Louisiana Court Exhibit Requirements
A comprehensive guide to preparing exhibits for Louisiana courts under La. C.C.P. Art. 253, 1551, including e-filing specifications via eClerksLA and formatting best practices.
- Louisiana's primary exhibit rule is La. C.C.P. Art. 253, 1551.
- Plaintiffs label exhibits with P-1, P-2... or Joint Exhibit No. 1.
- Defendants label exhibits with D-1, D-2....
- The eClerksLA portal caps each document at 25 MB.
- Exhibit exchange deadline is 10 days before Final Pretrial Conference.
- Standard label position is the bottom-right corner of the first page; multi-page exhibits keep one number with per-page pagination ("Exhibit 1, p. 2 of 5").
- Bates numbering (page-level production identifiers) is independent of exhibit numbering and runs across the entire production.
Quick Reference
Updated 2026-01-3125 MB
P-1, P-2... or Joint Exhibit No. 1
D-1, D-2...
10 days before Final Pretrial Conference
Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
UNIQUE: Louisiana is the only US state based on Napoleonic Code (civil law system). Uses "parishes" not counties, "Articles" not Rules. Joint exhibits labeled "Joint Exhibit No. 1, 2, 3..."
Formatting Requirements
La. C.C.P. Art. 1551
Bates stamping REQUIRED for multi-page exhibits. PDF only - photos of documents NOT acceptable. Exhibit list due 2+ full judicial days before pretrial conference.
E-Filing System
E-filing mandatory for all attorneys starting January 1, 2026. 25 MB per document. PDF only - no photos.
Key Deadlines
La. C.C.P. Art. 1551
Counsel confers 10+ days before Final Pretrial Conference. Exhibit list due 2+ full judicial days before conference.
Overview
Louisiana courts operate under La. C.C.P. Art. 253, 1551 for exhibit requirements. Electronic filing is handled through eClerksLA with a maximum file size of 25 MB. Exhibits must be exchanged 10 days before Final Pretrial Conference.
Key principle: Always verify your specific court's local rules, as individual counties may have additional requirements beyond the statewide rules.
Louisiana Exhibit Conventions
- UNIQUE civil law system (Napoleonic Code) - only US state
- Uses "parishes" not "counties" and "Articles" not "Rules"
- Joint exhibits: "Joint Exhibit No. 1" - not "Joint Exhibit A"
- Bates stamping REQUIRED for all multi-page exhibits
- PDF only - photos of documents NOT acceptable
- E-filing mandatory starting January 1, 2026
Louisiana Exhibit Marking
Standard Marking Conventions
Plaintiff Exhibits
P-1, P-2... or Joint Exhibit No. 1
Defendant Exhibits
D-1, D-2...
Check Local Court Rules
Individual courts within Louisiana may have specific local rules regarding exhibit marking, numbering sequences, and formatting. Always verify with your specific court before filing.
Court-Specific Requirements
Orleans Parish (New Orleans)
Civil law traditions strongest. Historic court system with complex commercial docket.
La. C.C.P. Art. 1551East Baton Rouge Parish
State capital courts. Government litigation venue.
La. C.C.P. Art. 1551Jefferson Parish
New Orleans suburbs. Large commercial docket.
La. C.C.P. Art. 1551eClerksLA E-Filing Requirements
File Format & Size
Document Specifications
- PDF format required for all filings
- 25 MB maximum per file
- Text-searchable PDFs recommended
Best Practices
- Include bookmarks for multi-exhibit PDFs
- No password protection
- Clear, legible exhibit stamps
Common Rejection Reasons
File Size Exceeds 25 MB Limit
Solution: Split large exhibits into parts. Label clearly (e.g., "Exhibit 5, Part 1 of 3"). ExhibitPrep exports individual files to manage size limits.
Missing or Illegible Exhibit Stamps
Solution: Use consistent, clearly visible exhibit stamps on every page. ExhibitPrep places stamps in the same position on every page automatically.
Incorrect Exhibit Numbering
Solution: Verify plaintiff exhibits use P-1, P-2... or Joint Exhibit No. 1 and defendant exhibits use D-1, D-2.... ExhibitPrep auto-numbers exhibits sequentially.
Late Exhibit Exchange
Solution: Louisiana requires exchange 10 days before Final Pretrial Conference. Plan ahead and prepare exhibits early to avoid last-minute issues.
How ExhibitPrep Helps with Louisiana Requirements
Time Savings
Stamp 50 exhibits in 5 minutes vs. 2+ hours applying stickers manually.
Cost Effective
$14.99 Day Pass vs. $100+/hr paralegal time. Stamp unlimited exhibits for one low price.
Court Compliant
Louisiana court-ready formatting. Export with bookmarks for organized filings.
ExhibitPrep Configuration for Louisiana Courts
Recommended Settings
Stamp Format
Use "Exhibit [number]" for plaintiffs or "Exhibit [letter]" for defendants. Include party designation if required by local rules.
Position
Bottom-right corner is standard. Ensure stamps don't obscure document content. Use drag-and-drop positioning to adjust if needed.
Export Format
Combined PDF with bookmarks for court filings. Keep files under 25 MB. Individual files for discovery productions or large exhibit sets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exhibit requirements for Louisiana courts?
Louisiana courts require exhibits to follow La. C.C.P. Art. 253, 1551. UNIQUE: Louisiana is the only US state based on Napoleonic Code (civil law system). Uses "parishes" not counties, "Articles" not Rules. Joint exhibits labeled "Joint Exhibit No. 1, 2, 3..."
What e-filing system does Louisiana use?
Louisiana uses eClerksLA for electronic filings. E-filing mandatory for all attorneys starting January 1, 2026. 25 MB per document. PDF only - no photos.
How should plaintiff and defendant exhibits be marked in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, plaintiffs typically use P-1, P-2... or Joint Exhibit No. 1 while defendants use D-1, D-2.... Check local court rules for specific requirements.
What are the exhibit exchange deadlines in Louisiana?
Louisiana requires exhibit exchange 10 days before Final Pretrial Conference. Counsel confers 10+ days before Final Pretrial Conference. Exhibit list due 2+ full judicial days before conference.
Are electronically stamped exhibits accepted in Louisiana?
Yes, Louisiana courts accept electronic exhibit stamps that are clearly legible and consistently formatted. ExhibitPrep creates court-ready stamps accepted throughout Louisiana.
What is the maximum file size for Louisiana e-filing?
Louisiana's e-filing system (eClerksLA) accepts files up to 25 MB. For larger exhibits, split into multiple parts with clear labeling.
Prepare Louisiana Court Exhibits in Minutes
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