Rule 311 - Signing of Pleadings(a) Obligations of parties and attorneys. When a party is not represented by an attorney, the party shall sign the pleadings. The pleadings shall contain the party's address, and if the party is not represented by an attorney, shall include the party's telephone number. If a party is represented by an attorney, the attorney shall sign the pleading and state on the initial pleading the attorney's registration number, and in addition thereto shall note the attorney's address and telephone number thereon. The signature of the attorney on a pleading shall have the same effect and subject the attorney to the same penalties as provided in C.R.C.P. 11. If the pleading is not signed, it may be stricken and the action may proceed as though the pleading had not been filed. If the current registration number of the attorney is not included with the signature, the clerk of the court shall request from the attorney the registration number. If the attorney is unable to furnish the clerk with a registration number, that fact shall be reported to the clerk of the Supreme Court, but the clerk shall, nevertheless, accept the filing. (b) Limited representation. An attorney may undertake to provide limited representation in accordance with Colo.RPC 1.2 to a pro se party involved in a court proceeding. Pleadings or papers filed by the pro se party that were prepared with the drafting assistance of the attorney shall include the attorney's name, address, telephone number and registration number. The attorney shall advise the pro se party that such pleading or other paper must contain this statement. In helping to draft the pleading or paper filed by the pro se party, the attorney certifies that to the best of the attorney's knowledge, information and belief, this pleading or paper is (1) well-grounded in fact based upon a reasonable inquiry of the pro se party by the attorney, (2) is warranted by existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, modification or reversal of existing law, and (3) is not interposed for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation. The attorney in providing such drafting assistance may rely on the pro se party's representation of facts, unless the attorney has reason to believe that such representations are false or materially insufficient, in which instance the attorney shall make an independent reasonable inquiry into the facts. Assistance by an attorney to a pro se party in filling out pre-printed and electronically published forms that are issued through the judicial branch for use in court are not subject to the certification and attorney name disclosure requirements of this Rule 311(b). Limited representation of a pro se party under this Rule 311(b) shall not constitute an entry of appearance by the attorney for purposes of C.R.C.P. 121, section 1-1 or C.R.C.P. 305, and does not authorize or require the service of papers upon the attorney. Representation of the pro se party by the attorney at any proceeding before a judge, magistrate, or other judicial officer on behalf of the pro se party constitutes an entry of an appearance pursuant to C.R.C.P. 121, section 1-1. The attorney's violation of this Rule 311(b) may subject the attorney to the sanctions provided in C.R.C.P. 311(a).
Entire rule amended July 22, 1993, effective 1/1/1994; entire rule amended and adopted June 17, 1999, effective 7/1/1999. ANNOTATION Law reviews. For article, "Discrete Task Representation a/k/a Unbundled Legal Services", see 29 Colo. Law. 5 (January 2000).