Stop Guessing Franklin County Exhibit Rules
Get Franklin County Court of Common Pleas-compliant exhibit stamps in under 2 minutes. Max file size: 25 MB.
- Franklin County plaintiffs mark exhibits with Plaintiff's Exhibit -- Letters (A, B, C...), and defendants use Defendant's Exhibit -- Numbers (1, 2, 3...).
- Franklin County's primary exhibit rule is Courtroom 5A Guidelines, Ohio Civ.R. 26.
- Franklin County courts e-file through Clerk of Courts E-Filing, with a maximum file size of 25 MB.
- Franklin County is part of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas.
- Columbus/state capital area -- ohio's largest county by population.
- Reversed convention vs. most ohio counties: plaintiff uses letters, defendant uses numbers.
- ExhibitPrep generates court-compliant Franklin County exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, with files never leaving the user's device.
Quick Reference
Key Requirements for Franklin County
- Columbus/state capital area -- Ohio's largest county by population
- REVERSED convention vs. most Ohio counties: plaintiff uses letters, defendant uses numbers
- High volume of government and state-agency litigation given the capital location
- Exhibits pre-marked and exchanged before opening statements, not just before trial week
- E-filing available through the Franklin County Clerk of Courts
Local Practice Notes
Franklin County reverses the convention most Ohio counties use: plaintiff exhibits get letters (A, B, C), defendant exhibits get numbers (1, 2, 3) -- the opposite of Hamilton and Cuyahoga counties. Exhibits must be pre-marked, copied in sufficient sets, placed in binders, and exchanged before opening statements. Joint exhibits are strongly encouraged to cut down on duplicate binders. This traces to Courtroom 5A Guidelines; other Franklin County courtrooms may set their own variations, so confirm the assigned judge's standing order before trial.
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ExhibitPrep creates professional exhibit stamps compliant with Franklin County Court of Common Pleas requirements. Preview free—pay only when you're ready to download.
Opens the tool set up for Franklin County — plaintiff: Letters starting at A; defendant: Numbers starting at 1.
Free Ohio Exhibit Guide
Get the complete Ohio requirements with:
- County-specific rules for Franklin County
- E-filing format requirements
- Common mistakes to avoid
Free Ohio Exhibit Guide
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Every year, Ohio courts reject exhibits for:
- Wrong marking convention
- Missing electronic bookmarks
- Non-compliant file formats
This guide prevents those mistakes.
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Typical Franklin County Exhibit Timeline
Franklin County (Columbus) follows Ohio Civil Rules for discovery, but individual courtroom guidelines control exhibit marking at trial.
Franklin County Exhibit FAQs
Why do Franklin County plaintiffs use letters instead of numbers?
Franklin County Common Pleas runs the opposite of Ohio's statewide default: plaintiff exhibits get letters (A, B, C) and defendant exhibits get numbers (1, 2, 3), reversed from Hamilton and Cuyahoga counties. This traces to Courtroom 5A Guidelines, so double-check the assigned judge's standing order before trial.
When do Franklin County exhibits need to be exchanged?
Before opening statements, not just sometime during trial week. Exhibits must be pre-marked, copied in sufficient sets for the court and opposing counsel, and placed in binders ahead of that deadline.
Does Franklin County encourage joint exhibits?
Yes -- given the reversed marking convention and the volume of government-related litigation tied to Columbus being the state capital, joint exhibits are strongly encouraged to avoid duplicate binders and reduce confusion at trial.
Don't Risk Having Your Exhibits Rejected
Download the checklist so you know exactly what Franklin County courts require
Franklin County Courthouses
Specific filing requirements vary by courthouse. Select your courthouse for detailed information:
Related
Last updated: 2026-07. Always verify current requirements with your court.