California Rules of Court Pleading Format

Writing a Pleading
Paper According
to California Rules
of Court: 7 Pitfalls
to Avoid

If you want to make a plea in court,
you need to submit the correct
documents while following some
very precise rules and regulations.
The last thing you want is to have
your documents rejected just
because you came across one of
the many avoidable pitfalls present
within the rules of court in
California. Take a look at the most
commonly made mistakes when
writing a pleading paper, and you’ll
be sure to submit or defend
against a plea with ease.
C o m m o n M i s t a k e s W h e n W r i t i n g a
P l e a d i n g P a p e r
Some of the most frequently occurring mistakes happen due to
sloppiness or inattentiveness on the part of the person writing the
document in question, whereas other errors result when people
simply don’t know the rules that apply when writing a pleading
paper or any other legal document to be submitted in the State of
California. Check out the pitfalls below and make sure you steer
clear of every last one of them.

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The first thing to consider is the paper you want to use. Much
like it’s often said in the case of writing a resume or CV, you
really need to follow the prescribed rules even down to how
you use paper. In fact, it’s strictly enforced that your paper
should be printed on one side, each leaf measuring 8.5” x 11”
and having a density of at least 20 pounds. Ultimately, this
benefits your case as you can get your point across concisely,
quickly and professionally.
Just like when you’re applying for a new driving license or
any other official document, you’ll find that a pleading
paper will only be accepted by the court if you use a dark
color of ink such as black or blue-black. This may seem a
silly recommendation, but it’s actually one of the easiest
pitfalls to become victim to. The reason for this regulation
is because lighter inks may be harder to read, and this
effect is only exacerbated after photocopying.

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Even the layout of your document down to the spacing and
margins should be completed according to very specific
guidelines. This kind of systematic formatting may not seem
important, and it’s all too easy to actively ignore it, but there’s
a very good reason for such restrictions to be in place. When
legal professionals see documents in a layout they are familiar
with, it enables them to quickly get to the bottom of the case
at hand. If you make their lives easier, then it can only benefit
you. Your margins should be at least 1” on the left and 0.5” on
the right.
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Just like when you’re
applying for a new driving
license or any other
official document, you’ll
find that a pleading paper
will only be accepted by
the court if you use a dark color of
ink such as black or blue-black.
This may seem a silly
recommendation, but it’s actually
one of the easiest pitfalls to
become victim to. The reason for
this regulation is because lighter
inks may be harder to read, and
this effect is only exacerbated
after photocopying.

5
Font usage is another consideration that is often ignored by
those who are new to submitting legal documents to courts in
California. Make sure that you use a standard professional font
like Times New Roman or Arial, and always choose a size 12 or
larger. Another point to remember is that you should include a
footer at the bottom of your document, which should repeat
the title of your pleading paper in font size 10.
6If you don’t have much experience with legal affairs, then
you probably aren’t aware that the first page of any
submitted document needs to include a range of different
clauses that are applicable to your case. Many novice
plaintiffs forget about this, so make sure that you don’t. If
you’re unsure, a professional template will help.
Numbering your pages is vital if you’re going to
present a coherent argument that any reader can
follow with ease, but it’s common to find documents
without such formatting. To avoid having your paper
thrown out of court, always add page numbers
according to the rules stipulated.
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Plenty of people try to write their own pleading paper without
seeking any kind of professional assistance. This is a big
mistake, because you really want someone on your side who
has seen and done it all before. Getting a professional advisor
to help you write your paper is the wisest thing you can do.
S i m p l e S t e p s t o L e g a l
S u c c e s s
Whether you’re submitting a plea or
defending against one in a California
court of law, you’ve got to know exactly
what you’re doing. Your newfound
knowledge starts with discovering how
to format your documents in the right
way so that they are accepted by the
court. Avoid the 7 most frequently
encountered pitfalls outlined here in
this handy guide, and your legal aims
will surely hit the target.
Knowledge is power when it comes to the law. Learn
everything you can about California rules of court
pleading format.