“Pleading paper” is the format required for filing documents in court when there is no pre-printed form available. This pleading paper is blank and can be used anywhere 28-line paper is accepted. Check your court's local rules for other format requirements such as fonts, font size, and line spacing.
Comply With the Relevant Federal, State, and Local Rules. Research Before Writing. Allege Subject Matter Jurisdiction, Personal Jurisdiction, and Venue. Jurisdiction. Draft Concise and Plain Statement of the Facts. Factual Allegations. Draft Separate Counts for Each Legal Claim. Plead Facts With Particularity Where Necessary.
Pleading Paper Your name must start on line 1. The Court name and location must start on line 8. The caption of the case must start on line 11. You must have a footer with the title of the document. After the caption (the box with the name of the Plaintiff/Respondent) you can use the space as needed, using double spacing.
All pleadings have the same basic structure,5 starting with the caption at the top of the first page. The caption states the name of the court at the top and, on the right side of the pleading, the type of pleading,6 the case number (or docket number), and the name of the judge.
Pleadings can be categorized as complaints or answers, though both have variations. A party filing a complaint is the complaining party, while the other side is the responding party. Pleadings set forth parties' positions in the action, such as allegations, claims, defenses and denials.
(1) "Pleading" means a petition, complaint, application, objection, answer, response, notice, request for orders, statement of interest, report, or account filed in proceedings under the Family Code. (2) "Amended pleading" means a pleading that completely restates and supersedes the pleading it amends for all purposes.
The key to drafting a successful pleading is to make sure that you have a clear idea of what the claims are that your client is making and relevant proof for each of those claims. Then you should state the events in a chronological and logical order.
The term “pleading paper” is often used to describe the format of a document that is filed with the Court when a pre-made form is not available. If there is not a California or Local Court form to fit your situation, you will need to draft your own pleading or motion on pleading paper.
(a) Each averment of a pleading shall be simple, concise, and direct. No technical forms of pleading or motions are required. (b) A party may set forth two or more statements of a claim or defense alternatively or hypothetically, either in one count or defense or in separate counts or defenses.
For example, a legal pleading might involve a complaint from a homeowner that a roofer did not adequately perform a repair, resulting in a leak in the roof and damage to the home. The roofer could then file an answer to the claim, denying culpability.