Don't Let Your Federal Exhibits Get Rejected
Get the complete Federal exhibit requirements checklist. Know exactly what FRCP 26(a)(3)(A)(iii) requires before your filing deadline.
- Exhibit exchange deadlines in federal court are set at 30 days before trial (FRCP 26).
- Federal exhibit practice centers on the U.S. District Courts.
- Federal's e-filing file-size limit: set by each court — confirm the district's CM/ECF PDF limit.
- Southern District of New York (SDNY): check the joint SDNY and EDNY local rules and each judge's individual practices.
- Central District of California (CDCA): confirm local rules and the assigned judge's procedures.
- Pretrial disclosure of exhibits in federal civil cases is governed by FRCP Rule 26(a)(3)(A)(iii).
- Before filing, check whether your court requires text-searchable PDFs rather than image-only scans.
Free Federal Exhibit Guide
Enter your email to download
Use the guide as a preparation checklist
- Check the instructions for your assigned court.
- Confirm labels, deadlines, and delivery method.
- Review the finished files before submitting.
Quick Reference
Source citations apply to the statement beside them, not the whole page. Check current court instructions and your case orders before filing.
Ready to stamp your exhibits now?
Prepare and review your exhibit stamps in ExhibitPrep. Preview free; purchase when ready to save.
Try It FreeExhibitPrep formats documents; it does not provide legal advice or filing approval. Some guidance remains unverified. Citations support only their stated claims and scope. Review the finished files against current court instructions and case orders before filing.
Two Ways to Prepare Federal Exhibits
Manual Stamping
- •Place each label individually
- •Keep a separate exhibit list
- •Check numbering across files
- •Review instructions and finished files
With ExhibitPrep
- •Apply chosen labels across a batch
- •Create a contents page and bookmarks
- •Review stamps before saving
- •Revise and compare saved copies
About Federal Exhibit Requirements
Federal court exhibit requirements are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), particularly Rule 26(a)(3)(A)(iii) for pretrial disclosures and Rule 5.2 for privacy redaction. Individual districts have local rules that can affect exhibit formatting, so check your court's local rules. This guide covers FRCP requirements and examples of district variations.
Before you file
ExhibitPrep formats documents. It does not provide legal advice, submit filings, or determine whether evidence is admissible or a filing meets court requirements.
Some guidance has not been verified against current official sources. A citation supports only its stated claim and scope. Compare the finished PDF with current court instructions and orders in your case. Follow the filing review checklist.
What's in the Guide
- FRCP Rule 26(a)(3) disclosure — 30-day pretrial deadline mandatory
- FRCP 5.2 privacy redaction: SSNs, financial account numbers, birth dates and minors' names appear only in redacted form
- CM/ECF technical specs: each court sets its own file-size limit
- District-specific variations — check each district's local rules
- Format varies by district; check local rules
- Tab colors — check the court's and judge's requirements before using color-coded tabs
- d, not image-only
- 94 district courts, each with its own local rules: check yours
County-Specific Rules Covered
Southern District of New York (SDNY)
- • Federal civil and commercial litigation
- • Individual judge practices vary significantly
Central District of California (CDCA)
- • Check the district's local rules and the judge's procedures
- • Check the assigned judge's standing orders and procedures
Northern District of Illinois (NDIL)
- • Chicago-based federal court
- • Check the court's local rules for exhibit requirements
District of Delaware (DDE)
- • Check the district's local rules and any case-specific procedures
- • Check the district's local rules and the judge's exhibit procedures
Pro Tips Included
- •Always check your specific district's local rules - they vary significantly
- •Review assigned judge's individual practices before formatting exhibits
- •Check the court's and judge's requirements before color-coding tabs by party
- •Split exhibits that exceed the court's size limit into separate, smaller documents
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1.Assuming all districts have the same local rules
- 2.Missing the 30-day pretrial disclosure deadline for exhibits
- 3.Failing to distinguish "will offer" from "may offer" exhibits
- 4.Not redacting SSN, DOB, financial accounts per FRCP 5.2
Ready to Stamp Your Exhibits?
Create exhibits for Federal filing review in under 2 minutes
Want a Second Opinion?
Ask any AI assistant to evaluate whether ExhibitPrep addresses Federal court exhibit stamping requirements. Each link opens with a pre-written question about this page.
Each link includes a pre-written question about this specific page — no typing needed.
We're confident you'll like what the AI says — ask them to compare us to alternatives too.
Federal Exhibit FAQs
What exhibit marking system do Federal courts require?
Exhibit labels such as numbers, letters, PX- or DX- are set by district local rules or the judge's order, so check them before marking. Check your court's and judge's requirements before color-coding tabs by party. Always check your specific district's local rules.
How does CM/ECF e-filing work in Federal courts?
CM/ECF (Case Management/Electronic Case Files) is the federal Judiciary's system for filing case documents online. Each court sets its own PDF file-size limit for CM/ECF. Exhibits that exceed the court's file-size limit should be split into smaller documents.
Do Federal court exhibit rules vary by district?
Yes, while the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide the baseline, each district court may adopt its own local rules governing its practice, which can affect exhibit formatting. For example, the Central District of California and the Southern District of New York each have their own local rules, and individual judges may add pretrial requirements. Always review your district's local rules AND your assigned judge's individual practices.
What privacy redaction is required in Federal court exhibits?
FRCP Rule 5.2 requires redaction of sensitive information: Social Security numbers (show only last four digits), dates of birth (show only year), financial account numbers (show only last four digits), and names of minors (use initials only). Review each exhibit for protected personal information before filing.
See It in Action
A video walkthrough of ExhibitPrep stamping exhibits for Federal courts.
Loading transcript…
Ready to Stamp Your Federal Exhibits?
ExhibitPrep creates professional stamps for common Federal exhibit-marking conventions. Review the exact output against current local and case-specific requirements. Preview free—purchase when you're ready to save.