(1) Except for exhibits and wills, the size of all papers filed in court shall be no larger than 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches.
801.145.Form of papers.
Ch. 801: Commencement of Action and Venue · Last amended 1984 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 801.145 limits most papers filed in a Wisconsin court to no larger than 8½ by 11 inches, exempting exhibits and wills, and directs the clerk to return anything that doesn’t conform.
Full Text of Section 801.145
(2) The clerk of circuit court or register in probate shall return any paper not in conformity with sub. (1) to the person or party attempting to file it.
Plain-English Summary
Section 801.145 is a short, practical rule about physical paper size. Except for exhibits and wills, every paper filed in court must be no larger than 8½ inches by 11 inches — standard letter size. That uniformity keeps court files consistent and easy to store and copy, regardless of what a particular litigant might otherwise submit.
The section backs that requirement with an enforcement mechanism: the clerk of circuit court or register in probate must return any paper that doesn’t meet the size limit to whoever tried to file it. The paper isn’t accepted into the record until it’s resubmitted in the proper size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum size for papers filed in a Wisconsin court?
Section 801.145 limits filed papers to no larger than 8½ inches by 11 inches, with exceptions for exhibits and wills.
What happens if I file a document that is larger than the allowed size?
Section 801.145 requires the clerk of circuit court or register in probate to return the nonconforming paper to the person or party who tried to file it.
Do exhibits have to follow the same size limit as other filed papers?
No. Section 801.145 exempts exhibits, along with wills, from the size limit that otherwise applies to papers filed in court.
Does this size rule apply to documents filed electronically?
Section 801.145 addresses the physical size of papers filed in court; the chapter’s electronic filing provisions separately require electronically filed documents to follow the formatting rules that govern paper documents, including page and size conventions.
Who decides whether a filed document meets the size requirement?
Section 801.145 places that check with the clerk of circuit court or register in probate, who returns any paper that does not conform to the size limit.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 120 Wis. 2d xv (1984).
Source & verification. Section text and official notes are
reproduced verbatim from the Wisconsin Statutes, published by the
Wisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau). Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: wisconsin court filing paper size requirement8.5 by 11 filing rule wisconsinnonconforming document returned wisconsin court