Can I use custom prefixes like 'EXHIBIT-A-'?

Yes! You can specify any alphanumeric prefix and suffix.

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Bates Numbering

Bates numbering (or Bates stamping) is the universal standard used by attorneys, law firms, and corporate legal departments to assign unique, sequential identification numbers to pages during litigation, discovery, and contract negotiations. Pdfyara provides a professional Bates stamping engine with prefix, suffix, digit padding, and position controls.

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Drop PDF for Bates numbering & legal indexing

Sequential Bates stamping for legal discovery and litigation bundles

Single file • Max 100MB • Client-side processing

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Use Bates Numbering

Upload Legal Bundle

Select the PDF file requiring Bates stamping.

Configure Bates Settings

Enter your Prefix (e.g. 'CONF-EXP'), Starting Number (e.g. 1), Digit Count (e.g. 6 digits = '000001'), and Suffix.

Position Stamp

Choose stamp location (Bottom Right is standard for legal filings) and font size.

Apply & Download

Generate your Bates-stamped document instantly.

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Technical Architecture

How Bates Numbering Works Under the Hood

The Bates engine iterates through each page, calculating zero-padded sequential IDs and injecting standard fixed-pitch typographic elements into each page coordinate space.

Applications

Common Use Cases for Bates Numbering

Litigation & Discovery

Index evidence exhibits (e.g. 'PLAINTIFF-000142') for easy courtroom citation.

Regulatory Compliance

Number corporate audit binders for regulatory inspection submissions.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Catalog data room documents during due diligence reviews.

Best Practices

Recommended Approaches

Use at least 6 digits of padding (e.g. '000001') to allow for document expansion without breaking column alignments.
Position Bates numbers in the bottom-right corner with adequate margin clearance.

Mistakes to Avoid

Common Pitfalls

Starting Bates numbering with insufficient zero-padding on large document sets.

Technical Limitations & Standards

What to Keep in Mind

•If the page already has dense footer graphics, consider placing the Bates stamp in the top-right header.

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100% Client-Side Processing

This tool runs completely inside your web browser using WebAssembly. Your documents are never uploaded, stored, or viewed by anyone.

Bates Numbering FAQ

Bates numbering assigns a unique sequential code to every page in a legal or corporate document bundle so specific pages can be cited precisely during depositions and court filings.