Texas Federal Court Filing Formatting Rules: Southern, Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts

Texas federal filing format is district-specific. There is no single statewide "Texas federal court format" rule for civil pleadings, motions, briefs, exhibits, captions, electronic filing, sealing, signatures, redactions, or motion-page limits.

On This Page

• Quick Answer
• Scope and Date Reviewed
• Texas Federal Filing Formatting Rules at a Glance
• Federal Baseline Rules
• Southern District of Texas Filing Formatting Rules
• Northern District of Texas Filing Formatting Rules
• Western District of Texas Filing Formatting Rules
• Eastern District of Texas Filing Formatting Rules
• What Is Actually Different About Texas Federal Filing Format
• FAQ
• Primary Source Index

For ordinary civil filings in Texas federal court, start with the local rules for the district where the case is pending: the Southern District of Texas Local Rules, the Northern District of Texas Local Civil Rules, the Western District of Texas Local Civil Rules, or the Eastern District of Texas Local Rules.

The federal rules still matter. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 10 supplies the baseline rules for pleading captions, numbered paragraphs, and exhibits attached to pleadings. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 supplies the federal privacy-redaction rule. But the document-formatting details that determine font size, spacing, margins, captions, brief limits, exhibits, signatures, sealing, local redacted-version procedures, and electronic filing come from the Texas district's local rules.

Quick Answer

For ordinary civil filings in the Western District of Texas, the main formatting rule is Local Rule CV-10, "Form of Pleadings." It requires pleadings, motions, and other submissions to use 12-point or larger font, double spacing, 8.5-by-11-inch paper, 1-inch margins on all sides, and a case style plus descriptive document name. Headings, footnotes, and quotations longer than two lines may be single-spaced.

For Southern District civil filings, the main form rule is Local Rule 10. For Northern District civil filings, the main document-form rule is Local Rule 10.1, and the main brief-format rule is Local Rule 7.2. For Eastern District civil filings, the main form rule is Local Rule CV-10, with motion and PDF requirements in Local Rule CV-7.

Scope and Date Reviewed

This guide summarizes primary-source rules for ordinary civil filings in the United States District Courts for the Southern, Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Texas. It was reviewed against the sources linked in this article as of June 23, 2026.

The local-rule corpora reviewed here identify the Southern District of Texas Local Rules as reprinted March 2026 with amendments through March 27, 2026, the Northern District of Texas Local Civil Rules as effective September 2, 2025, the Western District of Texas Local Civil Rules as built from the court's civil-rule source pages, and the Eastern District of Texas Local Rules as amended through February 9, 2026.

This article does not cover judge-specific standing orders, individual practices, criminal rules, bankruptcy rules, appellate rules, patent local rules, admiralty rules, case-type-specific procedures, emergency procedures, or every CM/ECF administrative procedure. Always check the assigned judge's standing orders, any case-specific order, and the court's current CM/ECF procedures.

Texas Federal Filing Formatting Rules at a Glance

Federal Baseline Rules

FRCP 10(a) requires every pleading to have a caption with the court's name, a title, a file number, and a Rule 7(a) designation. The complaint must name all parties in the title. Later pleadings may name the first party on each side and refer generally to the other parties.

FRCP 10(b) requires claims or defenses to be stated in numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single set of circumstances. Separate claims based on separate transactions or occurrences, and separate defenses other than denials, should be stated in separate counts or defenses if doing so would promote clarity.

FRCP 10(c) says a statement in a pleading may be adopted by reference elsewhere in the same pleading or in another pleading or motion. It also says a written instrument attached as an exhibit to a pleading is part of the pleading for all purposes.

FRCP 5.2 supplies the federal privacy-redaction rule. Unless the court orders otherwise, a filing containing a Social Security number, taxpayer identification number, birth date, minor's name, or financial account number may include only the last four digits of the Social Security or taxpayer identification number, the year of birth, the minor's initials, and the last four digits of the financial account number.

Those federal rules are only the starting point. Texas's federal districts add local formatting requirements, and those local requirements are not identical.

Southern District of Texas Filing Formatting Rules

Southern District Rule Summary

• Main formatting rule: Local Rule 10, "Form of Pleadings."
• Caption: Local Rule 10.1 requires a caption that includes the name and party designation of the party filing the paper and a statement of the paper's character.
• Paper, spacing, and pagination: Local Rule 10.2 requires 8.5-by-11-inch paper, no covers, top-only stapling, two-hole punching at the top, double spacing, and pagination.
• Electronic filing: Local Rule 5.1 requires electronic submission, signing, or verification unless expressly provided or permitted by the presiding judge.
• Certificate of service: Local Rule 5.3 requires a certificate showing how and when service was made or why service is not required.
• Motion practice: Local Rule 7 governs opposed motions, proposed orders, response timing, replies, oral argument requests, consolidation motions, and supporting material.
• Signature block: Local Rule 11.3 requires the attorney-in-charge's name, designation, state bar number, Southern District bar number, office address, telephone number, and email address under the signature.

Southern District Font, Spacing, Caption, and Signatures

The Southern District's principal local form rule is Local Rule 10. It is shorter than the formatting rules used in some other districts. The rule requires a caption identifying the filing party by name and party designation and stating the character of the paper, such as a party's motion for partial summary judgment.

Under Local Rule 10.2, papers offered for filing may not be in covers. They must use 8.5-by-11-inch paper, be stapled at the top only, be punched at the top with two holes, be double-spaced, and be paginated. The Southern District local form rule reviewed here does not state a general font-size requirement comparable to the 12-point rules in the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts.

Signature blocks are governed by Local Rule 11. On first appearance through counsel, each party designates an attorney-in-charge, and signing the pleading effects that designation. Every filed document must be signed by, or with permission of, the attorney-in-charge. Under Local Rule 11.3, the signature block must include the attorney's individual name, attorney-in-charge designation, state bar number, Southern District of Texas bar number, office address including zip code, telephone number, and email address.

Southern District Motions, ECF, and Exhibits

Local Rule 5.1 requires documents being filed to be submitted, signed, or verified electronically unless the rules expressly provide otherwise or the presiding judge permits a different method. The notice of electronic filing constitutes service on registered filing users. Local Rule 5.3 also requires papers to include a certificate of service at the end.

Local Rule 7 governs civil pretrial motion practice. Opposed motions must be written, include or be accompanied by authority, and be accompanied by a separate proposed order. Unless the motion is under FRCP 12(b), 12(c), 12(e), 12(f), or 56, the motion must include an averment that the movant conferred with the respondent and counsel cannot agree on disposition. Opposed motions are submitted 21 days from filing, responses must be filed by the submission day, and replies are due within 7 days after the response unless the presiding judge directs otherwise.

The Southern District local rules reviewed here do not set a single districtwide motion-page limit. That makes judge-specific procedures especially important. For exhibits, Local Rule 46 requires objections to exhibit admissibility at least 7 days before trial by written notice to the court with copies of the disputed exhibit and authority.

Northern District of Texas Filing Formatting Rules

Northern District Rule Summary

• Main document-form rule: Local Rule 10.1, "Required Form."
• Brief-format rule: Local Rule 7.2, "Briefs."
• Paper, page numbers, and title: Local Rule 10.1 requires 8.5-by-11-inch page size, numbered pages, and a title clearly identifying each included pleading, motion, or other paper.
• Font, spacing, and margins for briefs: Local Rule 7.2(a) requires briefs to use 12-point or larger font, double-spaced text, 1-inch margins, and 8.5-by-11-inch pages; headings, footnotes, and long quotations may be single-spaced.
• Motion practice: Local Rule 7.1 governs conferences, certificates of conference, proposed orders, briefing, response timing, replies, oral argument, and appendices.
• Brief limits: Local Rule 7.2(c) limits briefs to 25 pages and reply briefs to 10 pages unless another local civil rule provides otherwise.
• Generative AI disclosure: Local Rule 7.2(f) requires disclosure on the first page of a brief prepared using generative artificial intelligence.
• Electronic filing: Local Rule 5.1(e)-(f) requires attorney electronic filing and ECF registration unless excused for cause.
• Sealing and exhibits: Local Rule 79.3 governs sealed documents, and Local Rule 79.2 governs exhibit disposition.

Northern District Form, Brief Formatting, and AI Disclosure

Local Rule 10.1 requires each pleading, motion, or other paper to contain a title clearly identifying each included pleading, motion, or paper, a signature block with the attorney's bar number for the jurisdiction of admission, a fax number, and an email address. It also requires 8.5-by-11-inch page size and numbered pages. For paper submissions, unless a local rule or the presiding judge provides otherwise, the document must be two-hole punched at the top and stapled in the upper left corner or secured with a durable fastener at the top.

Briefs have more detailed typography requirements. Local Rule 7.2(a) requires a brief to be printed, typewritten, or otherwise legible, on 8.5-by-11-inch pages, in 12-point or larger font, with double-spaced text and 1-inch margins on all four sides. Quotations longer than two lines may be indented and single-spaced. Headings and footnotes may also be single-spaced. Page numbers may appear in the margins, but text may not.

Northern District briefing also has an AI-specific form requirement. Local Rule 7.2(f) requires a brief prepared using generative artificial intelligence to disclose that fact on the first page under the heading "Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence." A brief without that disclosure certifies that no part of the brief was prepared using generative artificial intelligence.

Northern District Motions, Appendices, Sealing, and ECF

Local Rule 7.1 controls motion practice unless another local rule or the presiding judge directs otherwise. Before filing a motion, counsel generally must confer with affected parties to determine whether the motion is opposed, except for motions to dismiss, motions for judgment on the pleadings, motions for summary judgment, motions for new trial, or when a conference is not possible. Motions requiring a conference must include a certificate of conference. Each motion generally must be accompanied by a separately set proposed order, and opposed motions and responses generally require briefs.

Under Local Rule 7.2(c), a brief may not exceed 25 pages and a reply brief may not exceed 10 pages unless another local civil rule provides otherwise. Permission to exceed those limits is granted only for extraordinary and compelling reasons. Briefs over 10 pages must include a table of contents and a table of authorities.

Appendices are governed by Local Rule 7.1(i). A party relying on materials to support or oppose a motion must include them in a self-contained appendix separate from the motion, response, reply, and brief. Each appendix page must be 8.5 by 11 inches and numbered legibly in the lower right-hand corner, with numbering continuing sequentially through the entire appendix.

Local Rule 5.1(e)-(f) requires attorneys, other than prisoner pro se parties, to file electronically and register as ECF users unless excused for cause. Local Rule 79.3 permits sealed filing when a statute or rule requires or permits it; otherwise, sealed filing requires motion and permission of the presiding judge. Local Rule 79.2 requires exhibits in court custody to be removed within 60 days after final disposition.

Western District of Texas Filing Formatting Rules

Western District Rule Summary

• Main formatting rule: Local Rule CV-10, "Form of Pleadings."
• Font, spacing, and margins: Local Rule CV-10 requires 12-point or larger font, including footnotes, double spacing, 8.5-by-11-inch paper, and 1-inch margins on all sides. Headings, footnotes, and quotations more than two lines long may be single-spaced.
• Case style and document name: Local Rule CV-10 requires the style of the case and descriptive name of the document.
• Contact and signature information: Local Rule CV-10 requires represented-party filings to include the attorney's mailing address, email address, signature, state bar card number, and telephone and fax numbers.
• Motion practice: Local Rule CV-7 governs motion form, page limits, response and reply timing, proposed orders, and conference requirements.
• Electronic filing: Local Rule CV-5 requires electronically filed documents to comply with the court's administrative policies and procedures for electronic filing.
• Sealing: Local Rule CV-5.2 governs documents filed under seal.
• Exhibits and records: Local Rule CV-79 governs removal and destruction of records and exhibits.

Western District Font, Margins, Caption, and Signatures

The Western District's main formatting rule is Local Rule CV-10. It applies to pleadings, motions, and other submissions. The filing must be typed or printed in 12-point or larger font, including footnotes, double-spaced, on 8.5-by-11-inch paper, with 1-inch margins on all sides. Headings, footnotes, and quotations longer than two lines may be single-spaced.

The same rule requires a pleading, motion, or submission to be endorsed with the style of the case and the descriptive name of the document. A filing by a represented party must contain the attorney's mailing address, email address, signature, state bar card number, and telephone and fax numbers, including area code. A filing by an unrepresented party must contain the party's mailing address, email address, signature, and telephone and fax numbers, including area code.

Western District Motions, Sealing, ECF, and Exhibits

Local Rule CV-7 requires pleadings, motions, and other submissions made outside a hearing or trial to satisfy Rule CV-10. Supporting legal authority must be cited in the motion, not in a separate brief. A motion must state its grounds and cite the applicable rule, statute, or other authority supporting the relief sought. An appendix may be filed with the motion to supply the factual basis.

Western District page limits are motion-specific. Unless otherwise authorized by the court, discovery and case-management motions are limited to 10 pages, and other motions are limited to 20 pages. Responses to discovery and case-management motions are limited to 10 pages, and responses to other motions are limited to 20 pages. Replies are limited to 5 pages for discovery and case-management motions and 10 pages for other motions. These limits exclude the caption, signature block, any certificate, and accompanying documents.

Local Rule CV-7 also requires responses to discovery or case-management motions within 7 days and responses to other motions within 14 days, except as provided by Rule CV-15. Replies are due within 7 days after the response. The court need not wait for a reply before ruling. For nondispositive motions, the court may refuse to hear or may deny the motion unless the movant advises the court within the motion that counsel conferred in good faith and certifies the specific reason no agreement could be made.

Local Rule CV-5 requires electronically filed documents to comply with the court's Administrative Policies and Procedures for Electronic Filing in Civil and Criminal Cases. Local Rule CV-5.2 requires documents intended to be kept under seal to be filed as an exhibit to a sealing motion and states that motions to keep pleadings, motions, or other submissions requesting or opposing relief under seal are disfavored. Local Rule CV-79 requires the party offering an exhibit or deposition to remove it from the clerk's office within 60 days after final disposition, including appeal, or it may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the clerk.

Eastern District of Texas Filing Formatting Rules

Eastern District Rule Summary

• Main formatting rule: Local Rule CV-10, "Form of Pleadings."
• Font, spacing, and paper: Local Rule CV-10(a) requires documents, excluding preexisting documentary exhibits and attachments, to be double-spaced and in no smaller than 12-point type; paper filings must use 8.5-by-11-inch white paper.
• Caption and signature: Local Rule CV-10(a) requires the style and number of the action, a caption identifying the filing party and document character, and signature by the lead attorney or with permission.
• Motion and PDF form: Local Rule CV-7(a) requires motions and responses to comply with Local Rules CV-5 and CV-10, to include a separate proposed order, and to be filed as separate documents except for alternative-relief motions.
• Page limits: Local Rule CV-7(a) sets 30-page limits for case-dispositive motions and responses, 15-page limits for non-dispositive motions and responses, 10-page limits for dispositive replies and sur-replies, and 5-page limits for non-dispositive replies and sur-replies.
• Electronic filing: Local Rule CV-5(a) requires electronic filing except as expressly provided or in exceptional circumstances.
• Attachments and exhibits: Local Rule CV-5(a)(6) requires each exhibit or attachment to be submitted and described with specificity as a separate PDF unless the court permits conventional filing.
• Sealing and redactions: Local Rule CV-5(a)(7) governs sealed documents and public redacted versions.
• Generative AI: Local Rule CV-11(g) states that litigants remain responsible for the accuracy and quality of legal documents produced with generative AI assistance.

Eastern District Font, Caption, PDF, and Signatures

Local Rule CV-10 applies to documents offered for filing, excluding preexisting documentary exhibits and attachments. It requires documents to be endorsed with the style and number of the action and to contain a caption with the name and party designation of the filing party and a statement of the character of the document. Documents must be signed by the lead attorney or with the lead attorney's permission.

For paper filings, Local Rule CV-10 requires documents to be plainly written, typed, or printed, double-spaced, on 8.5-by-11-inch white paper. The rule also separately requires filed documents to be double-spaced and in a font no smaller than 12-point type. Paper filings may not include "blue backs" or other covers.

Local Rule CV-7(a) adds motion-specific format requirements. Pleadings, motions, and responses to motions must comply with Local Rules CV-5 and CV-10 and be accompanied by a separate proposed order in searchable and editable PDF format. Motions, responses, replies, and proposed orders filed electronically must be submitted in searchable PDF format and must not contain restrictions or security settings that prohibit copying, highlighting, or commenting. Other documents, including attachments and exhibits, should be searchable PDFs whenever possible.

Local Rule CV-11 requires each party, on first appearance through counsel, to designate a lead attorney. Every document filed must be signed by the lead attorney or by an attorney of record with the lead attorney's permission. Under the signature, the attorney must include the attorney's individual name, state bar number, office address including zip code, telephone and fax numbers, and email address. Local Rule CV-11(g) also warns that litigants remain responsible for the accuracy and quality of documents produced with generative AI assistance.

Eastern District Motions, ECF, Sealing, and Exhibits

Eastern District motion page limits are more detailed than the Southern District's. Under Local Rule CV-7(a), case-dispositive motions and responses may not exceed 30 pages, excluding attachments, without leave. Replies and sur-replies to opposed case-dispositive motions may not exceed 10 pages, excluding attachments. Non-dispositive motions and responses may not exceed 15 pages, excluding attachments, and replies or sur-replies to opposed non-dispositive motions may not exceed 5 pages.

Local Rule CV-7(h)-(i) imposes a detailed meet-and-confer and certificate-of-conference requirement for many opposed motions. The conference requirement generally requires a personal conference by telephone or in person, not merely correspondence, email, or fax. The certificate must appear at the end of the motion after the certificate of service and must state compliance with the meet-and-confer requirement and whether the motion is opposed or unopposed.

Local Rule CV-5(a) requires electronic filing except as expressly provided or in exceptional circumstances. It also sets a 50-megabyte limit for any single electronic file, requires exhibits and attachments to be submitted and described with specificity as separate PDFs unless conventional filing is permitted, and requires paper courtesy copies for electronically filed documents exceeding 10 pages unless the presiding judge orders otherwise.

Sealing is governed in part by Local Rule CV-5(a)(7). Sealed documents must state "Filed Under Seal" at the top. Unless a statute or rule authorizes sealing, a civil sealed document must include a statement after the certificate of service certifying that a motion to seal has been filed or that the court has already authorized sealing. The motion to seal must be filed separately and immediately before the document sought to be sealed. A party filing a sealed document must publicly file a redacted version within 7 days unless the entire document is confidential information.

Local Rule CV-79 governs hearing and trial exhibits. Parties must not submit exhibits to the clerk before a hearing or trial without a court order. At the conclusion of a hearing or trial, the parties must provide the courtroom deputy with PDF copies of all admitted exhibits unless otherwise ordered. The party offering an exhibit is responsible for removing exhibits in court custody within 30 days after final disposition.

What Is Actually Different About Texas Federal Filing Format

The most important point is that "Texas federal format" is not one template. Texas has four federal districts, and their local rules handle document form in different ways.

Font requirements are not uniform. The Southern District local form rule reviewed here requires double spacing and pagination but does not state a general districtwide font-size rule. The Northern District requires 12-point or larger font for briefs under Local Rule 7.2(a). The Western District requires 12-point or larger font, including footnotes, under Local Rule CV-10. The Eastern District requires documents to be double-spaced and in no smaller than 12-point type under Local Rule CV-10.

Motion limits also vary. The Southern District's Local Rule 7 governs motion procedure but does not state a general page limit in the local rule reviewed here. The Northern District generally uses 25 pages for briefs and 10 pages for reply briefs under Local Rule 7.2(c). The Western District uses 10-page limits for discovery and case-management motions and 20-page limits for other motions under Local Rule CV-7. The Eastern District uses 30-page limits for case-dispositive motions and 15-page limits for non-dispositive motions under Local Rule CV-7.

Texas federal courts also now include AI-related filing rules in more than one district. The Northern District requires a first-page disclosure for briefs prepared using generative AI. The Eastern District cautions that litigants remain responsible for the accuracy and quality of documents produced with generative AI assistance. Those provisions do not replace Rule 11 duties; they add local filing requirements or warnings that can matter before a document is filed.

The practical result is that a Texas federal filing should be formatted for the specific district and judge. The federal rules supply the pleading baseline, but the local rules decide the mechanics: caption wording, font size, spacing, margins, page limits, proposed orders, appendix format, signature blocks, exhibit treatment, sealed-document procedure, redactions, and electronic filing.

That is the gap DocketDrafter's AI pleading formatter is built around. Drafting text is only part of the job. The filed document still has to satisfy the court's mechanical requirements: caption structure, font size, spacing, margins, page numbering, title language, signature blocks, exhibits, redactions, proposed orders, and brief limits.

FAQ

What are the formatting rules for pleadings in the Western District of Texas?

For Western District of Texas civil filings, start with Local Rule CV-10. It requires 12-point or larger font, including footnotes, double spacing, 8.5-by-11-inch paper, 1-inch margins on all sides, the case style, and the descriptive name of the document. Headings, footnotes, and quotations longer than two lines may be single-spaced.

What font size is required in the Northern District of Texas?

Northern District of Texas Local Rule 7.2(a) requires briefs to use 12-point or larger font. The same rule requires 8.5-by-11-inch pages, double-spaced text, and 1-inch margins, with single spacing permitted for headings, footnotes, and quotations longer than two lines.

What font size is required in the Eastern District of Texas?

Eastern District of Texas Local Rule CV-10(a) requires documents offered for filing, excluding preexisting documentary exhibits and attachments, to be double-spaced and in a font no smaller than 12-point type. Paper filings must be on 8.5-by-11-inch white paper.

Does the Southern District of Texas have a general font-size rule?

The Southern District local form rule reviewed here, Local Rule 10, requires 8.5-by-11-inch paper, no covers, top-only stapling, two-hole punching at the top, double spacing, and pagination, but it does not state a general font-size requirement. Always check the assigned judge's procedures and any case-specific order.

What are the motion brief page limits in the Western District of Texas?

Under Western District of Texas Local Rule CV-7, discovery and case-management motions and responses are limited to 10 pages, and other motions and responses are limited to 20 pages, unless otherwise authorized by the court. Replies are limited to 5 pages for discovery and case-management motions and 10 pages for other motions. Those limits exclude the caption, signature block, any certificate, and accompanying documents.

What are the motion brief page limits in the Eastern District of Texas?

Eastern District of Texas Local Rule CV-7(a) limits case-dispositive motions and responses to 30 pages, excluding attachments, unless leave is obtained. Non-dispositive motions and responses are limited to 15 pages. Replies and sur-replies are limited to 10 pages for case-dispositive motions and 5 pages for non-dispositive motions.

Does Texas federal court require line-numbered pleading paper?

The Southern, Northern, Western, and Eastern District of Texas local formatting rules reviewed here do not impose a California-style line-numbered pleading-paper requirement for ordinary civil filings. Texas federal formatting focuses on district-specific captions, font size, spacing, margins, page numbering, proposed orders, signature blocks, appendices, motion limits, exhibits, sealing, redactions, and electronic filing.

Do Texas federal courts have AI disclosure rules?

Some do. Northern District of Texas Local Rule 7.2(f) requires a first-page disclosure under the heading "Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence" when a brief was prepared using generative AI. Eastern District of Texas Local Rule CV-11(g) states that litigants remain responsible for the accuracy and quality of legal documents produced with generative AI assistance.

Are judge standing orders part of Texas federal formatting rules?

Judge standing orders are not covered by this guide, but they can change or add formatting requirements. Always check the assigned judge's standing orders, individual practices, CM/ECF procedures, and any case-specific orders before filing.

Primary Source Index