Stop Wasting Time—Here’s How to Add Line Numbers in MS Word for Legal Docs (the Easy Way)
If you've ever tried to manually add line numbers to a legal document in Microsoft Word, you already know:
it’s a nightmare.
The formatting never lines up, your text jumps around, and the moment you edit one section, everything below it goes out of whack. It's enough to make even the calmest legal assistant chuck a stapler across the room.
So here’s the good news:
You can automate the whole thing.
Microsoft Word has a built-in line numbering feature—you just need to turn it on.
Let’s break it down.
📄 Why Add Line Numbers?
In legal documents—especially pleadings, motions, and court filings—line numbers make it easier for judges, clerks, and opposing counsel to reference specific sections.
Think of them like street addresses for your sentences. Without them, trying to point out a specific sentence is like saying “you know, the paragraph that kinda starts with ‘whereas’ and ends with ‘aforementioned’?”
Yeah. Don’t do that.
⚙️ How to Add Line Numbers in Microsoft Word (No Tears Required)
Follow these steps for a clean, professional, line-numbered document:
1. Go to Layout (or Page Layout)
This might vary slightly depending on your Word version. Look for “Layout” in the ribbon at the top.
2. Click on Line Numbers
Under the “Layout” tab, find the “Line Numbers” dropdown in the “Page Setup” group.
3. Choose 'Continuous'
This will number every line in your document from start to finish, without restarting at each page or section. Perfect for legal formatting.
4. Optional: Modify Your Margins
Some courts require line numbers to appear in the left margin, with a wide left-hand gutter. Go to:
Layout > Margins > Custom Margins
Set the left margin to at least 1.25” or whatever your jurisdiction requires.
5. Format Your Document Accordingly
For true legal formatting:
Use double-spacing.
Set font to 12 pt Courier New (or Times New Roman if allowed).
Use 1-inch top, bottom, and right margins, with the larger left margin for the line numbers.
🛠️ Customizing the Line Numbering (For the Nerds Among Us)
If you need fancier control—like restarting numbering per section or skipping blank lines—do this:
Go to Line Numbering Options in the Line Numbers dropdown.
Click Layout > Line Numbers > Line Numbering Options > Page Setup > Layout tab > Line Numbers (button at bottom).
Customize:
Start at: Set what number to begin with.
From text: Adjust how far line numbers sit from your text.
Count by: Use every 1, every 5, whatever you want.
🚫 Don’t Use a Table, Don’t Use Text Boxes
I know it’s tempting. You might think:
“I’ll just add a narrow table with numbers on the left.”
Please. Don’t.
You’ll break your own brain trying to align rows, and the second your content changes, you’re back to manually moving things around.
Word’s built-in tool is smarter than that. Use it.
✅ Final Tips for Legal Docs in Word
Save a Template: Once you have it right, save it as a template (
.dotx). That way you never have to set it up again.Check Jurisdiction Rules: Different courts have different rules about formatting. Some want line numbers only in certain filings, or only on certain pages.
Print to PDF with Line Numbers: Yes, they’ll show up. Just make sure you're printing or exporting with the same page layout settings.
🧠 TL;DR – The Lazy Genius Version
Go to Layout > Line Numbers > Continuous
Customize margins and font
Stop manually typing numbers like it’s 1998
Save time, stay sane, look professional
Because you didn’t go to law school just to fight with Microsoft Word.
🧾 Bonus: Legal Document Template
Want a ready-to-use, line-numbered legal document template in Word?
I uploaded it to Gumroad to save you the formatting headache forever.
Court filings shouldn’t require a law degree—or a formatting degree.
This line-numbered legal document template was built to help you save time, reduce stress, and show up in court like a pro—even if you're representing yourself.
Whether you're a self-represented parent, paralegal, or just tired of fighting with Word, this pack is for you.
Pay what feels fair.
$0 is totally okay if you're struggling—this resource is here to help.
If you’re able to pay more, you’ll be supporting future tools, templates, and advocacy work to help others fight back and rebuild.