One Volume or Two? What to Check Before Printing Large Court Books
You've spent hours getting an Appeal Book ready. The documents are in order, the table of contents is finished, and you've checked the page numbering one last time.
Everything looks good.
Then you notice the final PDF has 720 pages.
Now you're wondering whether it can all go into one book or if you'll need to split it into two volumes.
It's one of those details that's easy to leave until the end, especially when you've been concentrating on getting the documents right. But it's worth thinking about before the files go to print.
A little planning around volume breaks can save quite a bit of work later.
Start With the Page Count
First, check is the total number of pages and how the book needs to be printed.
There's a difference between pages in a PDF and physical sheets of paper.
For example, a 400-page PDF printed double-sided will use approximately 200 sheets. Print the same document single-sided, and you're looking at 400 sheets.
Then there are covers, dividers, and any additional inserts that may add to the finished thickness.
For BC Court of Appeal civil materials, the Court's paper completion instructions set out specific limits for different types of books.
These are limits for those particular documents, not a general rule for every court book. It's always worth confirming the current instructions for the materials you're preparing.
Knowing the page count early helps you decide how the files should be organized before printing begins.
These page limits apply to printed volumes. Electronic filing has separate requirements, so it's worth checking the applicable instructions before dividing the electronic file.
Where Should One Volume End and the Next Begin?
Let's go back to that 720-page Appeal Book.
You'll need more than one volume, but that doesn't necessarily mean dividing it exactly in half.
If you're working with several affidavits and exhibits, it often makes more sense to keep related documents together where the page limits allow.
Perhaps one affidavit ends on page 385, and the next begins on page 386. That might be a sensible place to start Volume 2 rather than splitting the material at page 360 simply to make both books the same size.
The same idea applies to a Book of Authorities. Keeping an authority together, rather than dividing it between two books, makes the finished materials easier to follow.
Of course, the applicable court requirements come first. But where you have some flexibility, a logical break can make a real difference to the person using the books.
Don't Forget the Covers and Table of Contents
This is where a little extra attention pays off.
Once you've decided to split a document into two or more volumes, you'll need to make sure everything still works together.
Each volume needs its own properly identified cover. For example, Appellant's Appeal Book – Volume 1 of 2 and Volume 2 of 2.
For the BC Court of Appeal books we're discussing, the instructions also call for a complete table of contents in each volume.
That means the second volume needs the full table of contents, not just a list of what's included in that particular book.
Page numbering should also continue from one volume to the next. If Volume 1 finishes at page 385, Volume 2 begins with page 386, assuming that's where the next numbered document page falls.
And don't overlook the electronic version.
If you're preparing a PDF for electronic review or filing, the bookmarks, page labels, and document order should make it easy to find the right material. A PDF can look perfectly organized at first glance, but it's worth checking that the navigation actually takes you where you expect.
Tabs are another detail to keep in mind. The requirements aren't identical for every type of court book. Books of Authorities, for example, have different tab requirements from Appeal Records.
It's best to confirm the arrangement for the particular document rather than assume the same setup applies to everything.
One Last Look Before Sending It to Print
Before sending a large court book for production, I like to think about three things.
First, is the file really final?
Late revisions happen. We all know that. But adding an exhibit or replacing several pages after a book has been divided into volumes can affect the pagination, table of contents, and sometimes the volume breaks themselves.
Second, are the printing instructions clear?
Include the number of complete sets, the volume arrangement, any required tabs, cover colours, binding specifications, and the deadline. It helps to be clear about whether the files are ready for production or whether something is still waiting for approval.
And finally, have the volumes been checked as a complete set?
Make sure the covers agree with the contents, the page numbering continues correctly, and no documents have been missed or duplicated where the volumes meet.
It only takes a few minutes to review these details, and it's much easier to correct something in the
PDF than after several sets have been printed and bound.
A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
Preparing a large court book takes patience, especially when you're bringing together documents from different sources.
By the time you've checked the exhibits, updated the index, and made sure the pages are in the right order, it's tempting to consider the job finished.
But taking one more look at how the material will be divided and bound is worth the effort.
The goal isn't simply to fit everything into a book. It's to make the finished materials clear, organized, and easy to use.
At CETTEC Printing, we work with Vancouver legal teams preparing Appeal Books, Appeal Records, Books of Authorities, and other litigation materials. When the files and printing instructions are clear from the beginning, it's much easier to keep production moving smoothly and avoid unnecessary last-minute changes.
