What Is Bates Numbering and When Do You Need It?
A simple explanation of the Bates numbering system used in legal documents, why it differs from ordinary numbering, and how to apply it to your files.
What Bates numbering means
Bates numbering is a sequential numbering system used mainly in legal documents and cases to give every page a unique, non-repeating identifier. It usually consists of a text prefix (like a case code or party name) followed by a zero-padded number, such as ABC000001 and ABC000002. The goal is that every page in a case file — however many documents there are — carries a unique identifier that's easy to reference in court and correspondence.
The difference from ordinary page numbers
Ordinary page numbering restarts from 1 in each document, while Bates numbering continues sequentially across all documents in the case with no repeats. This property is essential when you gather hundreds of documents into one file and need every party to reference "page ABC000342" and have everyone find it instantly.
To apply it, open the Bates numbering tool, upload your file, and set the prefix, digit padding, starting number, and position. If you're numbering several files for the same case, set each file's starting number to continue where the previous ended. And if you want simple ordinary numbering rather than legal, the Page Numbers tool fits better.
Frequently asked questions
Does numbering continue across multiple files?+
Set the starting number manually in each file so it continues from the last number used in the previous file.
Who typically uses Bates numbering?+
Lawyers, courts, and legal teams, to organize case documents and reference them precisely.