The Law Mind

Format of Papers

N.D. Ind. N.D. Ind. L.R. 5-4

(a) Generally. Any pleading, motion, brief, affidavit, notice, or proposed order, whether filed electronically or by delivering it to the clerk, must: (1) be plainly typewritten, printed, or prepared by a clearly legible copying process; (2) use 8.5” x 11” pages; (3) have at least 1-inch margins; (4) use at least 12-point type in the body and at least 10-point type in footnotes; (5) be double spaced (except for headings, footnotes, and quoted material); (6) have consecutively numbered pages; (7) include a title on the first page; (8) include a separate index identifying and briefly describing each exhibit if there are more than four exhibits; and (9) except in proposed orders and affidavits, include the filer’s name, address, telephone number, fax number (where available), and e-mail address (where available). (b) Manual Filings. (1) Form, Style, and Size of Papers. Papers delivered to the clerk for filing must: (A) be flat, unfolded, and on good-quality, white paper; (B) not have a cover or a back; and (C) include the filer’s original signature. (2) Rubber-Stamped and Faxed Signatures. An original paper with a rubber- stamped or faxed signature is unsigned for purposes of Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 and 26(g). Local Rules |Northern District of Indiana Page | 11 Civil Rule 5-4 (3) Affidavits. Only the affiant need sign an affidavit. (4) Filing with Clerk Required. Papers not filed electronically must be filed with the clerk, not a judge. (5) Where to File. Papers not filed electronically must be filed in the division where the case is pending, unless: (A) a person will be prejudiced if the paper is not filed the same day it is tendered; and (B) it includes an adequately sized envelope addressed to the clerk’s office in the division where the case is pending and with adequate postage. (6) Return of File-Stamped Copies. A party who wants a file-stamped copy of a paper must include with the filing an additional copy of the paper and a self- addressed envelope with adequate postage. (7) Recycled Paper. The court encourages using recycled paper. (8) Form of Notices. Parties manually filing a paper that requires the clerk to give others notice, must give the clerk: (A) sufficient copies of the notice; and (B) the name and address of each person entitled to receive the notice. (c) Forms of Order. Parties filing a paper that requires the judge or clerk to enter a routine or uncontested order must include a suitable form of order. (d) Notice by Publication. When published notice is required: (1) the clerk must send the notice to the party originating the notice; and (2) the party must deliver the notice to the appropriate newspapers for publication. Local Rules |Northern District of Indiana Page | 12 Civil Rule 5.1-1
Official source: https://www.innd.uscourts.gov/sites/innd/files/CurrentLocalRules.pdf · retrieved 2026-07-23