San Mateo Superior Court Page & Word Limits
52 rules from official source documents
Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge. This page is scoped to San Mateo Superior Court; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
- Limit
- 6800 words
- Applies to
- Brief
Appellate briefs are limited to 6,800 words absent prior Appellate Division approval; tables of contents and authorities are excluded, while footnotes count toward the limit.
No brief shall exceed 6,800 words in length without prior approval of the Appellate Division. (CRC rule 8.883(b).) Tables of contents and/or authorities are excluded from this limitation, but footnotes are included.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Discovery dispute summary
The electronic letter summarizing the discovery dispute may not exceed five pages.
Within five (5) calendar days of the initial email request to the Court for an Informal Discovery Request, the disputing parties shall, jointly or separately, email correspondence to the Court at IDC@sanmateocourt.org, and contemporaneously to all parties, an electronic letter of no more than five (5) pages, without attachments, summarizing the discovery dispute(s).
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Discovery dispute letter
The electronic letter summarizing the discovery dispute may not exceed five pages.
Within five (5) calendar days of the initial email request to the Court for an Informal Discovery Request, the disputing parties shall, jointly or separately, email correspondence to the Court at IDC@sanmateocourt.org and contemporaneously to all parties, an electronic letter of no more than five (5) pages, without attachments, summarizing the discovery dispute(s).
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Electronic letter
The electronic discovery-dispute correspondence is limited to five pages and must not include attachments.
Within five (5) calendar days of the initial email request to the Court for an Informal Discovery Request, the disputing parties shall, jointly or separately, email correspondence to the department email address for the Family Law Commissioner, and contemporaneously to all parties, an electronic letter of no more than five (5) pages, without attachments, summarizing the discovery dispute(s).
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Opposition
An opposition to a motion in limine may not exceed five pages unless the Court permits otherwise.
Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motion in limine
A motion in limine may not exceed five pages unless the Court permits otherwise.
Each motion in limine should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Disputed instruction explanation
Each party’s explanation following a disputed jury instruction is limited to one page.
Following each disputed instruction, each party shall explain, in no more than one page, why the Court should give that party’s proposed instruction or why the instruction should or should not be given.
- Limit
- 3 pages
- Applies to
- Informal conference brief
An optional informal-conference brief may be emailed to the Court, must be on court pleading paper, may not exceed three pages, and must be served.
For these informal conferences, briefs on court pleading paper not to exceed three (3) pages – which must be served – may be submitted by email to the Court at dept11@sanmateocourt.org and complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Discovery brief
Each side must serve and email the Court a short IDC brief of no more than five pages at least three court days before the conference.
23. For the IDC, each side must serve and email to the Court at both dept11@sanmateocourt.org and complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org a short brief limited to no more than five (5) pages, at least three (3) court days before the IDC.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motion in limine
Each motion in limine must address one separate topic and may not exceed five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
Each motion in limine should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Opposition
Each opposition to a motion in limine may not exceed five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Exhibit dispute explanation
- Spacing
- Double
An unresolved competing-exhibit dispute must be submitted with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement, supported by no more than one double-spaced page of explanation.
If the parties are unable to informally resolve the dispute, then each party shall submit its disputed exhibit with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and explain, in no more than one double-spaced page, why the Court should use its proposed exhibit.
- Limit
- 3 pages
- Applies to
- Informal conference brief
An informal-conference brief may not exceed three pages.
For these informal conferences, briefs on court pleading paper not to exceed three (3) pages – which must be served – may be submitted by email to the Court at dept2@sanmateocourt.org and complexcivil@sanmatecourt.org.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Idc short brief
Each side must serve and email the Court a short IDC brief, on court pleading paper, no more than five pages long, at least three court days before the IDC.
For the IDC, each side must serve and email to the Court at both dept2@sanmateocourt.org and complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org a short brief on court 3 pleading paper, limited to no more than five (5) pages, at least three (3) court days before the 5 IDC.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Jury instructions
Each party’s explanation following a disputed jury instruction may not exceed one page.
Following each disputed instruction, each party shall explain, in no more than one page, why the Court should give that party’s proposed instruction or why the instruction should or should not be given.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motion in limine
Each motion in limine must address one separate topic and may not exceed five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
Each MIL should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Opposition
Each opposition to a motion in limine may not exceed five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Disputed exhibit explanation
- Spacing
- Double
If an overlapping-exhibit dispute is not informally resolved, each party must submit the disputed exhibit with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and explain its position in no more than one double-spaced page.
If the parties are unable to informally resolve the dispute, then each party shall submit its disputed exhibit with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and explain, in no more than one double-spaced page, why the Court should use its proposed exhibit.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Deposition designations
Each deposition-designation objection or response may not exceed one page.
Objections or responses may be no longer than one page.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Disputed instruction explanation
Each party’s explanation for a disputed jury instruction may not exceed one page.
Following each disputed instruction, each party shall explain, in no more than one page, why the Court should give that party’s proposed instruction or why the instruction should or should not be given.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motion in limine
Each motion in limine is limited to five pages and should address one separate topic unless the court permits otherwise.
45. Each MIL should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Opposition
Each opposition to a motion in limine is limited to five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
46. Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Disputed exhibit submission
- Spacing
- Double
If an overlapping-exhibit dispute is not informally resolved, each party must submit the disputed exhibit with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and provide an explanation in no more than one double-spaced page.
If the parties are unable to informally resolve the dispute, then each party shall submit its disputed exhibit with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and explain, in no more than one double-spaced page, why the Court should use its proposed exhibit.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Deposition designations objections or responses
Objections or responses to proposed deposition designations may not exceed one page.
Objections or responses may be no longer than one page.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motion in limine
Each motion in limine is limited to five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
36. Each MIL should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Opposition
Each opposition to a motion in limine is limited to five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
22 Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages unless otherwise permitted by the 37. Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Informal conference brief
Informal conference briefs must be on court pleading paper, must not exceed five pages, must be served, and may be submitted by email to the Court.
For these informal conferences, briefs on court pleading paper not to exceed five (5) pages – which must be served – may be submitted by email to the Court at dept20@sanmateocourt.org and complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Discovery conference brief
Each side must serve and email an IDC brief no longer than five pages to both listed court email addresses at least three court days before the conference.
23. For the IDC, each side must serve and email to the Court at both dept20@sanmateocourt.org and complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org a short brief limited to no more than five (5) pages, at least three (3) court days before the IDC.
- Limit
- 10 pages
- Applies to
- Trial brief
The trial brief is limited to 10 pages.
Trial Brief (10-page limit)
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motions in limine
Each motion in limine must address a single separate topic and may not exceed five pages unless the Court permits otherwise.
Each motion in limine should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Oppositions
Each opposition to a motion in limine may not exceed five pages unless the Court permits otherwise.
Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Disputed exhibit explanation
- Spacing
- Double
An explanation of why the Court should use a proposed overlapping exhibit may not exceed one double-spaced page.
If the parties are unable to informally resolve the dispute, then each party shall submit its disputed exhibit with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and explain, in no more than one double-spaced page, why the Court should use its proposed exhibit.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motion in limine
Each motion in limine must address a single topic and may not exceed five pages unless the Court permits otherwise.
Each motion in limine should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Opposition
Each opposition to a motion in limine may not exceed five pages unless the Court permits otherwise.
Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Jury instructions
Each party’s explanation following a disputed jury instruction may not exceed one page.
Following each disputed instruction, each party shall explain, in no more than one page, why the Court should give that party’s proposed instruction or why the instruction should or should not be given.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motion
Each motion in limine should address one separate topic and is limited to five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
Each motion in limine should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Opposition
Each opposition to a motion in limine is limited to five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Jury instruction explanation
Each party’s explanation following a disputed jury instruction is limited to one page.
Following each disputed instruction, each party shall explain, in no more than one page, why the Court should give that party’s proposed instruction or why the instruction should or should not be given.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Disputed exhibit submission
- Spacing
- Double
The explanation supporting a party’s proposed treatment of a disputed exhibit is limited to one double-spaced page.
If the parties are unable to informally resolve the dispute, then each party shall submit its disputed exhibit with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and explain, in no more than one double-spaced page, why the Court should use its proposed exhibit.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Motion in limine
Each motion in limine must address one separate topic and may not exceed five pages unless the Court permits otherwise.
Each motion in limine should address a single, separate topic and shall be limited to five (5) pages in length unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 5 pages
- Applies to
- Opposition
Each opposition to a motion in limine may not exceed five pages unless the Court permits otherwise.
Each opposition is also limited to five (5) pages unless otherwise permitted by the Court.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Disputed exhibit explanation
- Spacing
- Double
An unresolved disputed exhibit must be submitted with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and supported by an explanation of no more than one double-spaced page.
If the parties are unable to informally resolve the dispute, then each party shall submit its disputed exhibit with the Joint Pretrial Conference Statement and explain, in no more than one double-spaced page, why the Court should use its proposed exhibit.
- Limit
- 6800 words
- Applies to
- Brief
An appellant seeking to file a brief longer than 6,800 words must obtain Appellate Division approval through an application complying with LCR rule 1.8.
Permission to file any briefs in excess of 6,800 words shall be obtained by application in accordance with LCR rule 1.8.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Proposed statement of the case
- Spacing
- Double
Unless the case is very complex, the proposed statement of the case should not exceed one page and should be double-spaced.
Unless the case is very complex, this statement should not exceed one-page double spaced.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Objections or responses
Objections and responses to proposed deposition designations may not exceed one page.
Objections or responses may be no longer than one page.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Proposed statement of the case
- Spacing
- Double
Unless the case is very complex, the proposed statement of the case may not exceed one double-spaced page.
Unless the case is very complex, this statement should not exceed one-page double spaced.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Statement of the case
- Spacing
- Double
Unless the case is very complex, the proposed statement of the case should not exceed one page and should be double spaced.
Unless the case is very complex, this statement should not exceed one-page double spaced.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Jury instructions
Each party’s explanation following a disputed jury instruction may not exceed one page.
Following each disputed instruction, each party shall explain, in no more than one page, why the Court should give that party’s proposed instruction or why the instruction should or should not be given.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Proposed statement of case
- Spacing
- Double
Unless the case is complex, the proposed statement of the case should not exceed one page and should be double spaced.
Unless the case is complex, this statement should not exceed one-page double spaced.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Proposed statement of case
- Spacing
- Double
Unless the case is very complex, the proposed statement of the case should not exceed one page and should be double-spaced.
Unless the case is very complex, this statement should not exceed one-page double spaced.
- Limit
- 1 pages
- Applies to
- Proposed statement of the case
- Spacing
- Double
Unless the case is very complex, the proposed statement of the case should not exceed one page and should be double-spaced.
Unless the case is very complex, this statement should not exceed one-page double spaced.
- Limit
- 3 pages
- Applies to
- Informal conference brief
An optional informal-conference brief may be submitted by email but may not exceed three pages and must be prepared on court pleading paper and served.
For these informal conferences, briefs on court pleading paper not to exceed three (3) pages – which must be served – may be submitted by email to the Court at dept28@sanmateocourt.org and complexcivil@sanmateocourt.org.
What page or word limits apply to motion in San Mateo Superior Court?
San Mateo Superior Court's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Each motion in limine should address one separate topic and is limited to five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
What page or word limits apply to opposition in San Mateo Superior Court?
San Mateo Superior Court's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Each opposition to a motion in limine is limited to five pages unless the court permits otherwise.
What page or word limits apply to jury instruction explanation in San Mateo Superior Court?
San Mateo Superior Court's rule states these limits: 1 pages. Each party’s explanation following a disputed jury instruction is limited to one page.
What page or word limits apply to disputed exhibit submission in San Mateo Superior Court?
San Mateo Superior Court's rule states these limits: 1 pages. The explanation supporting a party’s proposed treatment of a disputed exhibit is limited to one double-spaced page.
What page or word limits apply to informal conference brief in San Mateo Superior Court?
San Mateo Superior Court's rule states these limits: 3 pages. An informal-conference brief may not exceed three pages.
What page or word limits apply to idc short brief in San Mateo Superior Court?
San Mateo Superior Court's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Each side must serve and email the Court a short IDC brief, on court pleading paper, no more than five pages long, at least three court days before the IDC.
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