How to reorder pages in a legal document pdf
- Step 1Build the index-to-page map — Against the court index or chronology, note the current page number of each document and the position it must occupy. Pages are 1-based. A written target sequence is your filing checklist.
- Step 2Drop the bundle onto the tool — Drag the PDF onto the dropzone or click browse. One file. It's parsed in-browser — confirm the page count shown matches the bundle.
- Step 3Type the required filing sequence — In the New page order box, enter the page numbers in index order, comma-separated: e.g.
1, 2, 12, 13, 3, 4. List every page that must appear in the filing. - Step 4Cross-check the count against the index — The number of entries should equal the bundle's page count (for a full reorder), each appearing once. A missing number silently drops a page — verify against the index page count.
- Step 5Process and review — Click Process. Confirm the output page count equals the input, then open the result and check it against the index before relying on it.
- Step 6Re-apply Bates numbering, then download — If the bundle needs sequential Bates numbers, apply them AFTER reordering with the Bates tool. Save the final
*.reorder.pdffor filing.
Bundle reorder recipes
Common legal-assembly fixes. Small examples illustrate the pattern; the same approach scales within tier page limits.
| Task | Current state | Order to type |
|---|---|---|
| Move the index to the front | Index on page 14, exhibits 1–13 | 14, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
| Order exhibits A–C that are scattered | Exhibit A=p12, B=p3, C=p20 | 12, 3, 20 (then surrounding pages as needed) |
| Reverse a newest-first chronology (6 docs) | Documents added latest-first: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 | 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (descending list = oldest-first) |
| Drop a privileged page mistakenly included | Privileged material on page 7 of 10 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 (omit 7) |
| Group a witness statement split across tabs | Statement pages at 4, 9, 5 | 4, 5, 9 placed together in your full sequence |
Free-tier limits vs typical legal bundles
Real limits from tier-limits.ts. Free is often too small for discovery — plan the tier or a split-merge workflow.
| Tier | Max pages | Max file size | Fits a typical… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 50 pages | 2 MB | Short motion or single exhibit set |
| Pro | 500 pages | 50 MB | Most trial bundles; mid-size discovery |
| Pro+Media | 2,000 pages | 500 MB | Large discovery bundles |
| Developer | 10,000 pages | 2 GB | Bulk litigation document sets |
Cookbook
Bundle-assembly fixes lawyers and paralegals hit, with the exact sequence to type and the legal caveat for each.
Bring the index to the front of a 14-page bundle
The court index ended up as the last page. Move it to position 1 ahead of the 13 exhibit pages.
Bundle: exhibits on pages 1-13, index on page 14 Type in box: 14, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Output: index first, then exhibits 1-13 Input pages: 14 Output pages: 14
Assemble scattered exhibits into A–B–C order
Exhibit A is on page 12, Exhibit B on page 3, Exhibit C on page 20 of a larger set. Pull them into order (other pages omitted if you only need the exhibits).
Type in box: 12, 3, 20 Output: Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C (only those three pages — others are dropped) For a full bundle, list every page in index order instead.
Flip a chronology that runs newest-first
Documents were added latest-first, so the file reads 6,5,4,3,2,1. List them descending to put the oldest document first.
Current: doc6, doc5, doc4, doc3, doc2, doc1 Type in box: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Output: doc1 ... doc6 (oldest-first chronology)
Remove a privileged page during reordering
Page 7 contains privileged material that slipped into the bundle. Reorder and exclude it in one pass by leaving 7 out.
Bundle: 10 pages, page 7 privileged Type in box: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 Output: 9 pages, privileged page 7 removed (verify the removal visually before filing)
Reorder first, then re-apply Bates numbers
Printed Bates numbers move with their pages, so after reordering they're out of sequence. Re-stamp them in the new order.
Step 1 — reorder: type the index sequence -> bundle.reorder.pdf
Step 2 — Bates Numbering on that output
(prefix DOC-, start 1, bottom-right)
Result: continuous Bates numbers in filing order
(existing printed Bates numbers do NOT renumber on their own)Edge cases and what actually happens
Printed Bates numbers are now out of sequence
ExpectedBates numbers stamped onto pages are part of the page content and travel with each page, so after reordering they no longer run continuously. The reorder tool can't renumber stamped pages. Re-apply numbering on the reordered output with the Bates tool. If the bundle is referenced elsewhere by Bates number, reorder before Bates-numbering, not after.
Discovery bundle exceeds the free 50-page / 2 MB cap
Free limitFree blocks PDFs over 50 pages or 2 MB — most discovery bundles exceed this and are stopped with: 'This PDF has N pages. Free handles up to 50 pages. Pro unlocks larger PDFs.' Pro raises the cap to 500 pages / 50 MB, Pro+Media to 2,000 / 500 MB, Developer to 10,000 / 2 GB. A 500-page bundle sits exactly at the Pro ceiling. For larger sets, split with the range splitter, reorder each part, then merge.
A page is missing from the filed bundle
DroppedOnly listed page numbers are copied — an omitted number drops that page. For a complete bundle, your sequence must include every page exactly once. Cross-check the output page count against the index before filing; a silently short bundle could miss an exhibit.
You typed an exhibit range like 12-20
Silently truncatedRange syntax is not supported in reorder — 12-20 is read as just 12, so only that page is added. List each page: 12, 13, 14, … , 20. (If you only need to extract a contiguous exhibit range without reordering, the extract-pages tool accepts ranges.)
Exhibit stamps and signatures
PreservedReordering copies each page intact, so wet-ink signatures, exhibit stamps, and seal images are preserved exactly — nothing is re-rendered or re-compressed. The visual integrity courts expect is maintained.
Bundle is encrypted with permission restrictions
Usually worksThe loader opens PDFs ignoring permission/encryption flags, so a restricted bundle can typically be reordered. If an open password blocks the file, remove it first with the remove-password tool. Note: lifting restrictions to reorder a document you're authorised to handle is fine; reordering a document you don't have rights to is not.
Court requires PDF/A for the e-filing
Separate stepThe reorder doesn't change the PDF format or conformance level. If your jurisdiction mandates archival PDF/A (ISO 19005), convert the reordered file with the PDF/A converter as a final step before filing.
Bookmarks / hyperlinked index entries break
Not remappedIf the bundle has a PDF outline or an index with internal hyperlinks, pdf-lib copies page content but doesn't rewrite those targets to the new order — links may point to the wrong page. Rebuild bookmarks/links in a full editor after reordering if the court bundle relies on them.
Frequently asked questions
Does reordering affect Bates numbering already printed on pages?
The printed numbers move with their pages, so after reordering they're no longer sequential. The reorder can't renumber stamped pages. Re-apply Bates numbers on the reordered output with the Bates Numbering tool. Best practice: reorder first, then Bates-number, so the numbering reflects the final filing order.
Can I reorder a 500-page discovery bundle?
Yes on Pro, which allows up to 500 pages / 50 MB — a 500-page bundle sits right at that ceiling. Free is capped at 50 pages / 2 MB and will block it. For bundles over 500 pages, use Pro+Media (2,000 pages) or Developer (10,000), or split-reorder-merge.
Will signatures and exhibit stamps survive the reorder?
Yes. Pages are copied without re-rendering, so wet-ink signatures, exhibit stamps, seals, and any existing OCR text layer are preserved byte-for-byte. Nothing is re-compressed.
Is there a drag-and-drop interface for arranging exhibits?
No. The tool has one text box where you type the page order as comma-separated numbers, e.g. 1, 2, 12, 3. This is deliberately precise so the sequence matches the index exactly. Map the index to page numbers first, then type the order.
Will the reordered PDF meet court e-filing requirements?
The reorder doesn't alter fonts, images, or metadata and produces a standard PDF. If your jurisdiction requires PDF/A (ISO 19005), run the PDF/A converter on the reordered file as a final step. Always verify against the court's specific technical requirements.
Can I remove a privileged page while reordering?
Yes — leave its number out of your list. Only listed pages are kept, so omitting page 7 drops it from the output. Verify the removal visually before filing, as redaction of remaining pages is a separate task.
How do I order exhibits that are on scattered pages?
List their page numbers in exhibit order. If Exhibit A is page 12, B is page 3, C is page 20, type 12, 3, 20 (plus the other bundle pages where they belong). The output follows your typed order exactly.
Can I use a range like 12-20 for a block of exhibit pages?
No — reorder doesn't support ranges; 12-20 is read as just 12. List each page: 12, 13, 14, … , 20. To extract a contiguous exhibit range without reordering, the extract-pages tool does accept ranges.
Are client documents uploaded during reordering?
No. Everything runs in your browser with pdf-lib — the bundle is read, reordered, and saved locally. The result panel confirms 0 bytes uploaded. This supports confidentiality and privilege obligations for sensitive matters.
Why is my reordered bundle missing a page?
Likely an omitted page number, a number above the page count (silently ignored), or a range that got truncated to one page. Compare the output page count to the index page count and revise your list.
Can I reorder a password-protected or restricted bundle?
Usually yes — the loader ignores permission flags. If an open password blocks loading, remove it first with the remove-password or unlock tool. Only do this for documents you're authorised to handle.
Will an index with hyperlinks still work after reordering?
Possibly not. pdf-lib copies page content but doesn't remap a PDF outline or internal hyperlinks to the new order, so index links may point to the wrong page. Rebuild the index links in a full editor if the bundle depends on them.
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.