There are a few instances when an attorney may need to merge their documents into one PDF:
The Attorney Does Not Expect a Separate File Stamp
If an attorney does not expect a separate file stamp for a document, they may add that document to the end of their lead document. Some courts vary on this preference, so if you have any specific questions, it’d be best to reach out to the specific court to advise on their preference.
The Attorney Has Separate PDFs for Each Page of a Form
Sometimes an attorney may find that a client has returned to them each page of a multiple-page form or document in separate files; maybe they have taken a picture of each page and emailed them to you. The attorney will want to combine them into one PDF before uploading them to the e-filing system.
The Attorney Has Multiple Files for an Exhibit
If you find you have multiple files for an exhibit such as documents, spreadsheets, images, email attachments, etc that you want in one PDF.
How to Merge PDFs
The easiest way to merge PDFs is to use a program like Adobe Acrobat DC.
- Choose Tools > Combine Files or choose Combine Files from the right pane if you have that open.
- Click Add Files and select the files you want to include in your PDF (you can merge PDFs, a mix of PDFs documents, and other files)
- Click, drag, and drop to reorder files; press Delete to remove any unnecessary files
- Once you’re finished arranging, click the Combine Files button
- Name your new PDF and click the Save Button (take note of the location on your computer you save the file for uploading later)