Every pleading shall contain a caption setting forth the name of the court, the title and number of the action, and a designation of the pleading. The title of the action shall state the name of the first party on each side with an appropriate indication of other parties. A statement in a pleading may be adopted by reference in a different part of the same pleading or in another pleading in the same court. A copy of any written instrument that is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof.
Art. 853.Caption of Pleadings; Adoption By Reference; Exhibits
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title I. Pleading · Chapter 1. General Dispositions · Last amended 2018 · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 853 sets the caption requirements for every Louisiana pleading, allows a statement to be adopted by reference elsewhere in the same or another pleading, and makes any exhibit attached to a pleading part of that pleading.
Full Text of Art. 853
Amendment History
Amended by Acts 2018, No. 195, §1, eff. 8/1/2018.
Plain-English Summary
Every Louisiana pleading opens with a caption identifying the court, the title and number of the case, and what kind of pleading it is. The title states the name of the first party on each side, with an indication of any others involved, so anyone glancing at the caption can tell what case it belongs to and what the document does.
Article 853 also permits adoption by reference: instead of retyping an allegation already stated, a party can point back to it, whether the reference is to an earlier part of the same pleading or to a pleading already filed in the same court. This keeps later filings shorter and keeps the underlying language consistent.
Finally, a written instrument attached to a pleading as an exhibit becomes part of that pleading. That matters most when a court tests whether the pleading states a valid claim or defense, because the exhibit's contents count along with everything else the party alleged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has to be in a Louisiana pleading's caption?
The name of the court, the title and number of the action, and a designation of what kind of pleading it is, with the title stating the first party's name on each side and indicating any other parties.
Can I attach a document to a petition instead of retyping its contents?
Yes. Article 853 makes a written instrument attached as an exhibit part of the pleading itself, and also lets a party adopt an earlier statement by reference rather than repeating it.
What does adoption by reference mean in Louisiana pleading practice?
It lets a party point back to a statement already made in the same pleading, or in another pleading filed in the same court, instead of restating it.
Does attaching an exhibit make it part of the pleading for legal purposes?
Yes. Once attached, the exhibit is treated as part of the pleading, including when a court decides whether the pleading is legally sufficient.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: caption requirements Louisiana pleadingadoption by reference pleadingexhibits attached to pleadings LouisianaArticle 853 Louisianahow to caption a Louisiana petition