New Jersey Court Exhibit Requirements
Master New Jersey exhibit requirements under Rule 4:25-7(b) for Superior Court, eCourts e-filing, and track-based discovery deadlines across the Garden State.
- New Jersey Rule 4:25-7(b) and Appendix XXIII require all exhibits to be premarked for identification before trial.
- Plaintiffs label exhibits with sequential numbers (P-1, P-2, P-3); defendants use sequential letters (D-A, D-B, D-C).
- Joint exhibits use J-1, J-2 designations; the docket number must appear on every exhibit label.
- eCourts is mandatory for attorneys per Rule 1:4-4 and caps each document at 7 MB.
- All e-filed PDFs must be text-searchable; OCR is required for scanned documents.
- Track-based discovery: Track I = 150 days, Track II = 300 days, Tracks III and IV = 450 days.
- Exhibit exchange deadline is 7 days before trial; objections must be filed 2 days before trial.
- Multi-page exhibits keep a single designation (P-1, p. 2 of 8); split into P-1A/P-1B only when needed to fit the 7 MB cap.
Key Rule: Exchange exhibits 7 days before trial. NJ uses unique marking: P-1, P-2 for plaintiff; D-A, D-B for defendant.
Quick Reference
Updated 2026-01-317 MB
P-1, P-2, P-3...
D-A, D-B, D-C...
7 days before trial
Applicable Rules & Citations
Primary Rule
Rule 4:25-7(b) & Appendix XXIII - All exhibits premarked for identification, with parties conferring on stipulations before trial.
Formatting
Rule 1:5-6 - Document format and filing requirements. All documents 8½ x 11 inches, clearly legible.
E-Filing
Rule 1:4-4 - eCourts mandatory for attorneys. PDF format required, 7 MB limit, text-searchable.
Deadlines
7 days before trial for exhibit exchange.2 days before trial for objection deadline.
NJ Unique Marking Convention
New Jersey Uses Mixed Number/Letter System
Unlike most states that use numbers for both parties, New Jersey requires:
Plaintiff Exhibits
P-1, P-2, P-3...
Sequential numbers
Defendant Exhibits
D-A, D-B, D-C...
Sequential letters
File Format
- PDF format required (Rule 1:4-4)
- Text-searchable PDFs mandatory
- 7 MB maximum per file
- No security restrictions
Exhibit Labeling
- Plaintiff: P-1, P-2, P-3...
- Defendant: D-A, D-B, D-C...
- Joint exhibits: J-1, J-2...
- Include docket number on label
Track-Based Discovery Deadlines
New Jersey uses track-based case management. Your case track determines discovery end date, which affects exhibit disclosure timing.
Track I
150
days discovery
Track II
300
days discovery
Track III
450
days discovery
Track IV
450
days discovery
Key Timeline Requirements
- Expert reports: 60 days before discovery end date
- Exhibit exchange: 7 days before trial date
- Exhibit objections: 2 days before trial date
eCourts E-Filing Requirements
Mandatory eCourts Filing
E-filing through eCourts is mandatory for attorneys in all civil matters per Rule 1:4-4. Pro se litigants may file conventionally but electronic filing is encouraged.
Document Specifications
- Format: PDF only (searchable required)
- Size: 7 MB maximum per file
- OCR: Required for all scanned documents
- Naming: Docket number + exhibit designation
Major New Jersey Vicinages
Essex Vicinage (Newark)
Largest vicinage by caseload. Complex commercial litigation track available with specialized case management. Strict exhibit premarking enforced.
Bergen Vicinage (Hackensack)
Major suburban court with significant civil and family caseload. Standard exhibit exchange per Rule 4:25-7(b) with 7-day trial deadline.
Middlesex Vicinage (New Brunswick)
Central New Jersey court handling substantial commercial, personal injury, and pharmaceutical litigation. Check individual case management orders.
Hudson Vicinage (Jersey City)
High-volume urban court with diverse caseload. Strict compliance with electronic filing requirements and exhibit premarking.
How ExhibitPrep Helps with New Jersey Requirements
Time Savings
Stamp 50 exhibits in 5 minutes vs. 2+ hours manually with NJ's unique marking system
Cost Effective
$14.99 Day Pass vs. $100+/hr paralegal time for manual exhibit preparation
NJ Compliance
Proper P-1/D-A formatting, eCourts-ready PDFs under 7 MB limit
Common New Jersey Rejection Reasons
File Size Over 7 MB
eCourts rejects files exceeding 7 MB. Split large exhibits into parts (P-1A, P-1B).
Non-Searchable PDFs
Rule 1:4-4 requires text-searchable documents. Run OCR on all scanned exhibits.
Wrong Marking Convention
Using D-1, D-2 instead of D-A, D-B for defendant exhibits. NJ requires letters for defense.
Late Exchange
Exhibits exchanged after 7-day deadline may be excluded. Calendar carefully.
ExhibitPrep covers all 47 states with state-specific templates, including New Jersey. The same court-compliant output, no installation, your files never leave your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does New Jersey Rule 4:25-7(b) require for exhibits?
Rule 4:25-7(b) requires attorneys to confer and exchange pretrial information per Appendix XXIII, which specifies that all exhibits shall be premarked for identification and briefly described. Parties must exchange exhibits 7 days before trial.
What is the New Jersey eCourts file size limit?
New Jersey eCourts has a 7 MB file size limit per document. Large exhibits should be split into multiple parts with clear sequential labeling (e.g., P-1A, P-1B).
How are exhibits numbered in New Jersey courts?
New Jersey uses a unique mixed system: plaintiffs use numbers (P-1, P-2, P-3) while defendants use letters (D-A, D-B, D-C). Joint exhibits use J-1, J-2.
What are New Jersey track-based discovery deadlines?
New Jersey uses track-based discovery: Track I (150 days), Track II (300 days), Track III (450 days), Track IV (450 days). Expert reports are due 60 days before discovery end.
Where should I label exhibits in New Jersey courts?
Place the exhibit label in the bottom-right corner of the first page of each exhibit. Use New Jersey's mixed convention: P-1, P-2, P-3 for plaintiff exhibits; D-A, D-B, D-C for defendant exhibits; and J-1, J-2 for joint exhibits. Include the docket number on the label per Appendix XXIII. Each subsequent page of a multi-page exhibit should retain the exhibit designation (e.g., P-1, p. 2 of 5).
What is the Essex County trial court exhibit procedure?
The Essex Vicinage (Newark) is New Jersey's largest by caseload and strictly enforces premarking under Rule 4:25-7(b). Exhibits must be exchanged at least 7 days before trial; objections are due 2 days before trial. The complex commercial litigation track requires earlier disclosure per the case management order issued at the Track II/III conference.
How do I label multi-page exhibits in New Jersey?
A multi-page exhibit keeps a single designation across every page (e.g., P-1, p. 1 of 8; P-1, p. 2 of 8). The cover page carries the full label and any sub-parts (P-1A, P-1B) only when the exhibit is split to fit eCourts' 7 MB cap. Each part remains text-searchable. ExhibitPrep applies per-exhibit pagination automatically in Trial Binder mode.
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