California Rules of Court Pleading Format

Writing a PleadingPaper Accordingto California Rulesof Court: 7 Pitfallsto Avoid

If you want to make a plea in court,you need to submit the correctdocuments while following somevery precise rules and regulations. The last thing you want is to haveyour documents rejected justbecause you came across one ofthe many avoidable pitfalls presentwithin the rules of court inCalifornia. Take a look at the mostcommonly made mistakes whenwriting a pleading paper, and you’llbe sure to submit or defendagainst a plea with ease. Common Mistakes When Writing a Pleading PaperSome of the most frequently occurring mistakes happen due tosloppiness or inattentiveness on the part of the person writing thedocument in question, whereas other errors result when peoplesimply don’t know the rules that apply when writing a pleadingpaper or any other legal document to be submitted in the State ofCalifornia. Check out the pitfalls below and make sure you steerclear of every last one of them.

1 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,2 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.

3 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 seemimportant, and it’s all too easy to actively ignore it, but there’sa very good reason for such restrictions to be in place. Whenlegal professionals see documents in a layout they are familiarwith, it enables them to quickly get to the bottom of the caseat hand. If you make their lives easier, then it can only benefityou. Your margins should be at least 1” on the left and 0.5” onthe right.  4 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 fontlike Times New Roman or Arial, and always choose a size 12 orlarger. Another point to remember is that you should include afooter at the bottom of your document, which should repeat the title of your pleading paper in font size 10.6 If 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 differentclauses that are applicable to your case. Many noviceplaintiffs forget about this, so make sure that you don’t. Ifyou’re unsure, a professional template will help. 7Numbering your pages is vital if you’re going topresent a coherent argument that any reader canfollow with ease, but it’s common to find documentswithout such formatting. To avoid having your paperthrown out of court, always add page numbersaccording to the rules stipulated.

8 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. Simple Steps to Legal Success 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.