Multi-Page and Grouped Exhibits
How to number a multi-page document, group multiple documents under one exhibit, paginate exhibits for trial, and split exhibits to fit e-filing size caps.
- A multi-page exhibit keeps one exhibit number across all of its pages — the number does not change between pages.
- Each page after the cover carries per-exhibit pagination: "Exhibit 1, p. 2 of 5," "Exhibit 1, p. 3 of 5," and so on.
- When multiple distinct documents are grouped under one exhibit, they are sub-labeled B-1, B-2, B-3 (or 5-1, 5-2, 5-3).
- Exhibits should be split into separate exhibits when files exceed e-filing portal caps: Florida 7 MB, NJ eCourts 7 MB, NYSCEF 100 MB.
- When a single exhibit must be split to fit the cap, label parts as "Exhibit 5, Part 1 of 3," "Exhibit 5, Part 2 of 3," etc.
- Bates numbers are independent of exhibit pagination; both appear on the same page.
- Trial binder pagination uses per-exhibit page IDs (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3) so witnesses and the court can find a specific page mid-testimony.
- The exhibit index typically lists each exhibit with its full page range (e.g., "Exhibit A — Contract — pages A1-A5").
How to Label a Multi-Page Exhibit
A multi-page exhibit is a single logical document spanning multiple pages — a contract, an email chain, a deposition transcript excerpt, a series of bank statements. Every page keeps the same exhibit number; only the per-page pagination changes.
Page 1 (cover)
Plaintiff's Exhibit 1
p. 1 of 5
Page 2
Exhibit 1
p. 2 of 5
Page 5 (last)
Exhibit 1
p. 5 of 5
Why pagination matters
- • Witnesses can be directed to a specific page ("please look at page 3 of Exhibit 1").
- • Pages cannot be transposed or replaced without it being obvious.
- • Court reporters can cite the exact page in the trial transcript.
- • Appellate review can locate any single page in the record.
Grouping Multiple Documents Under One Exhibit
Sometimes you want a single exhibit to hold multiple distinct documents — three invoices from one vendor, a series of letters between the parties, a stack of medical records from the same provider. Use sub-labels so each component is independently citable.
Example: Exhibit B contains three medical records
When to group
- • Documents from a single source (one provider, vendor, or correspondent)
- • Documents introduced under a single foundation
- • Documents likely to be referenced together at trial
When NOT to group
- • Documents requiring different witnesses for foundation
- • Documents with different relevance arguments
- • Combined size exceeds your e-filing portal cap
Trial Binder Pagination
For trial binders, per-exhibit page IDs (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3) replace per-page-of-X pagination. This makes mid-testimony page references unambiguous: "please turn to A3," not "page 3 of Exhibit A."
| Exhibit | Description | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| A | Master Services Agreement | A1-A5 |
| B | Email correspondence (3 chains) | B1-B14 |
| C | Invoice ledger | C1-C3 |
| D | Termination notice | D1 |
Bates Numbering Inside Multi-Page Exhibits
Bates numbers are independent of exhibit pagination. Both appear on the same page when an exhibit comes from a discovery production:
Exhibit 5, p. 3 of 7 · JONES000147
The exhibit index lists both the exhibit number and the original Bates range:
Exhibit 5 — Email Chain — JONES000145–000152 · Witness: Jones · Date: 2024-08-12
See the Bates Numbering Guide for the full convention.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I label an exhibit with more than one page?
A multi-page exhibit keeps a single exhibit number across every page. The cover page carries the full label (e.g., "Plaintiff's Exhibit 1"); subsequent pages carry per-exhibit pagination such as "Exhibit 1, p. 2 of 5," "Exhibit 1, p. 3 of 5," etc. The exhibit number does not change between pages of the same exhibit.
I have 3 items in Exhibit B. How do I number them?
When you group multiple distinct documents under a single exhibit, use sub-letters: B-1, B-2, B-3 within Exhibit B. The convention is the same with numeric exhibits — Exhibit 5 containing three documents becomes 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 (some practitioners prefer 5A, 5B, 5C). Each sub-document still keeps its own internal pagination ("Exhibit B-1, p. 2 of 4").
Can I combine multiple documents into one exhibit?
Yes, when documents form a logical unit — an email chain, a contract with attached schedules, a series of related medical records from the same provider, or invoices from one vendor. Use sub-labels (B-1, B-2, B-3) so each component is independently citable. Do not combine unrelated documents under one exhibit; that creates confusion at trial and invites foundation objections.
When should I split a long document into separate exhibits?
Split when (1) the combined PDF would exceed the e-filing portal's size cap (Florida 7 MB, NJ eCourts 7 MB, NYSCEF 100 MB), (2) the documents are distinct enough that you will reference them independently at trial, or (3) you want to limit the scope of an authentication question to a single document. Otherwise, keep related pages together as one exhibit for the cleaner record.
How do I label exhibits and number their pages at the same time?
Stamp the full exhibit label on the cover page in the bottom-right corner. On every subsequent page, add a smaller per-exhibit page number (e.g., "Exhibit 1, p. 2 of 5"). Do not use the document's own internal page numbers as exhibit pagination — your trial exhibit pagination needs to be unambiguous and tied to the exhibit identity. ExhibitPrep applies per-exhibit pagination automatically in Trial Binder mode.
How does Bates numbering interact with multi-page exhibits?
Bates numbering is independent of exhibit numbering. Each page in the production already has its own unique Bates number (e.g., JONES000145, JONES000146). When you create an exhibit from those pages, the Bates numbers stay on every page and appear alongside the exhibit pagination ("Exhibit 1, p. 2 of 5 — JONES000146"). The exhibit index typically lists both the exhibit number and the Bates range.
How should I label a multi-page exhibit for an e-filing portal that caps file size?
When a multi-page exhibit exceeds the portal cap (Florida 7 MB, NJ 7 MB, NYSCEF 100 MB), split the exhibit into clearly labeled parts: "Exhibit 5, Part 1 of 3," "Exhibit 5, Part 2 of 3," "Exhibit 5, Part 3 of 3." Each part keeps the same exhibit number and adds Part 1, Part 2, etc. This is preferable to reducing image quality, which can hurt OCR and searchability.
What about multi-page exhibits in trial binders?
Trial binders use per-exhibit pagination throughout. Exhibit A spans pages A1 through A5; Exhibit B starts at B1. This makes it easy for the judge, jury, and witnesses to find a specific page during testimony ("turn to A3"). The table of contents lists each exhibit with its page range (e.g., "Exhibit A — Contract — pages A1-A5"). ExhibitPrep generates trial binder PDFs with this pagination automatically.
Related Guides
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