exhibits?
Small claims courts typically have simpler exhibit requirements. Many just require sequential numbering (1, 2, 3) regardless of party. Some states don't require formal exhibit labels at all. Contact your local small claims clerk for specific requirements.
How do administrative hearings handle exhibit numbering?
Administrative hearings (EEOC, NLRB, workers' comp, immigration) often have agency-specific rules. Common formats: sequential numbers, party prefixes (Agency-1, Respondent-A), or letter-number codes (CX-1, RX-1). Check the agency's procedural rules or hearing officer's guidance.