Beta Access Beta · Private · Kenya

Tenth-Line Numbering Tool
for Kenyan Court Documents

Add court-compliant tenth-line numbering and page numbers to any PDF — required for Kenya's Court of Appeal and Supreme Court filings. Text and scanned pages supported. Nothing is ever uploaded.

Get Beta Access Beta access available now  ·  KES 3/page after launch
🔒 Your file never leaves your browser — guaranteed
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Documents formatted
Pages numbered
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Courts supported
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Uploaded to any server
Live data · updated in real time

What is Tenth Lining?

The mandatory formatting rule for Kenyan appellate filings — explained.

Tenth lining means placing a number in the right-hand margin beside every tenth line of text in a court document — so that line 10, line 20, line 30, and so on are each labelled. This allows judges and opposing counsel to pinpoint a precise passage instantly: "Your Honour, the admission at line 40 of page 3" is unambiguous in a way that a paragraph reference never is.

Kenya's Court of Appeal Practice Directions, 2010 state that every tenth line of every document shall be numbered in the right-hand margin. The Supreme Court Practice Directions, 2020 repeat the same requirement. It applies to Records of Appeal, written submissions, affidavits, and other documents filed in appellate proceedings.

Failure to comply is not a technicality — the court registry is entitled to refuse to accept a document that does not meet formatting requirements, which can mean a missed filing deadline and the costs that follow.

How to do tenth lining in Word (manual method)

  1. Open your document in Microsoft Word. Go to Layout → Line Numbers → Line Numbering Options.
  2. In the dialog, enable line numbers, set Count by: 10, and choose to restart numbering on each new page.
  3. Set the From text distance to push the numbers into the right margin (you may need to adjust your page margins first).
  4. Export to PDF. Check the preview carefully — Word's line counter counts every line including blank lines, so verify that the numbered lines match the rule.
  5. For PDFs you have already generated (or received from a client), skip all of the above and use the tool on this page to add tenth-line numbers directly to the PDF without touching the source document.

Three steps. Done.

No installation, no login, no waiting for an email.

1

Upload your PDF

Drag and drop your document into the tool. It is processed locally in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere.

2

Adjust the settings

Set your font, font size, and margin offsets. See a live preview update as you go — exactly what you'll get.

3

Download formatted PDF

Click export. Your formatted PDF — with tenth-line numbers and page numbers baked in — downloads in seconds.

Everything you need, nothing you don't

Built for legal professionals who just need it to work.

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Court-Ready Formatting

Tenth-line numbers in the right margin, page numbers top-right — the standard format required for court filings.

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Completely Private

Your PDF is processed entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Not a single byte is sent to a server — ever.

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Beta Access — Use It Now

Access is free during beta with a coupon. After launch: KES 3/page via M-Pesa. No dollar cards, no subscriptions to international platforms.

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Live Preview

See exactly how your document will look before you export — in both Editor mode (all lines labelled) and Preview mode.

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OCR for Scanned Pages

Mixed document? No problem. The tool automatically detects scanned pages and runs OCR — so even image-based pages get correctly numbered.

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No Account Required

Open the tool and start formatting immediately. No sign-up wall, no email confirmation, no friction of any kind.

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Fully Configurable

Adjust font family, font size, and margin offsets for both line numbers and page numbers to match your firm's house style.

Why switch from other tools?

A straight comparison — no spin, just facts.

Feature CountWordsInPDF.com Typical paid tools
Price Beta: free with coupon
KES 3/page after launch via M-Pesa
Monthly subscription (USD)
Account required No account Sign-up required
File sent to server Never — stays in browser Yes — uploaded to cloud
Works offline Yes, once loaded No
Live preview Instant, in-browser Limited or none
Settings remembered Auto-saved locally Requires account login

Pricing

Simple, local, transparent — paid via M-Pesa when billing launches.

Beta Access

FREE
🎟 Coupon required
Tenth-line numbering
Page numbering
Live preview
Export formatted PDF
Your PDF never leaves your device
⏳ Limited time — ends at launch

After Launch

KES 3/page
📱 M-Pesa · No dollar card needed
Everything in beta
Pay only for what you format
Settings saved across sessions
Priority support
Early access to new features
🚀 Launching soon
🎟 Beta Coupon

Your access code is ready

Use this coupon in the formatter to get free beta access. It changes weekly, so use it while it's valid.

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Who uses this?

Anyone who files court documents and needs them formatted correctly — fast.

⚖️ Solo Practitioners

Quickly format motions, briefs, and declarations without paying for practice-management software or uploading sensitive client documents to a third-party server.

🎓 Law Students

Format moot court submissions and legal writing assignments to court specification. During beta, access is free with a coupon — get yours below before pricing launches.

📋 Paralegals & Legal Assistants

Process PDFs from any source. Adjust numbering settings and export court-ready documents in seconds, without touching the underlying text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Plain-language answers to the questions legal professionals actually ask.

What is tenth lining and who needs it?
Tenth lining means placing a number beside every tenth line of text in the right-hand margin of a court document (line 10, 20, 30…). In Kenya, advocates, paralegals, and law students preparing appellate filings for the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court are required to tenth-line every document they file.
Is tenth lining required in Kenya?
Yes. The Court of Appeal Practice Directions, 2010 and the Supreme Court Practice Directions, 2020 both require every tenth line to be numbered in the right-hand margin. Non-compliance can result in the registry refusing to accept your filing.
What happens if I don't tenth-line my filing?
The court registry may decline to accept the document, meaning you miss the filing deadline. Appellate courts treat formatting requirements strictly — non-compliance is not treated as a minor irregularity.
How do I number every 10th line in Word?
Go to Layout → Line Numbers → Line Numbering Options. Enable numbering, set Count by 10, and restart per page. Adjust the margin distance so numbers appear to the right of the text. For existing PDFs, it is faster to use this tool and skip the Word step entirely.
What is tenth-line formatting?
Court of Appeal rules require a number printed beside every tenth line of text in the right-hand margin — making it straightforward to cite specific lines during argument. Pages must also be numbered top-right.
Does my PDF get uploaded anywhere?
No. The entire tool runs in your browser using JavaScript. Your document is never transmitted to any server. It never leaves your device.
Do I need an account?
No account, no email, no sign-up of any kind. Open the tool and start formatting immediately.
How much will it cost after beta?
KES 3 per page, paid via M-Pesa. No dollar cards, no international billing. During the current beta, access is free with a coupon — get yours on this page before pricing kicks in.
What fonts can I use for the numbers?
Arial (Helvetica), Times New Roman, and Courier — the three standard court-accepted typefaces, available for both line numbers and page numbers independently.
Can I adjust where the numbers appear?
Yes. You control font size and right-margin offset for both line numbers and page numbers using the toolbar. A live preview updates as you change each setting.
What if my PDF is scanned (image-based)?
Scanned pages are handled automatically. The tool detects which pages are image-based and runs built-in OCR on them — no extra steps needed. Mixed documents (some text pages, some scanned) work just as well.
Can I set the starting page number?
Yes. Use the "Start Page Number" control in the toolbar to offset numbering — useful when your PDF is an exhibit within a larger filing that begins at page 15, for example.
Will line numbers overlap the text?
No. Line numbers are placed in the right margin outside the text area, in accordance with standard pleading paper format. The margin offset is adjustable if your document has an unusual layout.
Are my settings saved between sessions?
Yes. Your last-used font, font size, and margin settings are saved locally in your browser. On your next visit they're restored automatically — no account needed.
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Need the step-by-step guide? Read our full walkthrough: How to Number Every 10th Line in Word & PDF (Kenyan Court Guide): covers Word settings, existing PDFs, scanned documents, and common mistakes.
Read the guide →
Compiling a Record of Appeal? Use our Record of Appeal Format Checklist to verify every formatting and filing requirement before you walk into the registry. Tick items off as you go; saves to your browser automatically.
Open checklist →
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Understand the full rules? Read our deep dive into Court of Appeal Formatting Rules: page numbering, tenth-line numbering, and what happens when a filing is rejected at the registry.
Read the rules →
Also need to count words in a PDF? Our PDF Word Counter gives you word count, character count, and reading time — instantly and privately. Useful for verifying skeleton argument page limits before tenth lining.
Try PDF Word Counter →