How to extract evidence and exhibit pages from a legal pdf
- Step 1Locate the exhibit's page range — Use the bundle's index or table of contents to find the first and last page of the exhibit, by the viewer's page navigator (1-based positions), not the printed exhibit label.
- Step 2Drop the case file onto the extract tool — Load it into PDF Extract Pages. The page count it shows confirms you've opened the correct record.
- Step 3Enter the exhibit range — Type the range in the box:
45-58for Exhibit B. Combine ranges and singles if an exhibit has an attached cover or certificate:44, 45-58. - Step 4Press Process — The tool copies just those pages into a new PDF. The output page count equals the unique pages in your range, and Bates stamps burned onto the pages come across intact.
- Step 5Verify Bates continuity and metadata — Confirm the Bates numbers read as expected in the output, and run the Metadata Scrubber so no internal document properties go out with the exhibit.
- Step 6Label and check filing requirements — Name the file clearly (e.g.
Exhibit-B_Mcv-Doe.pdf) and check your court's e-filing rules for PDF/A and Bates requirements before serving or uploading.
Selecting exhibit pages
Single pages and N-M ranges, comma-separated. Output is sorted ascending with duplicates removed; an over-large range end is clamped to the document length.
| What you need | Type this | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Exhibit B is pages 45–58 | 45-58 | 14-page exhibit, in order, Bates stamps intact. |
| Exhibit + its cover sheet | 44, 45-58 | Cover then the exhibit (sorted ascending). |
| Two exhibits in one file | 45-58, 90-104 | Both exhibits combined — or run twice for two files. |
| A single key page (deposition extract) | 212 | One-page standalone exhibit. |
| Unsure of the exhibit's last page | 45-999 | End clamped to the document length — safe, but verify you didn't pull the next exhibit. |
Legal-workflow checks after extraction
What survives, what to verify, and the follow-up tool for each.
| Aspect | After extraction | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Bates numbers stamped on the page content | Preserved — they're part of the page image/text. | Read them in the output to confirm continuity. |
| Bates in a document-level header layer | May not survive in isolation. | Re-stamp with Bates Numbering. |
| Searchable text layer | Preserved (pages copied, not rasterised). | If the exhibit is a scan with no text, run OCR. |
| Bundle Title / Author metadata | Dropped (new document). | Confirm with Metadata Scrubber before production. |
| Redactions on the exhibit pages | Travel with the page as they were. | If you must redact, use PII Redactor before serving. |
Cookbook
Real exhibit-extraction jobs from case bundles and exactly what comes out. Pages are 1-based positions, not printed exhibit labels.
Exhibit B from a consolidated bundle
Exhibit B runs from page 45 to 58 of a 300-page record. One range, one exhibit.
Input: case_bundle.pdf (300 pages)
Box: 45-58
Output: Exhibit-B.pdf (14 pages)
Bates stamps on the pages intact, text searchableExhibit plus its cover sheet
A divider/cover page sits on 44, ahead of the exhibit. Combine a single page with the range.
Box: 44, 45-58 Output pages: 44, 45, 46 … 58 (cover then exhibit)
Two exhibits served together
You need Exhibit B (45–58) and Exhibit E (90–104) in one file for service.
Box: 45-58, 90-104 Output: one PDF, pages 45–58 then 90–104 (run two extractions if each must be a separate file)
Extract, scrub, verify, file
The production-clean path for an exhibit going to the court.
Step 1 Extract 45-58 → Exhibit-B.pdf Step 2 Metadata Scrubber → no internal Title/Author Step 3 Confirm Bates numbers read 0045–0058 Step 4 Check court PDF/A rules, then e-file
Scanned exhibit with no text layer
The exhibit is an image-only scan, so the extracted PDF isn't searchable. Add a text layer after extracting.
Step 1 Extract 45-58 → Exhibit-B.pdf (image-only)
Step 2 PDF OCR (Exhibit-B.pdf) → searchable text layer added
Bates stamps unaffectedEdge cases and what actually happens
Bates numbers stamped on the page
PreservedBates numbers burned into the page content (the common case) are copied exactly — they're part of the page. Read them in the output to confirm continuity for your record.
Bates numbering disappears after extraction
Header layerIf the stamps live in a document-level header/overlay rather than on the page itself, they may not survive extraction into a new document. Re-apply continuous stamps with the Bates Numbering tool.
Range end past the document length
Clamped45-999 on a 300-page bundle is clamped to page 300 — no error. Useful when you're unsure of the exhibit's last page, but verify you didn't capture the start of the next exhibit.
You typed the exhibit range backwards (`58-45`)
Empty rangeA descending range yields no pages because the page loop never runs. If that's your only input, the run stops with "Enter at least one page number to extract." Enter the smaller page first: 45-58.
Bundle metadata missing from the exhibit
By designExtraction creates a new document, so the bundle's Title/Author and bookmark tree aren't carried over. Generally helpful for production; still run the Metadata Scrubber to be certain nothing sensitive remains.
Exhibit is a scan with no searchable text
Run OCRExtraction copies the scanned images as-is — it can't create text that wasn't there. If the exhibit needs to be searchable, run it through OCR after extracting; the Bates stamps are unaffected.
Case file exceeds the free 2 MB / 50-page limit
Upgrade requiredLitigation bundles are routinely large. Free blocks files over 2 MB or 50 pages at upload with the limit named; Pro extends to 50 MB / 500 pages, Pro+Media to 500 MB / 2,000 pages.
The case file is password-protected
LimitedA strongly encrypted file may fail to load. Remove protection first with PDF Unlock or Remove Password, then extract the exhibit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I pull a single exhibit from a case bundle?
Find the exhibit's first and last page in the bundle, type the range into the box — e.g. 45-58 — and press Process. You'll get a standalone exhibit PDF that copies those pages exactly.
Will existing Bates numbers be preserved?
Yes, when the Bates numbers are stamped onto the page content (the usual case) — they're copied along with the page. If your stamps live in a document-level header layer instead, verify them in the output and re-apply with Bates Numbering if needed.
Can I extract multiple exhibits in one operation?
Each run produces one output PDF. You can combine several exhibit ranges into that one file — 45-58, 90-104 — or run separate extractions to get one file per exhibit.
Is the extracted exhibit still searchable?
If the original pages had a text layer, yes — extraction copies pages without re-rendering, so the text stays searchable. If the exhibit is an image-only scan, run it through OCR after extracting to add a searchable layer.
Is this suitable for court e-filing?
The extracted PDF preserves the original page content. Before filing, check your court's e-filing requirements — many require PDF/A and specific Bates conventions. Convert and re-stamp as needed; this tool handles the page extraction step.
Does extracting alter the master case file?
No. The original record is only read; a brand-new file is written. You can extract as many exhibits as you need from the same upload without touching the master.
Will the bundle's metadata go out with the exhibit?
No — extraction creates a new document, so the bundle's Title and Author aren't carried over. To be certain nothing sensitive remains in the file properties before production, run the Metadata Scrubber.
Are redactions on the exhibit pages kept?
Redactions and annotations on the copied pages travel with them as they were. If you still need to redact privileged content for production, apply it before serving with the PII Redactor.
Is the privileged case file uploaded anywhere?
No. Extraction runs entirely in your browser via pdf-lib; the case file never leaves your device. Only an anonymous run counter (no content) is recorded when you're signed in.
What if the case bundle is larger than the free limit?
Free handles up to 2 MB / 50 pages. Litigation bundles usually need Pro (50 MB / 500 pages) or Pro+Media (500 MB / 2,000 pages). The block at upload states the exact limit.
Why did the pages re-sort when I listed them?
The parser sorts pages ascending and removes duplicates, so output follows the document's order. If an exhibit needs a specific non-document order, extract the pages then arrange them with PDF Reorder.
What's the difference between extracting an exhibit and deleting pages?
Extract keeps only the exhibit pages you name. Delete Pages keeps everything except the pages you name — use it to produce a redacted-by-removal copy of the bundle. Same page syntax, opposite output.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.