American Legal Assistance
Clear information. A place to start.
How ALA works
A simple path from question to draft
- 1Ask your questionDescribe what you want to understand in plain language.
- 2Prepare your answerReview the response and keep the parts that help.
- 3Send to pleading paperMove useful text into a formatted California draft.
ALA Private SessionNo account required · ALA does not keep a database of your AI questionsPrivacy details
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Read the full privacy explanation →General information, not legal advice. AI can make mistakes. Share only the facts needed to explain the situation; leave out highly sensitive identifiers.
California pleading paper
Enter your case information, then add headings and paragraphs below. Preview the numbered pleading paper and download it as Word or print/save it as PDF.
To make a blank sheet, leave case information and sections empty. To build a document, enter case details above, then add headings and paragraphs here. Drag sections into place or use the up/down buttons. Body paragraphs default to 11 pt; select any word, line, or phrase to resize, bold, italicize, or underline just that text. Heading controls apply to the whole heading. Your pleading-paper draft saves automatically in this browser as you work.
This tool formats text and section headings; it does not produce court-approved forms, check legal sufficiency, calculate filing deadlines, or file anything. Review the court's current rules before using a document. Official California court forms and templates ↗
Build a document in six simple steps
You do not need to know legal-document formatting. Fill in what you know, build the body one section at a time, then preview it before downloading.
- 1Enter the case information
Add your name, address, court county, parties, case number, and document title. If you do not have a case number yet, leave it blank.
- 2Add the document sections
Choose a centered heading, side heading, body paragraph, numbered paragraph, or blank line. Add them in the order you want them to appear.
- 3Format and arrange the document
Drag sections up or down (the page auto-scrolls while you drag), or use the arrow buttons. Body paragraphs start at 11 pt: select just the text you want, then use A−, A+, B, I, or U. Heading controls apply to the whole heading.
- 4Preview the pleading paper
Select Preview to see how the information falls onto the numbered lines before you create a file.
- 5Your draft saves as you work
ALA saves the pleading draft in this browser on this device. Refreshing the page or leaving and returning should restore it. Use Clear saved draft when you want to remove it.
- 6Download when you are ready
Choose Download Word for an editable copy, or Print / Save as PDF for a fixed version.
ALA helps organize and format information. It does not determine whether a document is legally sufficient, calculate deadlines, or replace review by the court or a licensed attorney.
Need immediate help? If someone is in immediate danger, call emergency services. For urgent legal deadlines or personalized advice, contact a licensed attorney or your court's self-help center.