Williams County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Document Format Requirements

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Margins

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Filings must reserve at least 2½ inches at the top of the first page for clerk file marks, and subsequent pages must have a top margin of at least one inch.

All papers shall have a blank space of at least two and one-half (2½) inches at the top of the first page for file marks by the Clerk. All subsequent pages shall have a top margin of not less than one (1) inch.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Attorney-represented filings must be signed by at least one attorney of record, unrepresented parties must sign their filings, and paper copies must contain a physical signature unless the document is e-filed.

All pleadings, motions or other papers of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign the pleading, motion or other paper. Unless e-filing documents as set forth in F below, paper copies must contain a physical signature.

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All trial documents and exhibits must be marked for identification and shared with opposing counsel at least seven days before trial, with noncompliance potentially resulting in exclusion from evidence.

1. All documents and exhibits must be marked for identification purposes and shared with opposing counsel at least seven (7) days prior to trial. Failure to do so may result in said documents and exhibits not being admitted into evidence.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Plaintiff exhibits must use Arabic numerals, defendant exhibits letters, and stipulated joint exhibits Roman numerals for identification.

2, Plaintiffs exhibits are to be marked with Arabic numerals; Defendant’s exhibits to be marked with letters; and stipulated joint exhibits to be marked with Roman numerals.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Exhibit stickers must include the case number and trial date, with the first trial date permitted for consecutive-day trials.

3. Exhibit stickers shall also be marked with the case number and the date (if a trial is to be conducted over a period of consecutive days it may be dated with the first date of trial).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

When providing the GAL report to unrepresented parties and counsel of record, the GAL must attach a NOTICE cover sheet containing the required language in bold print at 22-point font or larger.

In addition, the Guardian ad Litem, when providing the report to unrepresented parties and legal counsel of record shall attach a cover sheet entitled NOTICE which sets out the language required above in bold print in 22-point font or larger.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

The required disclosure warning in a Guardian ad Litem report must be printed in bold.

The requirement that the Guardian ad litem report, when issued shall contain the following language in bold print:

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

The required notice language on the Guardian ad Litem report cover sheet must be in bold and at least 22-point font.

The requirement that the Guardian ad Litem, when providing the report to unrepresented parties and legal counsel of record attach a cover sheet entitled NOTICE which sets out the language required above in subparagraph 2 in bold print in 22-point font or larger.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Format

PAPER

In addition to the requirements of Civ. R. 10, all papers filed with the Clerk as pleadings, motions, applications, judgments and orders shall be on 8½ by 11 inch white paper, typewritten, or printed in a neat and legible manner, securely fastened together and page numbered if consisting of more than a single sheet.

Summary: Papers filed as pleadings, motions, applications, judgments, and orders must be on 8½-by-11-inch white paper, typewritten or neatly and legibly printed, securely fastened together, and page numbered when they contain more than one sheet.

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Following the last page of the QDRO, Counsel or self-represented party shall include the following NOTICE in BOLD print requiring the Plan Administrator to file a notice that the Qualified Domestic Relations Order has been qualified with the Clerk of Courts.

Summary: The final page of a QDRO must include the specified notice in bold print.

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Following the last page of the DOPO, Counsel or self¬ represented party shall include the following NOTICE in BOLD print requiring the Plan Administrator to file a notice that the Division of Property Order has been qualified with the Clerk of Courts.

Summary: The Division of Property Order must include, after its last page, a bold-print notice requiring the plan administrator to file notice of qualification with the clerk of courts.