General and appearance

Vakalatnama format for Indian courts

What a vakalatnama must contain, which provision governs it, the welfare-fund stamp to affix, and how it is filed in district courts. Written for practising advocates in India.

A vakalatnama is the written authority by which a party appoints an advocate to appear, act and plead on their behalf. It is filed under Order III Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, read with Section 30 of the Advocates Act, 1961. It must identify the court and the cause title, name the party and the advocate with enrolment number, state the extent of authority, carry the party's signature or thumb impression, carry the advocate's acceptance, and bear the Advocates' Welfare Fund stamp prescribed by the State in which it is filed.

Governed by
  • Order III Rule 4, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
  • Section 30, Advocates Act, 1961
  • State Advocates' Welfare Fund Act (Tamil Nadu 1987, Kerala 1980) for the welfare stamp
Where it is filed
Every court and tribunal in India in which an advocate appears for a party, from the Munsif and Judicial Magistrate courts up to the High Court. The Supreme Court accepts a vakalatnama only from an Advocate-on-Record.
Who files it
The party (plaintiff, defendant, complainant, accused, petitioner or respondent), signed and handed to the advocate, who signs the acceptance and files it.
Court fee and stamp
No ad valorem court fee. An Advocates' Welfare Fund stamp of the value prescribed by the State Bar Council must be affixed and cancelled. Verify the current denomination with your Bar Association, as States revise it.
Languages PleadEasy drafts this in
English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam

What a vakalatnama must contain

The parts below are the structure of the document in filing order. The operative wording is a matter for the drafting advocate and for the practice of the court concerned.

  1. 1.Cause title

    Name of the court and its exact designation, the case number if already numbered, and the array of parties with their ranks.

  2. 2.Appointment clause

    The party's declaration appointing the named advocate to appear, act and plead in the matter.

  3. 3.Extent of authority

    Whether the advocate may compromise, withdraw, receive money on the party's behalf, engage a senior, or file appeals. Silence here causes disputes later.

  4. 4.Party's execution

    Signature or left thumb impression of the party, with identification if the party is illiterate, a company, a minor through guardian, or a power-of-attorney holder.

  5. 5.Advocate's acceptance

    Name, enrolment number with the State Bar Council, address for service, and signature accepting the vakalatnama.

  6. 6.Welfare stamp

    The Advocates' Welfare Fund stamp affixed and cancelled as required by the State Act.

Mistakes that get this document returned

  • Filing without the Advocates' Welfare Fund stamp, which gets the paper returned at the filing counter.
  • Leaving the extent of authority blank, then having no written authority to compromise or receive decretal money.
  • Using one vakalatnama across two separate case numbers instead of filing one in each.
  • Not filing a fresh vakalatnama when the matter moves to appeal or revision before a different court.
  • A company or firm executing without a board resolution or authorised-signatory proof.

Frequently asked questions

Is a vakalatnama the same as a power of attorney?

No. A vakalatnama authorises an advocate to conduct a specific case in a specific court. A power of attorney is a general instrument under the Powers of Attorney Act, 1882 authorising an agent to act in defined matters, and it is not a substitute for a vakalatnama.

Can a vakalatnama be filed without a court fee stamp?

There is no ad valorem court fee on a vakalatnama, but the Advocates' Welfare Fund stamp prescribed by the State is mandatory and the filing section will return the paper without it.

What happens if the client wants to change advocate?

The new advocate files a fresh vakalatnama with either the consent of the previous advocate endorsed on it or the leave of the court, as required by Order III Rule 4(2) CPC.

Can a vakalatnama be signed by thumb impression?

Yes. A left thumb impression is accepted where the party cannot sign, and it should be attested with an identification endorsement.

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Last reviewed 30 August 2026. This guide is general information about court procedure for advocates. It is not legal advice and does not replace the rules of practice of the court you are filing in.