PDF Exhibits
Exhibits converted to PDF format for electronic filing, digital presentation, or sharing with opposing counsel.
What You Need to Know
PDFs preserve a document’s page layout for review and sharing. A scanned PDF may contain only images, so it is not necessarily searchable. Confirm the court’s required format and check readability, page order, bookmarks, and file size in the finished file. Preserve the source documents separately.
Put this into practice
Use the step-by-step help to prepare and check your files. Definitions explain the terms; the rules and orders for your matter determine what is required.
Resolve file and processing problemsRelevant Practice Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What PDF format should I use for court filings?
Use the format specified by your court. Requirements for PDF versions, PDF/A, searchable text, bookmarks, forms, and security settings vary. Inspect the finished PDF in a separate viewer and compare it with the filing instructions before submission.
Should I compress PDF exhibits to reduce file size?
Check the actual court limit first. If you compress or split a file with another tool, keep the original, inspect every affected page for readability, and check the new page references and bookmarks. Reduced size is useful only if the resulting document remains complete and legible.
Can I edit PDF exhibits after they are marked?
To correct labels or layout in ExhibitPrep, return to the source documents and prepare a new copy. Keep the earlier finished version so you can distinguish what changed. Do not silently alter underlying evidence; follow any required procedure for corrected or exchanged copies.
When It's Used
Industry standard for legal document exchange
Example
"Converting 50 Word documents, emails, and scanned paper exhibits into stamped PDFs for e-filing."
References to check
- Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5(d)(3) - Electronic filing
- Applicable court filing instructions - PDF format, size, and searchability
Related Terms
E-Filing
Electronic submission of legal documents to courts through online portals. Courts' e-filing rules may set file-format and naming requirements — check the court's e-filing rules.
Metadata
Hidden data embedded in electronic documents showing author, creation date, edit history, and other file properties.
Batch Processing
Applying the same operation (like exhibit stamping) to multiple files simultaneously rather than one at a time.
Need to Stamp Your Exhibits?
Try ExhibitPrep's browser-based exhibit stamping tool. No installation required.
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