Bates numbering assigns a unique sequential identifier to produced material, typically combining a party prefix with a zero-padded number. In image productions the number is stamped on each page, and in native productions it is applied at the document level and carried in the load file.
Numbering is applied at production, and ranges are recorded in a production log.
Alternative Names:
Bates Stamp, Bates Number, Control Number
Why it Matters?
Bates numbers are the shared citation system for the entire case. Every deposition exhibit, motion citation, and expert reference depends on them, which is why numbering conventions should be fixed in the ESI protocol before the first production. Inconsistent or restarted numbering across productions creates confusion that persists through trial.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How are native files Bates numbered?
Should each party use a distinct prefix?
