Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, General Division Electronic Filing Rules

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 9, 2026CRITICAL

Counsel of record and self-represented parties must register with the Court’s e-File system under the Clerk’s registration procedure.

All counsel of record and persons acting as self-represented parties shall register with the Court’s e-File system to file, serve, receive, review, and retrieve copies of e-Filed pleadings, orders and other documents in the case. Registration is mandatory and shall be in accordance with the procedure established by the Clerk as set forth on the Clerk’s website.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026CRITICAL

Filings may be e-filed with the Clerk on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding legal holidays.

Any filing may be e-Filed with the Clerk Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM, excluding legal holidays.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026CRITICAL

Bonds filed in criminal cases must be filed on paper with the Clerk.

Bonds filed in criminal cases shall be filed in paper form with the Clerk.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026CRITICAL

Subpoenas to be issued by the Clerk must be filed on paper with the Clerk.

Subpoenas which are to be issued by the Clerk shall be filed in paper form with the Clerk.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026CRITICAL

Documents related to Civil Protection Orders, Certificates of Judgments, and Executions of Judgment must be filed on paper with the Clerk.

All documents related to Civil Protections Orders, Certificates of Judgments, and Executions of Judgment shall be filed in paper form with the Clerk.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleadings and other papers

Pleadings and other papers may be filed by fax, except original complaints in civil or criminal cases, subject to the stated conditions.

The Clerk will accept the filing of pleadings and other papers, other than the original filing of complaints in civil or criminal cases, by fax, in accordance with Rule 5(E), Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, subject to the following provisions:

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation statement

Email the mediation statement to the address provided.

Email Mediation Statement to: aedudik@ashtabulacounty.us

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026WARNING

The Court may excuse mandatory e-filing for undue hardship or exceptional circumstances, but leave to use another filing method requires a motion stating the reasons for noncompliance.

At the Court’s discretion, any attorney or self-represented litigant may be excused from mandatory e-Filing upon a showing of undue hardship or exceptional circumstances. Leave to file other than through the e-Filing Portal may be granted only by the filing of a motion with the administrative judge for an initial filing or the judge previously assigned upon a re-filing of the case, specifically stating the reasons the attorney/party cannot comply with e-Filing procedures. The Court’s expectation, however, is that leave will be sought rarely, and will be granted only for undue hardship or under exceptional circumstances, including outages.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 9, 2026WARNING

An e-Filed document is deemed authorized by the party assigned its identifier unless that party proves otherwise by clear and convincing evidence.

All e-Filed documents shall be deemed to be made with the authorization of the party who is assigned the specific unique electronic identifier, unless the party proves to the satisfaction of the Court, by clear and convincing evidence, that the contrary is demonstrated.

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By definition, parties filing electronically or receiving electronic service of any documents filed must become registrants with the Court’s electronic filing system.

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For designated e-File case types, except as provided in Subsection (K) of this Rule, the Court shall not accept or file any pleadings or instrument in paper form. Parties shall electronically file a document by registering to use the Court’s authorized electronic filing system. This Rule supersedes Local Rule 3.1 by disallowing filing by fax absent leave of the Court as contemplated in Section B of this Rule.

Summary: In designated e-File cases, documents must be filed through the Court’s authorized electronic system, not on paper or by fax, subject to the stated exceptions and leave of court.

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Applies to

Pleadings, motions, briefs, memoranda of law, notices, and proposed orders

For case types designated for electronic filing, parties and counsel shall file all pleadings, motions, briefs, memoranda of law, notices, and proposed orders through e- filing. Parties and counsel may file deposition transcripts, transcripts of proceedings, or other documents electronically through the Court's electronic filing system to the extent such document is necessary to support a required pleading. Except as provided in Subsection (K) of this Rule, the Clerk shall not accept or file any document in paper form in mandatory e-File cases from counsel, or self-represented litigants.

Summary: In designated electronic-filing cases, parties and counsel must e-file the listed filings, may e-file supporting transcripts or other necessary documents, and generally may not submit paper filings, subject to Subsection (K).

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Exhibits, attachments, or other documents that may not be comprehensibly viewed in a .pdf shall be filed in their physical form with the Court.

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Unless otherwise provided by court order, referral of a case to parenting coordination stays a case until further notice. The Clerk of Court shall not accept for filing any documents while a case is in parenting coordination with the following exceptions: a. An objection to a parenting coordinator’s decision; b. A motion to lift the stay; c. A response to a motion to lift the stay; d. An application to dismiss the case; e. A notice related to counsel; f. A motion for changes in the designation of the primary residential parent or legal guardian. g. A motion for changes in the primary placement of a child. h. A motion regarding matters unrelated to the issues referred to the parenting coordinator.

Summary: Unless a court order provides otherwise, referral to parenting coordination stays the case and the Clerk will not accept filings during the stay except for the listed documents.

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Documents or evidence intended for in camera review.

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All documents submitted by vexatious litigators.

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Criminal case documents filed at arraignment and prior to arraignment.

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Motion, Entry, and Certification for Appointed Counsel Fees.

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Garnishments.

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Qualified Domestic Relations Orders and Division of Property Orders.

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Documents submitted by individuals housed in federal, state, or local correctional institutions.

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Applications to waive court filing fees based upon claims of indigency.

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For documents that have been e-Filed pursuant to Subsection (G) of this Rule or documents filed in paper format pursuant to Subsection (K) of this Rule that have been scanned and uploaded to the e-File system by the Clerk, the electronic version constitutes the Official Court Record. E-Filed Documents have the same force and effect as those filed by traditional means.

Summary: The specified electronic versions constitute the Official Court Record and e-filed documents have the same force and effect as traditionally filed documents.

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Applies to

Proposed jury instructions ?

Submission may be made by e-mailing them to the Court’s bailiff and magistrate.

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Applies to

Witness and exhibit list ?

Submission may be made by e-mailing them to the Court’s court reporter/recorder.