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Rule 76.Form of Papers.

Last amended January 1, 2016 · Last verified July 6, 2026

In one sentenceRule 76 sets the physical formatting rules for anything filed with the court — paper size, typeface, spacing, footers, exhibit labeling, and what has to appear on the first page — and lets the clerk refuse filings that don't comply.

Full Text of Rule 76

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)

(a) Form in General. All pleadings, motions, affidavits, memoranda, instructions and other papers and documents presented for filing with the clerk or intended for use by the judge, must conform to the following requirements:
(1) Paper Size and Quality: Documents must be 8-1/2 x 11 inches. The paper must be opaque, unglazed white paper of good quality and at least sixteen pound weight.
(2) Typed or Hand Printed in Ink: Text must be typed in clear and legible black typeface or hand printed in black ink.
(3) Typeface and Size: If typed, the text of a document, including headings and footnotes, must be at least 12 point Courier or another typeface allowed under Appellate Rule 513.5(c) if its size meets the requirements of that rule. Footers required under (a)(5) of this rule and certificates of distribution or service may be typed in a smaller font, but not smaller than 10 point.
(4) Line Spacing: Unless otherwise provided in these rules, text must be double-spaced or one-and-one-half spaced, except that headings and footnotes must be single-spaced, and longer quotations must be single-spaced and indented at least one-half inch on each side. Other parts of a document, including the case caption, headers and footers, signature blocks, certificates, and notarizations, should be single-spaced.
(5) Footer: Documents longer than one page must contain a footer that sets out the title of the document, case name, case number, and page numbering (page x of y). The title of the document and the case name may be abbreviated.
(6) Single-Sided: Text may only be typed or printed on one side of the paper.
(7) Two-Hole Punched: Documents must be two-hole punched at the top center of each page.
(8) Stapled: If a document is longer than one page, all pages must be stapled together at the upper left corner. Documents that are too thick to be stapled must be bound together at the top with a metal fastener (e.g., an Acco fastener).
(b) Interlineations. Interlineations are not permitted unless made by the court.
(c) Exhibits.
(1) Each page of an exhibit must be marked with the number or letter of the exhibit, the page number, and the total number of pages in the exhibit. Example: Ex. A, p. 1 of 10
(2) Exhibits must be attached to the principal document unless they are confidential. Confidential exhibits must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the case name, case number, number or letter of the exhibit, and name of the document to which they relate.
(d) Information to be Placed on First Page.
(1) Contact Information. The name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number of the attorney appearing for a party to an action or proceeding, or of a self-represented party, shall be typewritten or printed on the first page of the document. This information may be printed either in the left margin of the paper or in the space to the left of center of the paper beginning one inch below the top edge. The typeface must be no smaller than 10 point and no larger than 12 point.
(2) Caption. Every document must contain a caption setting forth the title of the court, the city in which the court is located, the title of the action (i.e., the names of the parties), the case number, and the document name. This information must be formatted as follows:
(A) The title of the court and the city in which the court is located must be centered at the top of the page, beginning 1 inch below the top edge or 1/2 inch below the name, address and telephone number of the attorney or pro se party, if this information appears at the top of the page.
(B) The title of the action (i.e., the names of the parties) must be inserted below the title of the court and to the left of center of the page.
(C) A space must be reserved for the clerk’s file stamp to the right of the title of the action. The case number must be inserted below this space.
(D) The document name may be centered on the page below the title of the action and the case number or placed to the right of the title of the action beneath the case number.
(3) Title of the Action. The complaint must include the names of all the parties in the title of the action, but in other documents it is sufficient to state the name of the first party on each side with appropriate indication of other parties (“et al” or “and others”). Note: See Civil Rule 10(a) for other requirements related to the names of parties in complaints.
(e) Name and Bar Number Typed Beneath Signature Line. The name of the person signing a pleading or paper must be typed under the signature line. If the person is an attorney, the person’s Alaska Bar Association membership number must be entered following the person’s name. Documents must be dated and signed in blue or black ink.
(f) Judge’s Name Typed on Orders and Judgments. The name of the judge signing an order or judgment must be typed under the judge’s signature line.
(g) Replacing Papers Lost or Withheld. If an original paper or pleading is lost or withheld by any person, the court may order a verified copy of the document to be filed and used in lieu of the original.
(h) Compliance With Rule. The clerk may refuse to accept for filing any document that does not comply with the requirements of this rule. The judge to whom the case is assigned may, in cases of emergency or necessity, permit departure from the requirements of this rule.
End

Amendment History

(Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; amended by SCO 258 effective November 15, 1976; by SCO 441 effective November 15, 1980; by SCO 567 effective July 1, 1983; by SCO 568 effective September 1, 1983; by SCO 687 effective May 1, 1986; by SCO 907 effective August 1, 1988; by SCO 931 effective January 15, 1989; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; by SCO 1210 effective July 15, 1995; by SCO 1287 effective July 15, 1998; by SCO 1344 effective August 13, 1998; by SCO 1386 effective April 15, 2000; rescinded and readopted by SCO 1415 effective October 15, 2000; and amended by SCO 1862 effective January 1, 2016)

Plain-English Summary

Pleadings, motions, affidavits, and other filed papers must be on 8-1/2 by 11 inch opaque white paper, typed in clear black type or hand printed in black ink, in at least 12-point Courier or another approved typeface, double- or one-and-a-half-spaced with single-spaced headings and long quotations, single-sided, two-hole punched, and stapled or bound if longer than one page. Documents longer than a page need a footer with the document title, case name, case number, and page numbers, and interlineations aren't allowed unless the court makes them. Exhibits must show the exhibit letter or number and page count on every page and generally must be attached to the main document, except confidential exhibits, which go in a marked sealed envelope.

The first page must show the filer's contact information — name, address, email, and phone number, for an attorney or a self-represented party — along with a caption naming the court, the parties, the case number, and the document title, arranged in a set layout. The complaint has to list every party's name in its title; other documents can shorten later parties to “et al.” Signatures must be dated and in blue or black ink, typed under the signature line with the attorney's bar number where applicable, and a judge's name is typed under a signature line on any order or judgment. A lost or withheld original can be replaced with a verified copy by court order. The clerk can refuse a noncompliant filing, though the assigned judge can allow departures from the rule in an emergency or out of necessity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the clerk reject my filing for using the wrong paper or format?

Yes — the clerk may refuse to accept a document that doesn't meet Rule 76's formatting requirements, though the assigned judge can permit departures in cases of emergency or necessity.

What has to be on the first page of a court filing?

The filer's name, address, email, and phone number, plus a caption showing the court, the parties, the case number, and the document's title, laid out in the format the rule specifies.

Can I file confidential exhibits along with the rest of my documents?

Yes, but they must be submitted separately, in a sealed envelope marked with the case name, case number, exhibit identifier, and the document they relate to, rather than attached to the main filing.

Source & verification. The rule text, Amendment History, and Notes are reproduced verbatim from the official Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure (Alaska R. Civ. P. 76). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Alaska (Alaska Const. art. IV, § 15). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: court filing format Alaska rulepleading paper requirements Alaskafont and margin requirements Alaska court filingAlaska R. Civ. P. 76