Vakalatnama Format and What It Means (2026)

Format · Civil Procedure · Vakalatnama

Updated for 2026 · Claw Editorial

An advocate cannot act for you in court until you sign a vakalatnama. It is the short document that puts your lawyer on record and lets them file, appear, and argue on your behalf. This guide explains what a vakalatnama means, what it authorises, how it is executed and filed under Order 3 of the Civil Procedure Code, and gives a template with how to fill it, where to file it, and the mistakes that make it defective. Last verified October 2026.

01What a vakalatnama is

A vakalatnama is a written authority by which a litigant appoints an advocate to act and plead for them in a case. The word comes from "vakalat", meaning advocacy or agency. In civil matters the appointment of a pleader is governed by Order 3 Rule 4 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).

Under Order 3 Rule 4, no pleader can act for a person in court unless appointed by a document in writing signed by that person, or by a recognised agent, or by someone authorised under a power of attorney. The vakalatnama is that document. Once filed, it stays in force until the engagement is ended with the leave of the court, or the client or advocate dies, or the case ends.

A vakalatnama is the document that puts a lawyer on record. Until it is signed and filed, the advocate has no authority to act for the client in that court.

02What it authorises

A vakalatnama usually authorises the advocate to do the acts needed to conduct the case. Typical authorities are to:

• file, present, and sign pleadings, applications, and documents;
• appear and plead at every hearing;
• receive notices and court process on the client's behalf;
• deposit, withdraw, and receive money from the court, where expressly allowed;
• engage another advocate or senior counsel to assist; and
• compromise the case only if the client expressly permits it.

Powers such as withdrawing money or compromising the case should be stated clearly, because the client is bound by what the advocate does within the authority given.

03How it is executed

A vakalatnama is signed by the client (or their recognised agent), and the advocate signs to accept the engagement. Courts treat proper attestation and identification of the signatory as important, to prevent impersonation, and some High Courts require the advocate or an authorised person to attest or identify the executant.

Most states also require an Advocates' Welfare Fund stamp to be affixed on the vakalatnama, under the state Advocates' Welfare Fund law. The amount and the exact requirement vary from state to state, so check your state's rule and your local bar association.

04The skeleton template

Use this skeleton and adapt it to your court and facts. Replace the text in square brackets.

IN THE COURT OF [CIVIL JUDGE / DISTRICT JUDGE] AT [PLACE]

            Case / Suit No. ______ of 20__

[Name, address]                      ... PLAINTIFF / PETITIONER
            VERSUS
[Name, address]                      ... DEFENDANT / RESPONDENT

VAKALATNAMA

KNOW ALL by these presents that I/We, [full name,
parentage, address], the [plaintiff / defendant /
petitioner / respondent] in the above case, do hereby
appoint and retain [Advocate name], Advocate, to appear,
act, and plead for me/us in the above case.

I/We authorise the said Advocate to:
  (a) file and sign pleadings, applications, and documents;
  (b) appear and plead at all hearings;
  (c) receive notices and process on my/our behalf;
  (d) [receive / withdraw money from the Court, if
      expressly permitted];
  (e) engage other counsel to assist; and
  (f) [compromise the case only with my/our express
      consent].

I/We agree to ratify the acts done by the Advocate within
this authority, and that the Advocate shall not be liable
for any loss due to my/our own default.

   Dated this ____ day of __________, 20__, at [place].

[Advocates Welfare Fund stamp affixed here]

   _______________________          _______________________
   Signature of Client              Accepted: Advocate
                                     (Name, Enrolment No.)

05How to fill it, step by step

1. Cause title: write the correct court, case number, and parties, matching the main case.
2. Client details: full name, parentage, and address of the person giving the authority.
3. Advocate details: name and enrolment number of the advocate engaged.
4. Authorities: tick or keep only the powers you actually want to give, and spell out money and compromise powers clearly.
5. Stamp: affix the Advocates' Welfare Fund stamp as required in your state.
6. Sign and accept: the client signs, and the advocate signs to accept the engagement, with attestation or identification as the court requires.

06Where to file it

File the vakalatnama in the court where the case is pending, along with the first pleading or appearance of the advocate. It becomes part of the case record and stays in force until the case ends or the engagement is formally ended.

For a company or other organisation, the person signing must be authorised, usually by a board resolution or a power of attorney, and that authority may need to be shown. If the client is illiterate or does not know the language, the contents should be read and explained, and that fact recorded, as many court rules require.

07Common mistakes

• Wrong cause title, so the vakalatnama does not match the case on record.
• Missing the Welfare Fund stamp where the state requires it.
• No attestation or identification of the person signing, which can make it defective.
• Vague money or compromise powers, leading to disputes later.
• Using one vakalatnama across courts, instead of filing a fresh one in each court.
• Signing authority not proved for a company or minor or other represented party.

08Where Claw fits

Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.

Once a vakalatnama is filed, the advocate is on record and the matter becomes a live case with hearings and orders. Claw tracks cases, orders and hearings across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, and searches 30 crore+ judgments with results in under 5 seconds. So an advocate can follow every matter they are on record in by party or advocate name, and research how courts have treated authority, change of counsel, or compromise.

Claw does not use customer case documents to train AI models. Create a FREE Claw account to track the case by party or advocate name. To research the wider body of law, see case search across Indian courts.

09Sources and further reading

• India Code (Code of Civil Procedure, 1908): indiacode.nic.in
• Order 3, CPC (bare text): devgan.in
• Claw: clawlaw.in

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Stamp requirements and attestation rules vary by state and court, so check the current local rule and take advice from counsel before you file.

10Frequently asked questions