Bates Stamping
Apply Bates numbering to legal documents entirely client-side. Perfect for law firms handling confidential records.
PDF Vault applies Bates numbering to legal PDFs entirely in your browser, so discovery documents are stamped without ever being uploaded.
Bates numbering is the backbone of document production in litigation. Every page in a production set receives a unique sequential identifier, usually with a party or matter prefix, so that any page can be cited unambiguously for the life of the case.
The privacy problem is acute here. Discovery material is confidential by definition, frequently privileged, and often subject to a protective order. Uploading it to a free web service to have numbers stamped on it is exactly the kind of handling that creates a problem you then have to explain.
PDF Vault stamps pages locally. You set the prefix, the starting number, the padding, and the position, and the numbered PDF is generated on your machine. Nothing about the production set is transmitted, logged, or retained by us.
How to Bates stamp a PDF for legal discovery
- Load the PDF, or the merged production set, that needs numbering.
- Set your prefix — a matter code or party abbreviation such as ABC or SMITH.
- Set the starting number and how many digits to pad to, for example ABC000001.
- Choose where on the page the stamp sits, then export the numbered document.
What you get
- Custom prefixes. Matter codes and party abbreviations, formatted the way your firm does it.
- Zero-padded sequences. Consistent width numbering such as ABC000001 through ABC001250.
- Position control. Place the stamp in the conventional corner without covering page content.
- Confidential by construction. Privileged and protected material never leaves the machine it is stamped on.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bates numbering used for?
It gives every page in a production a unique sequential identifier so parties can cite a specific page unambiguously in deposition, motion practice, and at trial. It also makes it evident if pages are missing from a production.
Can I continue numbering across several documents?
Yes. Note the last number used and set the next document's starting number to follow it, or merge the set into one file and stamp it in a single pass.
Can I set a prefix and zero-padding?
Yes, both — a prefix such as ABC combined with padding produces identifiers like ABC000001.
Is this suitable for confidential discovery material?
That is precisely the design goal. Because stamping happens in your browser, protected documents are not transmitted to or stored by any third party.
Does it work for court e-filing requirements?
The output is a standard PDF with visible sequential numbering, which is what Bates numbering requirements call for. Always check your jurisdiction's specific formatting rules.