Pleadings, motions, memoranda, and briefs filed by counsel must be consistent with the fol- lowing:
Rule 10.Form of pleadings, motions, memoranda, and briefs
Current through July 1, 2026 · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceTrial Rule 10 sets the physical formatting for pleadings, motions, memoranda, and briefs — page size, font, spacing, margins, numbering, captions, and paragraph structure — while easing the technical requirements for self-represented litigants and requiring courts to allow a chance to fix formatting mistakes.
Full Text of Rule 10
(A) Page Size. The page size must be 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Conventionally filed documents must use white paper of a weight normally used in printing and typing.
(B) Production. The document must be produced in a neat and legible manner using black type. It may be typewritten, printed, or produced by a word processing system. For conventionally filed doc- uments, text must appear on only one side of the paper.
(C) Print Size. The font must be Arial, Baskerville, Book Antiqua, Bookman, Bookman Old Style, Century, Cen- tury Schoolbook, Calisto MT, CG Times, Garamond, Georgia, New Baskerville, New Century Schoolbook, Palatino, or Times New Roman and the typeface must be 12-point or larger in both body text and footnotes.
(D) Spacing. All text must be double-spaced except that footnotes, tables, charts, or similar material and text that is blocked and indented must be single-spaced. Single-spaced lines must be sep- arated by at least 4-point spaces.
(E) Numbering. All pages must be consecutively numbered at the bottom beginning with numeral one.
(F) Margins. All four margins for the text of the document must be at least one inch from the edge of the page.
(G) Caption--Names of parties. Every pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court, the title of the action, the file number, and a designation as in Rule 7(A). In the complaint the title of the action shall include the names of all the parties, but in other pleadings it is sufficient to state the name of the first party on each side with an appropriate indication of other parties.
(H) Paragraphs--Separate statements. All averments of a claim or defense shall be made in numbered paragraphs, the contents of each of which shall be limited as far as practicable to a statement of a single set of circumstances, and a paragraph may be referred to by number in all succeeding pleadings. Each claim founded upon a separate transaction or occurrence and each defense other than denials may be stated in a separate count or defense whenever a separation facilitates the clear presentation of the matters set forth.
(I) Self-represented litigants. Self-represented litigants must submit documents in a neat and legible manner, with text appearing on only one side of the paper. Self-represented litigants must comply with sub- divisions (G) and (H).
(J) Substantial Compliance and Opportunity to Cure. A court may consider a filing in substantial compliance with this rule. The court must allow a party to cure a nonconforming filing within a reasonable time.
Amendment History
This rule’s current text took effect January 1, 2025. For the full history of earlier amendments and adoption orders, see the Indiana Office of Court Services.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 10 is a formatting checklist for anything filed with an Indiana trial court. Paper must be 8½ by 11 inches, of ordinary printing weight, produced neatly in black type, and, for conventionally filed paper documents, printed on only one side. Text has to use one of a specific list of approved fonts — familiar choices like Times New Roman and Arial are on it, along with several others — set at 12-point or larger in both the body and the footnotes. Body text must be double-spaced, though footnotes, tables, charts, and blocked or indented material can be single-spaced with at least four points between lines. Pages must be numbered consecutively at the bottom starting with one, and every margin must be at least one inch.
Two subsections cover content rather than appearance. Every pleading needs a caption stating the court, the title of the action, the file number, and a designation of the pleading type. A complaint has to name every party in its caption; later filings can list just the first party on each side with an indication that there are others. Claims and defenses must be broken into numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practical to a single set of circumstances, so later filings can refer back to a paragraph by number — and a claim or defense can get its own separate count or section whenever that makes the pleading easier to follow.
Rule 10 treats self-represented litigants differently from the rest of the rule. Subsection (I) requires only that a self-represented filer submit documents that are neat and legible, printed on one side, and consistent with the caption and paragraph-numbering requirements — it does not extend the specific font, margin, spacing, or page-numbering specifications to someone filing without a lawyer. And subsection (J) requires every court, for every filer, to treat a filing that substantially complies with the rule as sufficient, and to give a reasonable opportunity to correct a nonconforming filing rather than reject it outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper size and margins does Indiana require for court filings?
Conventionally filed documents must use 8½ by 11 inch white paper of ordinary printing weight, and every margin must be at least one inch from the edge of the page.
What fonts can I use, and how large does the text need to be?
The rule lists specific approved fonts, including Times New Roman, Arial, Georgia, and Garamond among others, and requires 12-point type or larger in both the body text and the footnotes.
Does my brief have to be double-spaced?
Yes, for the body text. Footnotes, tables, charts, and blocked or indented material may be single-spaced, as long as single-spaced lines are separated by at least four points of space.
Do self-represented litigants have to follow every formatting rule in Rule 10?
No. Rule 10(I) requires a self-represented litigant to file documents that are neat and legible, printed on one side, and to follow the caption and paragraph-numbering requirements — it does not extend the specific font, margin, and spacing rules to a self-represented filer.
What happens if I file something that does not meet the formatting requirements?
A court may treat a filing that substantially complies with the rule as sufficient, and Rule 10(J) requires the court to give a reasonable amount of time to fix a nonconforming filing rather than reject it outright.
What has to be in a complaint’s caption?
The name of the court, the title of the action naming every party, the file number, and a designation of the pleading. Filings after the complaint only need to name the first party on each side, with an indication that other parties exist.
How should I number the paragraphs in my pleading?
Each paragraph should be limited, as far as practical, to a single set of circumstances, so it can be referred to by number in later filings. A claim or defense founded on a separate transaction can be given its own separate count when that helps make the pleading clearer.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure (T.R. 10). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Indiana, under its inherent constitutional rulemaking power (reaffirmed by Ind. Code 34-8-1-1 and 34-8-2-1); originally enacted by the Indiana General Assembly in 1969. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
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