How do I identify and number my exhibits?
In the United States? This answer is Québec and Canadian law. The US side of this site answers different questions, state by state: different law, and different coverage. Go to the US side
Short answer
In Small Claims in Quebec, each piece of evidence must be identified with the letter P followed by a number for the plaintiff (P-1, P-2, P-3…) and the letter D followed by a number for the defendant (D-1, D-2, D-3…), and the court file number must be written on every exhibit (Government of Quebec).
In detail
P1 or P-1? Both spellings refer to the same exhibit number and are understood at the court office. The official “List of exhibits” form (SJ-840A) uses the hyphenated form: P-1, D-1. When in doubt, follow the form.
The Government of Quebec gives examples: P1 for a contract, P2 for an invoice, P3 for a photo; D1 for a statement of account, D2 for an estimate, D3 for a multimedia item. Numbering exhibits is not decorative: it lets the judge follow your presentation without searching.
Article 108 of the Code of Civil Procedure adds two useful obligations. First, the parties must see to it that exhibits containing identifying information generally held to be confidential are filed in a form that protects the confidentiality of the information. Second, any document or item of material evidence filed as an exhibit must remain in the record until the end of the proceeding, unless all the parties consent to its withdrawal. And once the proceeding is over, it is up to the parties to retrieve the exhibits they filed: failing that, the clerk may destroy them one year after the judgment becomes final. If you file an original you care about, plan to go back for it.
Éducaloi suggests putting your documents in the same order as the outline of your presentation to the judge, and being ready to explain why each document supports your version.
What to document
A master list: exhibit number, date of the document, what it is, and the fact it proves. That list serves you at the hearing and keeps you from hunting for an exhibit while the judge waits.
Put your facts in writing, free. Writing your version down early, keeping your documents dated and preparing your questions for a lawyer: the tool is there to document, never to advise.
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For this question specifically: a numbered exhibit list (P-1, P-2…). And the other free tools. No account, and nothing leaves your browser.
Free tool
This page gives the rule. The tool applies it: you enter your documents, it sorts them by date, assigns each one its number and prints the exhibit list, one label per document, and the same list in the order you plan to speak in.
Official sources
- Evidence in Small Claims (Government of Quebec)
- Code of Civil Procedure, art. 108 (Légis Québec)
- 8 tips for preparing your Small Claims trial (Éducaloi)
Related questions
- Do I have to give my evidence to the other party before the hearing?
- How do I get a witness to come to the hearing?
- Do I have to pay my witness to come and testify?
- What if my witness refuses to show up?
- Can a witness testify in writing instead of coming to court?
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What this page is not
This is general legal information about the law of Quebec and Canada, dated and sourced. It is not legal advice, not a strategy, and not a prediction about the outcome of a case. In Quebec, only lawyers and notaries may give legal advice (Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, ss. 128 and 133). Laws and amounts change: the official source always prevails over us.