Bates Numbering

Last updated: 2026-03-23

Hintyr includes integrated Bates numbering that stamps unique sequential identifiers on your legal documents. Apply Bates numbers automatically on upload, manually from the file menu, through AI agent commands, or during export for production. Configure prefix, suffix, position, and typography to match your court and production requirements.

Bates stamp preview

Visual preview showing stamp placement on a document page

Preview
ABC000001
8.5" x 11.0"

What is Bates numbering

Bates numbering is the legal industry standard for assigning unique sequential identifiers to every page or document in a matter. Originally performed with mechanical Bates stamp machines, Bates numbers serve as permanent reference markers that let you locate, cite, and organize documents throughout litigation, regulatory review, and compliance proceedings. Each Bates number consists of an optional prefix, a zero-padded numeric sequence, and an optional suffix, producing identifiers such as ABC000001 or DOC00100-PRIV.

Bates stamps are expected in document productions governed by FRCP Rule 34(b)(2)(E), depositions, court filings, and any proceeding where parties need to reference specific pages with certainty. Without Bates numbers, identifying a particular page in a collection of thousands becomes impractical. For a detailed introduction, see the overview.

How Bates numbering works in Hintyr

Hintyr gives you multiple ways to apply Bates stamps to your documents. You can enable automatic Bates numbering so that every file uploaded to a case receives a stamp immediately. You can select files manually and apply numbers through the file menu. You can use AI agent commands to Bates number filtered subsets. Or you can apply Bates stamps during export, leaving your originals untouched while producing numbered copies for opposing counsel or regulatory bodies.

All methods share the same Bates numbering configuration options: mode, prefix, suffix, start index, digit padding, stamp position, and font settings. The AI agent uses case-level settings by default but accepts overrides in your command. Once configured, these settings apply consistently across your entire case. Hintyr tracks numbering sequences so that new documents continue from the last assigned Bates number without gaps or overlaps.

Bates numbering modes

Hintyr supports two Bates numbering modes to match different production set requirements:

  • Document mode - Assigns one Bates number per file, regardless of page count. Common in matters with high document volumes where page-level granularity isn't needed.
  • Page mode - Assigns a unique Bates number to every page of every document. A 10-page PDF gets 10 sequential numbers. This is the standard for most litigation productions and court filings where counsel must cite specific pages.

For a full breakdown of configuration options including position, font, and padding, see numbering options.

In this section

Frequently asked questions

What is a Bates number?
A Bates number is a unique sequential identifier stamped on a legal document or page. It gives every party, including the court, a permanent reference marker to locate and cite specific pages within a production set.
Can I change the Bates number format after stamping?
Yes. You can re-stamp documents with a different format at any time. The new stamp replaces the previous one, and Hintyr tracks stamp history so you can verify what changed.
Does Bates stamping modify my original files?
With manual or automatic Bates numbering, stamps are applied to your documents within Hintyr. With export-time Bates numbering, your originals stay untouched and stamps appear only on the exported production copies.
How does Hintyr prevent Bates numbering gaps?
Hintyr tracks the last assigned Bates number in each case and continues sequentially from that point. You can also run a gap detection report to find any missing or duplicate numbers in your Bates sequence before production.

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