Question 1

What is a Bates number on a PDF?

Accepted Answer

A unique identifier stamped on each page so a legal packet can be cited sheet by sheet. It is usually a prefix plus padded digits.

Question 2

How do I continue Bates numbers from the last exhibit?

Accepted Answer

Set the starting number to the next unused value. This tool does not store your last run.

Question 3

Is Bates numbering the same as adding page numbers?

Accepted Answer

No. Page numbers help a reader. Bates identifiers are for production and citation, often with a prefix.

Question 4

Should I reorder a PDF before I Bates stamp it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The stamp follows the page it lands on.

Question 5

Does Bates stamping overwrite the original PDF?

Accepted Answer

No. Keep an unstamped original for your file.

Question 6

Can I Bates stamp a scanned legal PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The stamp is new artwork on top of the page.

Question 7

How many digits should a Bates number use?

Accepted Answer

Enough for the whole production. Six digits is common. Confirm local practice.

Question 8

Can I remove a Bates stamp later?

Accepted Answer

Not as a clean undo. Keep the unstamped original. The watermark remover is not a Bates eraser.

Question 9

Does this Bates tool upload confidential productions?

Accepted Answer

No. The job runs in the browser. The file stays on your device.

Question 10

Can I apply the same Bates prefix to many PDFs in one click?

Accepted Answer

Batch can apply watermark, page numbers, or header and footer, not a dedicated Bates pass. Stamp each file here and advance the start number by that file's page count.

Question 11

Will compressing a Bates-stamped PDF remove the numbers?

Accepted Answer

No. Compression shrinks pictures. It does not peel the stamp off.

Bates Stamp a PDF - Unique Numbers for Legal Packets