PDF requirements for e-filing in the Alameda County Superior Court

What the court requires

The limit is 25 MB per document and 60 MB suggested for everything in one filing (envelope). The court recommends staying within 25 MB per document and 60 MB per transaction; your e-filing service provider may enforce its own limits.

“As a general rule of thumb, 25 megabytes per document and 60 megabytes per e-filing transaction is a good guideline.”

Common reasons filings are rejected

• A document is over 25 MB.
• Several exhibits were combined into one oversized PDF.
• The PDF is password-protected or has security restrictions.
• The PDF is password-protected or has security restrictions, so the court's system can't open it.

Questions about the Alameda Superior Court's PDF rules

What is the maximum PDF file size for the Alameda Superior Court?

25 MB per PDF. The court recommends keeping all files in one filing under 60 MB in total.

What should I do if my PDF is too large for the Alameda Superior Court?

Split it into consecutive parts that are each under 25 MB, never cutting a page in half, and file the first part as the main document and the rest as attachments named in order (for example "Exhibit A, Part 2 of 3"). For scanned documents, re-scanning in black and white at 300 dpi often shrinks the file enough to avoid splitting. Docket Prime can split the file for you in your browser.

Does the Alameda Superior Court require text-searchable PDFs?

Yes. California Rule of Court 2.256(b)(3) requires e-filed documents to be text-searchable when technologically feasible.

What page size does the Alameda Superior Court accept?

Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches) is expected. Legal-size or A4 pages may print badly or be refused, so resize them to letter.

Does the Alameda Superior Court require bookmarks in PDFs?

They are recommended. Under Rule of Court 3.1110(f)(4), electronic exhibits need a bookmark to the first page of each exhibit.