LegalResearchTools

Citation Formatter

Assemble citation components into a consistently punctuated string and build a sorted table of authorities.

Last reviewed

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Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser

Citation formatting is mechanical and error-prone in equal measure. The components are always the same - party names, volume, reporter, page, pinpoint, court, year - and the errors are always the same too: a missing comma, a pinpoint in the wrong place, an inconsistent reporter abbreviation across a document.

This tool assembles the components you enter into a consistently punctuated string, and collects them into a sorted list you can paste as a table of authorities.

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How to use the citation formatter

  1. Choose the source type - case, statute, regulation, article or book.
  2. Fill in the components; the fields change to match the source type.
  3. Copy the assembled citation, or add it to the list.
  4. Copy the whole list sorted when the document is finished.

What people use this for

  • Building a table of authorities as you draft rather than afterwards.
  • Keeping citation punctuation consistent across a long document.
  • Assembling citations for a research memo.
  • Checking that a citation has all its components before filing.

Consistency is the achievable goal

Citation rules differ between jurisdictions, between courts within a jurisdiction, and between style guides. No tool can determine which applies to your document, and one that claimed to would be wrong regularly.

What a tool can do is make every citation in a document consistent with every other, which is where most citation criticism actually comes from. A document with a coherent convention reads as careful even where the convention is not the reviewer’s preferred one.

Build the table as you go

A table of authorities assembled at the end of drafting is a transcription exercise performed under time pressure, which is exactly the condition that produces errors.

Adding each citation to the list as it is first used costs nothing at the time and removes that step entirely. The list sorts alphabetically when copied, which is the order most tables require.

Check against the governing guide

Local rules frequently override a national style guide, and some courts prescribe formats that differ from every published guide. Neutral citation conventions differ again by jurisdiction.

The output here is a consistently assembled string from the components you entered. Verify it against the guide your court actually requires before filing.

Methodology and assumptions

What this calculator does, and what it deliberately does not do.

  • Components are assembled into a conventional order with consistent punctuation for the source type selected.
  • The tool applies no jurisdiction-specific citation rules and does not verify that a citation exists or is accurate.
  • Everything runs in your browser; nothing is transmitted or stored.
  • The tool performs arithmetic or date counting on the values you enter. It does not interpret a rule, a statute or a contract.
  • Nothing you type is transmitted or stored - the calculation runs entirely inside your browser.

This website provides general informational and productivity tools and does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.

The date and deadline tools count days exactly as you instruct them. They do not interpret court rules, statutes of limitation, filing requirements or any other legal authority, and they do not know the rules of your jurisdiction.

Always verify any date, fee, or calculation against the governing rule, the court calendar and your own professional judgement. If you need legal advice, consult a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions

Which citation style does this use?

A conventional structure for each source type rather than any specific published guide. Citation rules differ by jurisdiction and court, and this tool cannot know which applies to your document.

Does it check that the case exists?

No. It formats the components you enter. Verifying a citation against a legal database is a separate and necessary step.

Can it handle neutral citations?

Enter the neutral citation components into the volume, reporter and page fields as your jurisdiction formats them. The tool assembles what you give it.

Is the list saved between visits?

No. The list exists for the current session only. Copy it before closing the tab.

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