Dayton Municipal Court, Ohio Electronic Filing Rules

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleadings motions other documents

Beginning July 21, 2025, pleadings and other papers may be electronically filed with the Clerk, subject to the rule’s conditions.

Pursuant to R.C. 1901.313(A), Civil Rule 5(E), Criminal Rule 12(B), and Traffic Rule 20, the Clerk of Court is authorized to accept pleadings, motions, and other documents for filing by electronic means in all civil, criminal, and traffic cases beginning July 21, 2025. The E-Filing Cover Page is attached to this Rule. The system by which the Clerk facilitates filing, receipt, and retrieval of electronic documents is the agent of the Clerk. Subject to the following conditions, pleadings and other papers may be filed with the Clerk of Court by electronic transmission to: EFileDMC@daytonohio.gov.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Traffic ticket

The court record of the ticket shall be filed with the court or may be filed electronically as authorized by this Rule and Traf.R. 3 (F)(2).

The court record of the ticket shall be filed with the court or may be filed electronically as authorized by this Rule and Traf.R. 3 (F)(2).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written not guilty plea

A written not-guilty plea may be filed in a criminal domestic violence case, but the defendant must appear at arraignment.

Written Not Guilty Pleas may be filed; however, a personal appearance by the defendant is always required at the arraignment. Failure to appear at arraignment may result in an arrest warrant being issued for the defendant, regardless of a written not guilty plea being filed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written not guilty plea

A written not-guilty plea may be filed in a criminal case with a temporary protection order request, but the defendant must appear at arraignment.

Written Not Guilty Pleas may be filed, however, a personal appearance by the defendant is always required at the arraignment. Failure to appear at arraignment may result in an arrest warrant being issued for the defendant, regardless of a written not guilty plea being filed.

CRITICAL

Fax filings must not be sent directly to a Judge’s or Magistrate’s Office.

Fax filings may not be sent directly to a Judge’s or Magistrate’s Office.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Electronic filing

Electronic filings must be sent to the Clerk’s designated email address and not directly to a judge’s or magistrate’s office.

Electronic filings shall only be filed with the Clerk through the EFileDMC@daytonohio.gov email address. Electronic filings shall not be sent directly to a Judge’s or Magistrate’s Office.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleadings and papers

Pleadings and other papers may be filed with the Clerk of Courts by fax at the number for the relevant division, subject to the rule’s conditions.

Subject to the following conditions, pleadings and other papers may be filed with the Clerk of Courts by facsimile transmission to: (937) 333-4468 (Civil & Small Claims Division) (937) 333-4490 (Criminal Division) (937) 333-7558 (Traffic Division).

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court initiated document

The Clerk must submit court-initiated documents for electronic filing through the CMS.

The Clerk shall submit the court initiated document for efiling using the CMS.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleadings and papers

1. This Rule applies to pleadings and papers filed in civil, criminal, traffic, and small claims proceedings in the Dayton Municipal Court that DO NOT require filing fees or service by the Clerk. (a) Some examples of documents that will not be accepted are: (1) Civil or small claims complaints and appeals, motions for summary judgment, wage garnishments and any pleadings and documents that require a filing fee (Including those listed in the Court’s website under ‘Schedule of Fees and Costs’); (2) Applications for sealing conviction, dismissal, or arrest records; (3) Criminal or traffic appeals; (4) Written Not Guilty pleas in criminal domestic violence cases. A personal appearance by the defendant is always required at arraignment in this type of case; (5) Not Guilty pleas in criminal or traffic cases with warrants. (Unless a Motion and Entry to Vacate the Warrant is filed with the plea); and (6) Criminal cases with temporary protection orders; and (7) Entries/Orders Granting Driving Privileges.

1. This Rule applies to pleadings and papers filed in civil, criminal, traffic, and small claims proceedings in the Dayton Municipal Court that DO NOT require filing fees or service by the Clerk. (a) Some examples of documents that will not be accepted are: (1) Civil or small claims complaints and appeals, motions for summary judgment, wage garnishments and any pleadings and documents that require a filing fee (Including those listed in the Court’s website under ‘Schedule of Fees and Costs’); (2) Applications for sealing conviction, dismissal, or arrest records; (3) Criminal or traffic appeals; (4) Written Not Guilty pleas in criminal domestic violence cases. A personal appearance by the defendant is always required at arraignment in this type of case; (5) Not Guilty pleas in criminal or traffic cases with warrants. (Unless a Motion and Entry to Vacate the Warrant is filed with the plea); and (6) Criminal cases with temporary protection orders; and (7) Entries/Orders Granting Driving Privileges.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Notice of appearance

A defendant’s notice of appearance may be filed in a felony-warrant case, but the defendant must appear and be taken into custody at the Montgomery County Jail for first appearance the following business day.

A Notice of Appearance for a defendant may be filed; however, the defendant must appear and be taken into custody at the Montgomery County Jail for First Appearance the following business day.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written plea

A written plea may be mailed or faxed, but it must reach the Clerk of Court before the arraignment date.

The written plea may be mailed or faxed and must be received by the Clerk of Court before the arraignment date.

WARNING

Applies to

Continuance or motion

Continuances and motions may be filed by facsimile under DMCR 2.15.1, and defendants must check whether a faxed motion was properly filed and received.

See DMCR 2.15.1 for information on filing continuances and motions by facsimile transmission. It is the responsibility of the defendant to determine if a faxed motion has been properly filed and received.

INFO

Applies to

Written not guilty plea

The Court may allow a defendant, through an attorney and subject to legal prohibitions, to submit a written not-guilty plea by fax or mail.

The Court may allow the defendant to enter a written plea of not guilty through their attorney pursuant to Traf. R. 8(C), except in cases where prohibited by law. The not guilty plea may be faxed or mailed within ten (10) days after the defendant received the ticket.

INFO

Applies to

Court initiated document

This rule governs electronic filing only for certain court-initiated civil, small claims, criminal, and traffic documents.

This rule applies only for the limited purpose of electronically filing certain civil, small claims, criminal, and traffic documents initiated by the court.

INFO

The electronic-filing rule applies to pleadings and papers in civil, criminal, traffic, and small claims proceedings regardless of whether a filing fee is required.

Further, this Rule applies to pleadings and papers filed in civil, criminal, traffic, and small claims proceedings in the Dayton Municipal Court regardless of a required filing fee.

INFO

The electronic version of a document efiled under this rule is the official court record and has the same effect as a traditionally filed document.

For documents that have been efiled pursuant to this rule and its sub-sections, the electronic version constitutes the official court record. Efiled documents have the same force and effect as those filed by traditional means.