How to Format Legal Documents

The proper format for a legal document can vary greatly, depending on the type of document you are drafting and laws of your state. Legal documents will have at least four parts the caption, body, signature block and certificate of service. Generally, there are not written rules regarding what font and type size should be used on legal documents, but most courts prefer that filings be printed in a clear type such as Times New Roman or Arial.


Instructions

• Review the rules of your jurisdiction. Before you begin to draft your document, review your court's rules governing the format and contents of the specific legal papers you are writing. Your state's rules will generally give you samples of common documents such as petitions and motions. You can base your formatting on these models.
• Add a caption. On all legal documents, you will need to add a caption at the top of the first page that lists the names of the parties to the case, the name of the court where the matter is being heard and the case number.
• Name the document. Underneath the caption, you will need to title your document, for example Petition for Divorce or Motion to Dismiss on the Grounds of Jurisdiction.
• Keep it simple. The body of your legal document should contain short, simple paragraphs. Most courts prefer that you number each paragraph so that each element of the document can be identified easily in other documents and in the courtroom proceedings.
• Sign and date it. You must sign and date all legal documents. Most courts also require that you add your contact information below your signature, including your telephone number, mailing address and email address. Most courts prefer that you sign in blue ink since is it difficult to tell whether a document is the original or a photocopy when it is signed in black.
• Certify service. Most documents require a certificate of service. This will state the name of the other party, the opposing party's address and a brief statement describing how you served them the document. You will also need to include what date the document was served. You must also sign the certificate of service.

source : R.A. Anderson