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.
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 2025-01-157 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does New Jersey Rule 4:25-7(b) require for exhibits?
Rule 4:25-7(b) requires all exhibits to be premarked for identification with brief descriptions. Parties must confer before trial to identify stipulated exhibits and exchange all exhibits 7 days before trial.
Why does New Jersey use letters for defendant exhibits?
New Jersey Appendix XXIII specifies P-1, P-2 for plaintiffs and D-A, D-B for defendants. This mixed system is unique to New Jersey and helps distinguish parties during trial.
What is the eCourts 7 MB limit workaround?
Split large exhibits into multiple files with sequential sub-labels (P-1A, P-1B, P-1C). Include a cover sheet indicating the exhibit is split into multiple parts.
When must exhibit objections be filed in NJ?
Exhibit objections must be filed 2 days before trial. Any exhibit not objected to may be admitted by agreement under Rule 4:25-7(b).
Ready to Prepare New Jersey Court Exhibits?
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