Bates numbers make page-level citation easier, but the stamp alone does not prove that a production is complete. Review the numbering sequence and the document structure around it.
Sequence checks
- Record the first and last Bates number.
- Identify unexplained gaps, repeats, and out-of-order pages.
- Check whether page ranges reset across folders or productions.
- Compare the stated page count with the actual rendered pages.
Document checks
- Confirm email attachments follow or can be linked to the parent message.
- Flag blank, unreadable, rotated, or corrupt pages.
- Identify duplicate page ranges and near-duplicate versions.
- Preserve the source filename as well as the Bates citation.
A strong citation names both the stable source and the Bates or page range so another reviewer can retrieve the same record without relying on your notes.